0112, 2016

Academics, Agents and Activists: A history of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 1916-2016

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|1st December 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

Over the next few weeks John Hollingworth, Gallery Manager and co-curator of ‘Academics, Agents & Activists: a history of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 1916-2016’, will be introducing this fascinating centenary exhibition currently on display at the Brunei Gallery until 17th December. The exhibition tells a history of the School from the perspective of its people and spaces, highlighting the contributions and experiences of a selection of individuals

1611, 2016

Academics, Agents and Activists: A history of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 1916-2016

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|16th November 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

1910, 2016

Black History Month 2016: Seretse Khama

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|19th October 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

As SOAS marks Black History Month we continue to hi-light historical collections held by SOAS Archives, which reveal the long-standing Black presence in the UK, as well as the contributions and achievements of Black peoples in local, national and international arenas. This week we look at papers in the archives relating to Seretse Khama (1921-1980), the first President of Botswana, who spent some of his early life in Britain. He is also the subject of a

2509, 2016

200 years of Swire: The China Navigation Company

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|25th September 2016|Collections & Research|4 comments

In celebration of World Maritime Day, this latest post in the series commemorating the 200th anniversary of John Swire & Sons focuses on The China Navigation Company [CNCo]. Established in 1872, today CNCo is the wholly owned, deep-sea shipping and operating arm of the Swire Group, operating a a global network of multi purpose liner services, drybulk, and bulk logistics services. By the early 1870s John Samuel Swire was convinced

1909, 2016

SOAS Picture Archive: Finsbury Circus

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|19th September 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

In continuation of the SOAS Centenary series, we explore the history of SOAS’s buildings through images from the SOAS Picture Archive and other items from the SOAS School Archive, starting with the London Institution building in Finsbury Circus. The SOAS story began in Finsbury Circus when the Cromer Committee (or Oriental Studies Committee), a body tasked with establishing a centre for oriental studies in London, identified a likely site in the City of London for the

1509, 2016

Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|15th September 2016|Collections & Research|

In celebration of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (which aims to raise awareness of the importance of audiovisual primary sources as an integral part of national identity) we are taking a look at the rich legacy of Professor Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf (1909-1995). Haimendorf was one of the foremost anthropologists of the 20th century, a pioneer in the field of visual anthropology and one of the most prolific ethnographers of tribal

0109, 2016

200 Years of Swire: George Warren Swire, 1883-1949

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|1st September 2016|Collections & Research|

A keen amateur photographer, the legacy left by (George) Warren Swire goes beyond his contribution to the development of John Swire & Sons, today one of the most successful companies in the world. G W Swire’s collection of documentary photographs provides a valuable pictorial record of the expansion of trade in China throughout a forty year period. G W Swire was born in 1883, (d. 1949), to John Samuel Swire

1608, 2016

200 years of Swire: John Samuel Swire, 1825-1898

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|16th August 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

John Swire may have established the firm of John Swire & Sons, but it was his son, John Samuel Swire, known as ‘the Senior’ who can be credited with laying the foundations of the business we know today. He was just twenty one when he took control of his father’s company, but it was clear that he had inherited his father’s work ethic and shrewdness along with a great sense

1407, 2016

200 years of Swire: John Swire 1793-1847

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|14th July 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

This is an important year for John Swire & Sons: they are celebrating their 200th anniversary, no mean feat for a family-owned business. In celebration of this success we will be writing a series of blogs under the banner of ‘200 years of Swire’, looking in more detail at some of the key moments in the firms history, the challenges it faced and the individuals who were instrumental in its

0906, 2016

SOAS Picture Archive: Library

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|9th June 2016|Collections & Research|0 comments

As part of our SOAS Centenary series, we take another look at hi-lights from the SOAS Picture Archive.This week we’ve found some nostalgic images of SOAS Library, showing some of the changes that have taken place over the years… A full catalogue of images is available on the SOAS Archive Catalogue. Photographs and visual items from the collection can be ordered and consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room.