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Holdings
↑ Up one levelCollected Material on Malaya and Singapore
Identity area
Reference code
GB 891 DD-DD/10
Publication status
Published
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
2 folders
Date(s)
- 1936 - 1960 (Creation)
Context area
Name of creator
Dr Dennis J. Duncanson
(1917-1998)
Biographical history
Dr. Dennis John Duncanson (sometimes referred to as John Dennis Duncanson) (26 May 1917 - 15 April 1998) was a British Overseas Civil Servant and academic who specialised in Asian studies. Duncanson had extensive experience of the Indian Ocean area, from East Africa to China. After joining the Colonial Service, Duncanson became aide-de-camp to the Governor of Hong Kong, and subsequently joined the administration in what was then Malaya. In 1961, Duncanson was invited to join the British Advisory Mission in Saigon and worked as Counsellor in Aid at the British Embassy in Saigon during the mid-sixties, being later awarded an OBE.
On returning to England, Duncanson joined the staff of the University of Kent at Canterbury, where he became Reader, and set up the Centre for South-East Asian Studies. His book, _Government and Revolution in Vietnam_ was written whilst the Vietnam War was still in progress, and found its place as recommended reading in politics and government at several universities.
In 1969, Duncanson was elected to the Council at the Royal Asiatic Society, and in 1977 became its Director. He was President in 1982-5, and served another two terms as Director in 1986-9 and 1992-5. He died in 1998 at Osborne House in the Isle of Wight.
Repository
Royal Asiatic Society Archives
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This series contains printed government papers, Journal articles and other material on Malaya and specifically Singapore, many with brief typed and handwritten notes. One publication is stamped 'Dennis J. Duncanson' but it is likely that other materials were collected by him as well. These concern primarily legislative development, politics and social situation of the region:
__Material relating to Malaya__
* An annotated printed copy of ‘Federation of Malaya – Regulations made under The Emergency Regulation Ordinance, 1948’, compiled by B. Lee Tian Huat, printed at the government press in Kuala Lumpur in 1953. There are multiple inserts in the copy being typed references to relevant regulations. Stamped 'Dennis J. Duncanson' on the cover.
* ‘The Communist Threat to the Federation of Malaya’, printed at the government press in Kuala Lumpur in 1959. With brief annotations and some passages underlined.
* ‘Historical Sketch of Chinese Labour in Malaya’, by W. L. Blythe, a 1953 reprint from the Journal of Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, June 1947. Annotated ‘working copy’ on the cover.
* ‘Proposed Constitutions of the Federation of Malaya’, printed at the government press in Kuala Lumpur in 1957.
* 'An Old Minangkabau Legal Digest from Perak', by Sir Richard Winstedt, reprint from the Journal of the Malayan Branch of Royal Asiatic Society, July 1953.
* 'The Maritime Laws of Malacca', by Sir Richard Winstedt and Dr P. E. de Josselin de Jong, reprint from the Journal of the Malayan Branch of Royal Asiatic Society August 1956
* Offprint of 'Short Notes – The Bridge of the Dead', by Sir Richard Winstedt, from the Journal of the Malayan Branch of Royal Asiatic Society October 1951. Two copies.
* Offprint of 'The Malayan Laws of the Principality of Johore' from the Journal of the Malayan Branch of Royal Asiatic Society, undated. With annotation giving a reference to the Journal of the Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia, Vol IX, 1855, where the same text was published.
* Printed document listing 32 compass points with degrees in English and Malay, printed in Johor Bahru, dated 1 July 1936. 1 piece.
* Handwritten index list of articles published in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 2 pieces.
__Material relating to Singapore__
* ‘Singapore Chinese Middle Schools Students’ Union’, Sessional Paper for the Legislative Assembly, Singapore, 1956.
* ‘The Communist Threat in Singapore’, Sessional Paper for the Legislative Assembly, Singapore, 1957. With some passages underlined.
* ‘Report of the Commission of Inquiry in Corrupt, Illegal or Undesirable Practices at Elections’, Sessional Paper for the Legislative Assembly, Singapore, 1958.
* ‘Communist Literature in Singapore’, Sessional Paper for the Legislative Assembly, Singapore, 1959. With some passages underlined.
* Official Reports of Singapore Legislative Assembly Debates for 1955 (Vol. 1 - No. 4), 1956 (Vol. 2 - No. 1, No. 2; Vol. 2 - No. 3) and 1958 (Vol. 3 - No. 1, No. 2, No. 3).
* Government Gazette Supplement of the Colony of Singapore, No. 22 (1954), No. 29 (1958) and No. 41 (1960).
* Ordinances of the Colony of Singapore, No. 22 of 1954, No. 25-26 of 1955, No. 23, 37-39 of 1956, No. 35 of 1957, and No. 5-6, 25 of 1958.
* Societies Ordinance (Chapter 228) of the Colony of Singapore, edition of 1955. With pencil annotations.
* Report on the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance 1954, paper to be laid before the Legislative Council of the Colony of Singapore, No. 45 of 1954.
* Reprint of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance 1955 of the State of Singapore (No 26 of 1955), printed at the government press in Singapore in 1960.
* Copies of 1960 Singapore Government Gazette Supplement, Singapore Legislative Assembly Debates Official Report 1960 (Vol. 12 - No. 2) and the official report on the 1960 Societies (Amendment) Bill, stapled together.
* Two pieces of typed and handwritten notes regarding proposed regulations and ordinances.
Conditions of access and use area
Language of material
- English
- Malay
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