Catalogue description Shakespear, John, 1861-1942, Colonel

Two photograph albums, notes on the State of Manipur and its Royal Family, draft chapters of an autobiography, and correspondence (nine letters, concerning: the possible publication of his autobiography; and the translation of certain Khiva-related papers of his father, Sir Richmond Shakespear).

Col John Shakespear was the youngest son of Sir Richmond Shakespear. He took a particular interest in the custody his father's papers, and in the history of the Shakespear family. Omar Pound, Arabic scholar and family descendant, who examined the Shakespear papers at the RSAA in 1986 and 1990, subsequently wrote: "It is quite clear that Col John Shakespear ... went through these letters [of Sir Richmond Shakespear] carefully, annotating lightly in pencil here and there, probably sometime after World War I while preparing what is affectionately known in my family as the 'Studbook', namely, John Shakespear of Shadwell and His Descendants (1619-1931), published privately for Col John Shakespear by the Northumberland Press, Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1931." (Pound, "Sir Richmond Campbell Shakespear (1812-1861): His Life and Papers," Asian Affairs, XXII (1991), p. 123.)

Col John Shakespear was Resident at Manipur (1905-14), prior to which he served as Superintendent of the Lushai Hills on the Assam/Burma border.