"Tanka of a Srid-pa-ho." Box 59 (Broadside), Tibet MSS 62. Beinecke Rare Book Library, Yale University Library.

This Guide is intended to give students and researchers a starting point for learning about collections in Yale's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library that have South Asian content. Geographically South Asia incorporates: 

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Himalayan region, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

Please remember that this is not an extensive list; there is plenty more material to be discovered! You may also want to explore special collections in other libraries around campus, such as Manuscripts and Archives, Divinity Library, or Yale University Art Gallery, using Archives at Yale.

So...what is a Finding Aid?

A finding aid is a large document (you can download them as PDFs) that writes out in common language what is contained within a collection. While the collection name won't give you a lot of useful information...

Bowles (Chester) papers [MS 628]

...the finding aid will tell you exactly what is in each box and folder...

Part IX, Series I. Photographs and Memorabilia. BOX 381, Folder 65: “Scrapbook entitled "Bombay Diary" with photographs & clippings of Bowles' trip to Bombay” (Feb 1952)

Am I allowed to look at these? How do I look at these things? 

Yes! All researchers (faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates) are welcome to use Yale's Beinecke Rare Book Library, located across the street from Sterling Memorial Library. They have posted a lot of useful information on their website, including:

• Their hours and location
• How to find and request items
• Planning your research visit
• Guidelines for using the reading room
• How to teach at the Beinecke