King Chulalongkorn Digital Archives Chulalongkorn University

Overview

The King Chulalongkorn Digital Archives is a digital repository and online exhibition maintained by the Office of Academic Resources at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. It commemorates the royal benevolence of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), who were central to the founding and development of Chulalongkorn University and the modernisation of Thailand.

History and Background

The archive was established to commemorate King Rama V and celebrate Chulalongkorn University's centennial anniversary in 2017. Chulalongkorn University itself was founded on 26 March 1917 by King Vajiravudh in honour of his father King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), making it the oldest institution of higher education in Thailand. The digital archive is hosted within the Thailand and ASEAN Information Center (TAIC) on the 6th and 7th floors of the Office of Academic Resources.

Collections and Holdings

The archive contains rare books, photographs, theses, research papers, and digital publications relating to both monarchs, including original royal literary works by King Rama V, issues of French periodicals L'Illustration and Le Petit Journal from 1893 and 1897 (reporting on Siam), selected military strategy books (Yutthakot), and royal biographical materials. Full-text documents are accessible in e-book format. A physical honorary exhibition is located on the 7th floor of the Office of Academic Resources.

Access and Usage

The archive is freely accessible online at kingchulalongkorn.car.chula.ac.th and also via the Chulalongkorn University main site. The materials are linkable across global networks and accessible worldwide.