British Association of Malaya

Covering letters and lists of the archives and papers of the British Association of Malaya being transferred to the Royal Commonwealth Society. These are:

• Letter from H.R. Bryon, Secretary, The British Association of Malaya, to the Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a preliminary list of the papers and documents which have contributed to the Association's History Archives up to February 1962. Dated 23 March 1962.
• "Documents and papers received for British Association of Malaya History Archives", 5 pages. This is annotated "Ackd 27.3.62".
• Compliment slip from the Secretary, The British Association of Malaya. This is annotated "Ackd 22 April 1963".
• "British Association of Malaya Historical Collection: Letters or articles on political or constitutional matters, memoirs and recollections about the Malay States, Singapore, Penang, Malacca and Sarawak kept in the Library of the Royal Commonwealth Society", 5 pages.
• "British Association of Malaya Historical Collection. List No. 2. Letters or articles on political or constitutional matters, memoirs and recollections about the Malay States, Singapore, Penang, Malacca and Sarawak kept in the Library of the Royal Commonwealth Society", 4 pages.

The British Association of Malaya was founded in 1920, replacing the Straits Settlements Association which had existed since 1868. It subsequently became the British Association of Malaysia and the British Association of Malaysia and Singapore.

From 1952 to 1967 the Secretary of the Association was Hugh Bryson. He organised the accumulation of two important collections of historical material. In 1960, in cooperation with the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bryson initiated the gathering of original documents - memoranda, diaries, correspondence - and the writing of special reminiscences by those with first hand experience of the geographic area covered by the Association. Subjects of particular significance include politics and government, trade and commerce, social and cultural history, the First and Second World Wars, and the Malayan Emergency. As the material was received it was deposited in the Royal Commonwealth Society Library. Bryson also collected photographs, particularly those reflecting the history of South-East Asia.

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

These papers were sent to the Royal Asiatic Society from the British Association of Malaya.

These Papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

These papers were prepared by the British Association of Malaya for dissemination to other organisations.

The collections of the British Association of Malaya, as part of the Royal Commonwealth Society archives are now held by Cambridge University Library. Full details can be found here.