To start the year we’re delighted to highlight several exciting collections within our archive. Discover the Royal Asiatic Society, founded in 1824, whose remarkable collection of manuscripts, monographs, artworks and early photographic material offers a detailed visual record of Asian culture.

We’re also showcasing Gilbert Williams, the celebrated visionary painter known for his luminous landscapes that have appeared on iconic album covers and continue to inspire audiences worldwide.

In footage, we’re pleased to introduce the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) collection, featuring community-made films from 1972 onward, specifically preserved footage documenting Louisiana’s cultural history. Lastly, don’t miss out on our key 2026 anniversaries content, designed to support your upcoming editorial and creative planning.

Discover the Royal Asiatic Society, whose remarkable collections of manuscripts, artworks, and early photographic material offer a rich visual and intellectual record of Asian cultures.

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1823 by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Henry Thomas Colebrooke and received its Royal Charter the following year. Its mission was defined as “the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia.” Since its inception, the Society has served as an important forum for scholars and enthusiasts of Asia, fostering the exchange of ideas through lectures, publications, and research.

The Society holds regular lectures and publishes a quarterly journal as well as several monographs each year. Its collections of manuscripts, paintings, drawings, photographs, and archives—accessible online or through visits to the library—provide an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Asian history and culture.

Gilbert Williams, born in Santa Monica in 1950 and raised in Anaheim, is one of the most celebrated Visionary painters. His luminous canvases - filled with temples, groves, light beings, and other archetypal imagery - are instantly recognisable for their transcendent glow. Early influences from his father, a creative stonemason, his uncle Bob Mattey at Disney’s special effects department and photographer Jack Howard helped shape his artistic eye.

Largely self-taught, Williams immersed himself in art history, Renaissance techniques, and related fields such as anthropology and archaeology. His career took off in the late 1970s in Mt. Shasta, where his work attracted national attention and led to collaborations with major musicians. His paintings have since appeared on album covers for Michael Jackson, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Mannheim Steamroller, and others.

We’re delighted to represent the New Orleans Video Access Center, a community organisation supporting the film and creative industries through initiatives like youth programmes. This collection features standout community videos from 1972 onward, along with preserved and digitised footage documenting Louisiana’s cultural history - from music performances to significant moments such as the Apollo Astronauts panel - showcasing the depth and diversity of NOVAC’s archive. Additionally, in 1974, NOVAC launched Survival Information Television, a documentary series created by and for New Orleanians.

Explore the key anniversaries coming up in 2026. From the 50th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s death to the 100th anniversary of Jerry Lewis’s birth and the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe, discover the milestone dates represented across our collections.