Kashnor Collection

Leon Kashnor (1880–1955), who was born in London, was the son of a Russian émigré. In 1901 he opened a second-hand bookshop in Museum Street, close to the British Museum. The Museum Book Store changed premises a few times in its early years, but from 1910 to 1949 it was located at 45 Museum Street. It then moved to Devonshire Street, Marylebone. Kashnor was the sole proprietor for a long period, but in the 1940s he was joined by his brother David. Following their deaths, the Museum Book Store continued to operate for several more years under the direction of Leon Kashnor’s daughter.

Fang Collection

Fang Zhaoying (1908–1985), better known as Fang Chao-ying, was a noted historian and bibliographer. He was born in China but spent most of his adult life in the United States. His love of books and history began in childhood. He studied at the prestigious Yanjing (Yenching) University, under the distinguished historian and writer, William Hung (Hong Ye). Later the two men collaborated on major Chinese bibliographic projects.

Fainsod Collection

Merle Fainsod (1907–1972) was educated at Washington University in St Louis and Harvard University, where he gained his doctorate in 1936. He taught at Harvard from 1933 until his death. He was Professor of Government in 1946–64, Director of the Russian Research Center in 1959–64, and Carl H. Pforzheimer Professor Director of Harvard University Library in 1964–72. He also served on a number of public bodies and was Price Executive for the Office of Price Administration in 1941–42. Most of his writings were in the area of Russian history and government.

British Foreign Office Confidential Prints

From the sixteenth century onwards, Britain’s relations with foreign countries were the responsibility of the Sovereign and the two Secretaries of State. After 1640 their work was divided on a geographical basis, with a Northern Department and a Southern Department. Neither Secretary of State was concerned exclusively with foreign affairs, as they each dealt with various domestic matters, especially law and order. This arrangement came to an end in 1782, with the creation of the Foreign Office and the Home Office, each headed by a Secretary of State.

Chinnery Collection

Ernest William Pearson Chinnery (1887-1972) was born in Waterloo, Victoria, and educated at state schools. In 1909 he joined the public service in Papua as a clerk and in the following year he was appointed a patrol officer. He worked first in the Kumusi division and later patrolled in new country in the central division, where he discovered the source of the Waria River. In 1917 he joined the Australian Flying Corps. He was demobilized in England in 1919 and became a research student under the anthropologist A.C. Haddon at Cambridge University.

Claasz Collection

Manfred Hans Claasz (b. 1942) was born in Ceylon and educated at the Royal College, Colombo. From August 1962 to March1972 he was employed by the Scottish Tea and Lands Company of Ceylon, initially at the Plaiderie Division of Sarnia Group, Kandegedera and later at Mahadowa Division, Mahadowa Group, Madulsima; and then for five years as Superintendent and Manager of Haputale Estate, Haputale. He was a member of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon.

Clifford Collection

The Clifford family of Chudleigh, Devon, were a cadet branch of the great medieval family of Clifford, who came to England at the time of the Norman Conquest. In 1552 Sir Piers Courtenay died and left Ugbrooke Park to his daughter Anne, who was married to Anthony Clifford. Their grandson Sir Thomas Clifford (1630–1673) was a parliamentarian, soldier and one of the advisers of Charles II. Having been Comptroller of the Household (1666–68), Treasurer of the Household (1668–72) and Lord High Treasurer (1772–73), he was created Baron Clifford of Chudleigh in 1772.

Coedès Collection

Of Hungarian descent, George Coedès (1886–1969) was born in Paris and educated at the Lycée Carnot and L’École pratique des hautes études. In 1911 he travelled to Indo-China and joined the staff of L’École française de l’Extrême-Orient in Hanoi, which had been founded in 1900. He was appointed Professor of Indochinese Philology in 1914. In 1918 he moved to Bangkok to be Director of the National Library of Siam. He was Secretary-General of the Royal Institute of Siam in 1927–29.

Coffin Collection

Yves Coffin (1924-2016) was born at Crépy-en-Valois in northern France.  While a student at the University of Lyons he became involved in the Resistance.  He escaped from the Gestapo, but was interned in Spain.  After his release, he joined the Free French Forces in Britain and served as a paratrooper.  He first took up photography as a serious hobby in 1945, when he was stationed in Austria as an interpreter in the negotiations leading to the Vienna Convention.

De Salis Collection

Of Swiss descent, Leopold Fane De Salis (1816–1898) was born in Florence, Italy, and educated at Eton College in England. He emigrated to New South Wales in 1840. He acquired a property, Darbalara, near Gundagai and later Junee station. In 1855 he sold these properties and purchased Cuppacumbalong, at the meeting of the Murrumbidgee and Gudgenby rivers. De Salis represented Queanbeyan in the Legislative Assembly in 1868–69 and was a Member of the Legislative Council from 1874 until his death.