Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1877-1937 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
18 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sidney Herbert Ray was born in 1858. He became a schoolmaster in 1882. His interest in Oceanic languages began in about 1887 and he became a Fellow of the Anthropological Institute in 1888. He visited Torres Strait, New Guinea and Borneo 1898-1899 with the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition. In 1907 he received an Honorary M.A. from Cambridge. He became Vice-President of the Anthropological Institute in 1919 and Rivers Medallist at the Royal Anthropological Institute in 1928. He was occasional lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies from 1920s-1936. He died in 1939.
His publications include A Comparative Vocabulary of the Dialects of British New Guinea (1895); Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits (1907-1935); Languages of Borneo (1913); People and Language of Lifu (1918); Languages of Northern Papua (1919); Languages of Western Papua (1919); Comparative Study of the Melanesian Island Languages (1926); Languages of Central Papua (1929); Grammar of the Kiwai Language (1933); and Languages of South-Eastern Papua (1938).
Archival history
GB 0102 PP MS 3 Created 1877-1937 Collection (fonds) 18 boxes Ray , Sidney Herbert , 1858-1939 , schoolmaster and linguist
Sidney Herbert Ray was born in 1858. He became a schoolmaster in 1882. His interest in Oceanic languages began in about 1887 and he became a Fellow of the Anthropological Institute in 1888. He visited Torres Strait, New Guinea and Borneo 1898-1899 with the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition. In 1907 he received an Honorary M.A. from Cambridge. He became Vice-President of the Anthropological Institute in 1919 and Rivers Medallist at the Royal Anthropological Institute in 1928. He was occasional lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies from 1920s-1936. He died in 1939.
His publications include A Comparative Vocabulary of the Dialects of British New Guinea (1895); Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits (1907-1935); Languages of Borneo (1913); People and Language of Lifu (1918); Languages of Northern Papua (1919); Languages of Western Papua (1919); Comparative Study of the Melanesian Island Languages (1926); Languages of Central Papua (1929); Grammar of the Kiwai Language (1933); and Languages of South-Eastern Papua (1938).
Donated in March 1978.
Papers, 1877-1937 and undated, of Sidney Herbert Ray, chiefly relating to the languages and ethnology of the Pacific Islands.
The material has been arranged by geographical area, and alphabetically by language within each area. The areas covered include: Guam, Fiji, Louisade Islands, Loyalty Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Hebrides, New Ireland and New Britain, Santa Cruz Islands, and Solomon Islands.
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English and Oceanic languages
Unpublished handlist.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds a catalogue of printed books and manuscripts relating to languages and the science of language, belonging to S. H. Ray (9 vols.) (Ref: MS 68121).
15 May 2000 Academic teaching personnel Asia and the Pacific Austronesian and Oceanic languages Educational personnel Ethnology Fiji Guam Linguistics Louisade Archipelago Loyalty Islands Makira Micronesia National cultures New Britain New Caledonia New Guinea New Ireland Oceania Oceanic cultures Papua New Guinea Ray , Sidney Herbert , 1858-1939 , schoolmaster and linguist Santa Cruz Islands Solomon Islands South Pacific Teachers Vanuatu Personnel People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated in March 1978.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1877-1937 and undated, of Sidney Herbert Ray, chiefly relating to the languages and ethnology of the Pacific Islands.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The material has been arranged by geographical area, and alphabetically by language within each area. The areas covered include: Guam, Fiji, Louisade Islands, Loyalty Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Hebrides, New Ireland and New Britain, Santa Cruz Islands, and Solomon Islands.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English and Oceanic languages
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds a catalogue of printed books and manuscripts relating to languages and the science of language, belonging to S. H. Ray (9 vols.) (Ref: MS 68121).
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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Name access points
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Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English