About The Society

KNOWLEDGE GIVES RISE TO FRIENDSHIP

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SIAM SOCIETY

The Siam Society was founded in 1904 during the late period of King Chulalongkorn's reign, under the Royal Patronage of the future King Rama VI. It was in cooperation with Thai and foreign scholars. The Society quickly became a learned society whose members included many of the most illustrious historians, archaeologists and epigraphers of that period. It was not long before it moved beyond its original narrow confines to its current location in the center of Bangkok to meet the needs of a much wider audience. From the beginning, the Society has been dedicated to the objectives of encouraging the study and enjoyment of the art, science, culture and natural history of Thailand and its neighbors, and to making this knowledge and experiences more widely available to local and international communities. Today, The Siam Society continues to operate as a non-profit organization dedicated to its founding cause.

Facilities: In 1932, the first permanent office and library facilities were built on land generously donated to the Society by Mr. A. E. Nana. In 1997, the Chalerm Phra Kiat Building, constructed in honor of the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne, was completed, housing the library, exhibition space, meeting rooms and office for Society staff.

• Library: The Chalerm Phra Kiat Building, located in a garden compound in Central Bangkok was especially built to house the library’s rare books, its specialized collection of nearly 25,000 volumes and the extensive journal and periodical section. The Siam Society's collection of research manuscripts, books, rare books, photos, micro-film, tapes, videos, maps and traditional manuscripts on palm leaf, and other documents constitute the first non-privately owned library in Thailand.
  
  Chao Phraya Bhaskarawongse (Phorn Bunnag), a distinguished scholar in the field of literature placed his extensive library at the disposal of the Society's members. Publications by Societies such as the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme-Orient, the Batavian Association of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Asiatic Society and the Societa Asiatica Italiana also form the basis of the Siam Society's library.
  
  For more on the Library, please click on this link

• Kamthieng House: Also situated on the grounds is the Kamthieng House, an ethnological museum consisting of two fine examples of traditional Thai teakwood houses, which date from the mid-19th century and are probably the finest surviving examples of traditional northern Thai architecture. The house has been stocked with artefacts associated with the rural way of life in traditional agricultural communities. This includes a fascinating collection of beautifully hand-woven materials, ornate wood carvings, traditional musical instruments and sacred items. Under the house at ground level, a rich assortment of fishtraps, irrigation devices, ploughs and rice-harvesting equipment made of wood, reeds and bamboo are displayed.
  
  Occasionally, with permission granted by the Society, private functions are held within the grounds and gardens of the Society with the Kamthieng House providing a picturesque setting for a private event for between 25-30 persons.

• Saengaroon House: Next to the Kamthieng House, Saengaroon House features the traditional architectural style of homes of Central Thailand.
  

Publications: To support the Society’s efforts to identify, define and preserve Thailand’s rich cultural heritage, it publishes two periodicals and has published numerous books to educate the public to the value and importance of that heritage.

• Periodicals: The Society issues two internationally recognized periodicals, the Journal of the Siam Society (JSS) first issued in 1904 and the Natural History Bulletin (NHB) first issued in 1913.

• Books: The Siam Society is active in publishing books on Southeast Asian historical and cultural topics. To date, the books published by the Society number over one hundred.
  

Activities: The Siam Society has a wide variety of on-going activities in which all members and the general public are encouraged to participate as follows:

• Study Tours: Trips, both in Thailand and other countries, to study the arts and ancient sites as well as sites of natural beauty. Specialists with knowledge in the particular subject area lead the trips so that historical sites and archaeological remains come alive and take on new meaning for the participants.

• Exhibitions: International exhibitions of art and artifacts are often held at the auditorium and exhibition hall as the beauty and tranquility of the Siam Society complex leans itself to quality displays.

• Cultural and Musical Performances: Thailand and its neighboring countries are rich in festivals and culture expressed through music, dance and other art forms. Specially commissioned cultural and musical performances, classical and contemporary, are arranged to bring outstanding performances to the Society’s garden or auditorium.

• Lectures: Lectures by noted experts and scholars are held monthly on a wide range of subjects related to the Society’s objectives and the interest of the community.

• Seminars and Conferences: The Siam Society has cooperated with numerous local and international seminars and conferences that examine, through research, presentations and publications, the arts, culture and history of Thailand and the region.
  

Membership: From its inception the Siam Society’s objective was to encourage research and information gathering on art, history, culture and natural sciences of Thailand and neighboring countries. In 1924, “Knowledge gives rise to friendship” was adopted as the Siam Society’s motto to convey the message that the search for knowledge is the bridge to friendship between nations. The Siam Society has close to 1,700 members including both Thai nationals and foreign members representing approximately 50 nationalities. The common bond is the desire to learn and experience Thai culture, history and the natural environment as well as that of neighboring countries. The Siam Society membership endeavors to reach out to the local and international communities to advance understanding and friendship between nations.