Siam Society, in Thai known as Sayaam Samaakom (สยามสมาคม) and located in Soi Asoke, off Sukhumvit Road, is an historical organization under royal patronage that focuses on the preservation of traditional Thai culture. It was founded on 26 February 1904 in the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, during the reign of King Rama V and by Thai and foreign intellectuals. Today, besides an auditorium, the society houses an excellent reference library in its Chaleum Phrakian/Chalerm Phrakiat (เฉลิมพระเกียรติ) Building, named in honour of King Rama IX’s 50th coronation anniversary, as well as an adjacent ethnological museum exhibiting Thai Folk Art. Siam Society also publishes a journal. The central royal portrait in brownish black and white in the lobby is of King Rama V, the society's main founder and upstairs, behind a golden peacock throne, is a royal portrait of King Rama IX in royal attire. Siam Society's emblem, which was designed in 1926, consists of the head of an elephant on a horse collar-like shield adorned with a lotus bud and flame-like lotus petals above, as well as with a garland or pendulum below. On the frame of the shield, in Thai, is the society's slogan, i.e. wichah yang hai geut mitraphaap (วิชชายังให้เกิดมิตรภาพ), which translates as ‘Knowledge Gives Rise to Friendship’. Whereas the elephant is the symbol of Siam, it also represents wisdom and friendship, while the lotus and flames on the frame, reminiscent of those sometimes used in the iconography of Indian deities, may represent Enlightenment, and the garland the beauty that results from it all. In 1988 a commemorative postage stamp was issued to mark its 84th anniversary and in 2004, another Thailand Post issued another stamp to commemorate its centennial anniversary, this time with its emblem and an illustration of Ban Khamthiang (บ้านคำเที่ยง), in English known as Khamthiang Memorial House, the over 175-year old traditional teakwood house from northern Thailand, that the Siam Society runs as a museum under royal patronage, adjacent to the society's auditorium. A bronze plaque at the entrance to the auditorium features the embossed royal cipher of Princess Sirinthon, i.e. a monogram with her entwined initials (ส and ธ) under a crown. An accompanying text engraved underneath the royal cipher indicates that the Siam Society under Royal Patronage in BE 2544 (AD 2001) received the annual Outstanding Building Conservation Award for its auditorium, for the museum known as Khamthiang Memorial House, and for its adjacent traditional house named Reuan Saeng Arun (เรือนเเสงอรุณ), which today houses a coffee shop. 回