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Papers of W.J. Watts

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Shelfmark: MSS. Ind. Ocn. s. 320
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Notes, reports, and memoranda collected as Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Kedah, 1950s, dealing with the history and functions of the Department of Chinese Affairs, Malaya (Malaysia), Sino-Malay relations, and Chinese secret societies from 1879 to 1957.

Comprises:

Folder 1 - Papers relating to Watts' professional life and the government of Malaya (Malaysia):

  1. (fols. 1-12) 'Chinese secret societies', part 2. Lecture by W.A. Pickering, 1879, typescript copy, n.d.
  2. (fols. 13-21) copies of papers relating to Sungei Ujong and Jelebu, 1890-1891, n.d.
  3. (fols. 22-23) summary of societies legislation, 1931-Jul 1954, typescript copy, n.d.
  4. (fols. 24-42) Societies legislation, Straits Settlements. Monthly review of Chinese affairs no. 27, Nov 1932
  5. (fols. 43-50) Modern literary developments. Monthly review of Chinese Affairs, no. 74, Oct 1936
  6. (fols. 51-53) 'The significance of Chinese Triad societies in Malaya'. Memorandum by W.L. Blythe, 16 Mar 1949
  7. (fols. 54-64) 'The emergency'. Memorandum, with covering letter, from D. Gray, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, to W.J. Watts, 17 Dec 1951
  8. (fols. 65-68) 'The emergency'. Memorandum from W.J. Watts to D. Gray, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, 7 Jan 1952
  9. (fols. 69-73) 'M.C.P. policy towards the Malays'. Memorandum, with covering letter from A.W. Cowper, Director of Operations, 6 Mar 1953
  10. (fols. 74-77) correspondence between Alec Peterson, Director General, Information Services and W.J. Watts, on promoting federal citizenship to the Chinese, 20-30 Mar 1953
  11. (fols. 78-81) the Straits Chinese British Association, Penang, President, Heah Joo Seang, memorandum on constitutional change, 3 Oct 1953
  12. (fols. 82-85) 'The political and sociological significance of secret societies'. Report by F. Brewer, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, 10 Dec 1953
  13. (fols. 86-88) 'Report on defeatism regarding the outcome of the emergency in Jelebu district', 17 Nov 1954
  14. (fols. 89-96) Report, by Shamsudin bin Nain, Mentri Besar, Negri Sembilan, on incidents leading to the dismissal of Dato' Chinchang and Dato' Mentri by the Undang of Jelebu, with a report, by W.J. Watts, of the appointment of a new Dato' Chinchung, 23 Nov 1954 and 8 Feb 1955
  15. (fols. 97-102) 'The problem of subversion in Chinese schools in the Federation', 1955
  16. (fols. 103-109) comments, by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Penang, on the draft memorandum on the problem of subversion in Chinese schools, 10 Sep 1955
  17. (fols. 110-124) 'Report on the Chinese problem in Malaya', Apr 1955
  18. (fols. 125-130) 'Report on Sino-Malay relations', Feb 1956
  19. (fols. 131-137) 'Report on the politics of the Malays', Feb 1956
  20. (fols. 138-146) 'An appreciation of the present political endeavour and organisation among the Chinese in the Federation', Feb 1956
  21. (fols. 147-193) 'The Department of Chinese Affairs. A review of its history and functions, its present position and its prospects for the future', c. 1956
  22. (fols. 194-201) notes on the administration of Chinese affairs, n.d.
  23. (fols. 202-204) 'The future of Chinese affairs', n.d.
  24. (fols. 205-208) notes on Kapitan China, n.d.
  25. (fols. 209-218) notes on the 100 number lottery and the 1000 number lottery, with examples in Chinese characters, n.d.
  26. (fols. 219-224) Kedah Chinese Who's Who, n.d.
  27. (fols. 225-229) 'Fasting and Malay custom'. Talk to the Rotary Club by Enche Mohamed Din Bin Ali, n.d.
  28. (fols. 230-233) The Union press group in Malaya (Malaysia), c. 1959
  29. (fols. 234-239) 'Triad, Ang Bin Hoay and Kuomintang in Malaya'. Report by W.L. Blythe, Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Federation of Malaya (Malaysia), 22 Jan 1947
  30. (fols. 240-242) 'Triad, Ang Bin Hoay and Ang Boon Hoay'. Report by W.L. Blythe, 15 Apr 1947
  31. (fols. 243-244) 'The relation of Kwan Kung (Kwanti) to Triad'. Report by W.L. Blythe, 14 Feb 1948
  32. (fols. 245-250) 'Triad societies'. Report by W.L. Blythe, n.d.
  33. (fols. 251-252) Yap Ah Loy, brief biography and photographic negative, n.d.
  34. (fols. 253-254) Report on Malayan Chinese, n.d.
  35. (fols. 255-261) statement of Inspector Sarwan Singh s/o Hazara Singh, Circle Crime Officer, Klang, c. 1954
  36. (fols. 262-264) 'The Chinese concept of government'. Memorandum by F. Brewer, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Federation of Malaya (Malaysia), to all Secretaries for Chinese Affairs, 21 Feb 1955
  37. (fols. 265-267) memorandum on the Chinese Advisory Board by Ivor Biddulph, Adviser on Chinese Affairs, Perak, to the State Secretary, Perak, 17 Aug 1948
  38. (fols. 268-271) Malayan Portraits: W.A. Pickering. Memoir by E.C.S. Adkins, n.d.

Folder 2 - Papers relating to Tang and printed pamphlets:

  1. (fols. 1-7) Malay examination papers, Jul 1951
  2. (fols. 8-10) Letter from 'Mike' enclosing a letter (in Chinese) from Tang, 21 Jul [1951]
  3. (fol. 11) Tang's school-leaving certificate (in Chinese), n.d.
  4. (fols. 12-27) photographs of drawings of Chinese badges and emblems, n.d.
  5. (item 1) 'The Chinese Problem in the Federation of Malaya'. David Gray, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, 1952
  6. (item 2) 'The Chinese problem in the Federation of Malaya'. F. Brewer, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, 1955
  7. (item 3) official circular on the spelling of Chinese surnames
  8. (item 4) 'Report of the organisation and work of the Department of Chinese Affairs as at 30th November, 1946', 1947
  9. (item 5) 'Village Socio-Economic Organization in Malaya'. Article by M.G. Swift, 1956
  10. (item 6) map - Kwangtung province, China, n.d.

Dates

  • Creation: 1932-1959

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

  • English
  • Chinese

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Ind. Ocn. s. 320, folder 1, fol. 1].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MSS. Ind. Ocn. s. 320

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 4820

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of W.J. Watts, colonial civil servant.

Biographical / Historical

William John Watts (1923-1991) entered the Overseas Civil Service in 1947, following war service in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was posted to Malaya (Malaysia). He was Secretary for Chinese Affairs for the State of Kedah in the early 1950s, District Officer for Jelebu, 1954-1955, and Deputy Secretary, Ministry of the Interior and Justice, Federation of Malaya (Malaysia) until 1959. He then entered H.M. Diplomatic Service, serving in the Far East and in Kenya until his retirement in 1981.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was received from Mr Watts in Jun 1966.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Catalogue of the papers of W.J. Watts
Status
Published
Author
Original catalogue by Clare Brown; Collection Level Description by Paul Davidson.
Date
1992; EAD version 2024
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
Second edition.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/weston
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