Introductory Note:
Book and Other Collections at AIIT
The library of the Ancient India and Iran Trust is a unique independent resource for research in the fields of the cultural heritage of ancient India, Iran, Central Asia, and the history of the Indo-Iranian languages. The Library comprises mainly the personal collections of Professor Sir Harold Bailey (Indo-Iranian studies and philology, Buddhist works in various languages, and Armenian and Caucasian studies); and of Professor Joan van Lohuizen (art and archaeology of South and South East Asia). It also includes smaller collections of Professor Charles Bawden (Mongolian studies), Professor Gregory Possehl and Drs B. & F.R. Allchin (South Asian Archaeology) as well as recent acquisitions in the same fields.
In addition to printed resources, the library also includes the photographic collections of Penelope Chetwode (Betjeman) (ca. 6,000 slides, photographs and negatives); J. C. Harle (negatives and prints of Indian sculpture and architecture); and J. van Lohuizen (ca. 100,000 slides, photographs, transparencies and negatives). These collections, together with those of the late Professor Howard Wilson (ca. 10,000 transparencies), and Drs. Raymond and Bridget Allchin (ca. 25,000 transparencies and other photographic material), are in the process of being digitised, catalogued and listed, with the intention of becoming fully available to researchers for consultation.
Other library resources include a small collection of oriental manuscripts; Sir Harold Bailey's working papers and correspondence; Sir Harold and Professor R. E. Emmerick's photographic collections of Central and South Asian manuscripts; and an extensive set of individually catalogued offprints.
To search the library catalogue online, go to
The opening hours of the library are 10am to 3pm on weekdays, and other times by individual arrangement, for use by scholars, students and interested people, who are always welcome. If you wish to visit the library for the first time, please telephone either the Administrator, Munizha Ahmad-Cooke, or the Librarian for an appointment. You will be asked to bring a letter of introduction and to sign the visitors book.