For greater than a century, Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea has labored to make information about Korea accessible by means of its lectures, annual Transactions journal, excursions and the upkeep of a set of primarily English-language specialist supplies.
The library started as a small assortment of books gathered primarily by missionaries and some different international residents in Seoul who needed to realize a deeper understanding of the peninsula. At a time when public libraries have been uncommon and college collections have been largely closed to outsiders, RAS Korea adopted the instance of the founding department in London, in addition to branches in India and Southeast Asia, and supplied students with shared entry to sources that will in any other case have been inaccessible.
Sustaining the RAS Korea Library has by no means been straightforward. In its early years, librarians got here and went nearly yearly, and the gathering was modest. Over time, it grew right into a treasured useful resource for researchers. Final yr, when RAS Korea dissolved its board and gave up its long-time workplace and library house within the Korea Ecumenical Constructing in Jongno District, the library’s destiny hung within the steadiness — a high concern for members. Although RAS Korea was rapidly revived beneath new management and bolstered by much-needed funding, safeguarding the gathering remained an pressing problem.
The library’s future was finally secured by means of a partnership with Soongsil College, formalized with a memorandum of understanding signed on Oct. 31. Below this settlement, 3,729 volumes will likely be made accessible to students and members alike.
Soongsil College has a long-standing relationship with the group. In 1900, when RAS Korea was based, there was little English-language details about the nation. Not like China or Japan, few outsiders had recorded Korea’s language, historical past or tradition. RAS Korea grew to become a uncommon place the place folks might pool their information to doc the nation and their very own experiences. Rev. Samuel A. Moffett, a Presbyterian missionary, served as president of Soongsil Faculty in Pyongyang from 1918 to 1928 and was an energetic RAS member. His son later served because the group’s president in 1968.
The gathering contains many research on the histories of Christian missions in Korea and boasts quite a few uncommon works written by early Western guests. It additionally accommodates vital supplies on Buddhism, Confucianism, Korean shamanism, historical past, tradition and literature. Earlier than being donated, it was fastidiously curated, with duplicates and fewer beneficial objects eliminated. Lately, the gathering was enriched by donations from the property of Peter Bartholomew, who served as RAS Korea president for a few years, and items from long-time members together with David A. Mason, Lowell Heskin and Elizabeth-Homosexual Kraft.
As RAS President Denny Park advised representatives of Soongsil College collaborating within the ceremony, some early volumes survived towards exceptional odds. Books have been saved in basements throughout World Conflict II to guard them from bombing. After the battle, the surviving volumes have been moved to the Christian Literature Society and later to the U.S. Embassy constructing. In 1950, Robert A. Kinney reported that many books and the cardboard catalogue had been misplaced, although key works survived, together with The Korea Evaluation, The Korean Mission Area, The Korean Repository and official authorities studies from 1910 to 1939. Many books have been misplaced through the North Korean occupation of Seoul, although some have been recovered and despatched to america for safekeeping till the cessation of hostilities.
Along with supplies collected by Soongsil professors, the RAS donation now kinds the muse of the college’s newly-inaugurated Korean Christian Supplies Middle. The college goals to gather not solely supplies associated to Soongsil but additionally a broader collection of Korean Christian, missionary and cultural content material. The gathering is being systematically organized and digitized with the help of the Nationwide Institute of Korean Historical past with the purpose of finally being accessible worldwide. Offline supplies can at the moment be accessed throughout the library by reservation.
Soongsil College President Lee Youn-jai welcomed the donation, noting that it strengthens the college’s position as a middle for analysis and information preservation. He expressed gratitude to RAS Korea, its workers and U.Okay. Ambassador Colin Crooks for entrusting the gathering to Soongsil, highlighting the alternatives it supplies for students and college students.
Crooks, who can also be RAS Korea’s honorary president in his capability as ambassador, participated within the donation and MOU ceremonies, the place he spoke of his admiration for the gathering and highlighted RAS Korea’s lengthy historical past of selling Korean tradition. He additionally expressed optimism that the partnership with Soongsil College would proceed this work, making certain Korea’s historical past and tradition are shared extensively.
With the partnership secured, RAS Korea can now give attention to the long run, beginning with revitalizing its membership. Not the only platform for information about Korea, RAS Korea is searching for to reinvent itself whereas sustaining its core traditions, together with the publication of its journal, internet hosting lectures, excursions and its literature membership — all aimed toward partaking each long-term residents and newcomers. Go to raskb.com for extra data.
Jack Greenberg works as an analyst/researcher and freelance author. His present focus is on heritage and conservation points, historic reminiscence debates, truth-seeking and reconciliation and civilian massacres of the 1950-53 Korean Conflict. He was the recipient of the World Korea Scholarship and earned a grasp’s in worldwide research at Korea College. He’s additionally an alumnus of McGill College.
