the Gibson-Hill Collection - National Library Singapore

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sOf Boats and ShipsBesides taking charge of the birdspecimens, Gibson-Hill was taskedto set up the Boat Room. Thisinvolved studies of local boatsranging from Malay prahus andsampans to Chinese tongkangsand Indian dhows. Being aproficient sailor himself, Gibson-Hill took to the task with fervourand passion as seen in his collectionof titles on Asian boats and the Sea Pilots published bythe British Hydrographic Department. His many articlesin the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal AsiaticSociety (JMBRAS) concerning local boats makes him theauthority on this subject even today. One of Gibson-Hill’searliest articles on boats is entitled “Boats and fishing onthe Cocos-Keelings Islands”, published in The Journal ofthe Royal Anthropological Institute (1946). He often tookphotographs of these water crafts to serve as a template forhis illustrations. Although many of these published sketcheswere of unmanned boats, his photographs did capture thevibrant life of the boatmen and their fishing craft. Theycaught the sinewy, tanned bodies of Malay fishermenfluidly casting nets against the rising sun or boys playingin the waters whilst their fathers fished. Fluent in Malay,Gibson-Hill did not merely observe these sailing craft froma distance but had befriended these boatmen who wouldthen take him up rivers and coasts to various locations tostudy birds and the islands.The Gibson-Hill Collection comprises books on boatmodels as well as studies of Asian boats. Mitman’sCatalogue of the watercraft collection in the United States(1929) gives details of this collection which today is knownas the Smithsonian, and includes mention of local boatssuch as the Malay prahu and Chinese junk. Selected shipmodels are photographed and accompanied by a detaileddescription of the craft. The titles on Asian boats, includeHornell’s books which describe Indian crafts (Hornell, 1920,1924) and Waters which examines Chinese junks (1940).The Gibson-Hill Collection, however, has a larger numberof books on ships of European and American origins namelyclipper ships, sailing ships, carracks and brigs. These includethe works of Herbert Warington Smyth such as Mast andsail in Europe and Asia (1906) and Chatterton’s The old EastIndiamen (1914). Other books on sailing histories, such asthe Andersons’ The sailing ship (1926) and Chatterton’sSailing ships (1909), trace shipbuilding history from ancienttimes until the 20 th century. The history of sailing is alsodescribed through the histories of shipping companies suchas Ewart’s A hundred year history of the P & O PeninsularDr Carl Gibson-Hill (seated left) and Dato Loke WanTho (seated centre) at a Singapore PhotographicSociety exhibition eventand Oriental Steam NavigationCompany (1937) and MacGregor’s(1961) account of Killick Martin& Co. A number of the titles,illustrated by skilled artists, areprimarily a visual survey of classicships touching even on the art ofpainting ships. Chatterton’s Oldsea paintings (1928), for instance,studies the life and works of Dutchand English painters of sailing shipsbetween the 14 th and 19 th centuries. Moses’ Sketches ofshipping (1824) has etchings of port life at PortsmouthHarbour in 19 th century England and it is believed that fewcopies of this work are extant.Of Travels and VoyagesClosely associated with sailing history are the traveloguesand historical trade journeys made during the Age ofDiscovery, and these comprise the bulk of the Gibson-Hill Collection. Almost a third of the Collection is relatedto these travel tales and it is dominated by the HakluytSociety’s publications. Formed in 1846, the Hakluyt Societysought to advance knowledge of world history throughthe publication of travel narratives previously unavailablein English. Its namesake, Richard Hakluyt, gained fame as acompiler of tales. Although he seldom ventured far himself,Hakluyt’s works captured the English imagination for traveland discovery. The Gibson-Hill Collection has 53 of 121 titlespublished by the Hakluyt Society between 1847 and 1963.The earliest Hakluyt title in the Collection is Walter Raleigh’sThe discovery of the large, rich, and beautiful empire ofGuiana published in 1848, (number 3 of the Hakluyt’sSociety’s works) while the latest is Bourne’s and Taylor’s Aregiment for the sea (1963) (number 121), published in theyear of Gibson-Hill’s death.The Collection has the first edition of Linschoten’sDiscourse of voyages (1598) published in English, the earliesttitle in the Collection. This is famed for unveiling the secretroute Eastward, once privy only to the Portuguese. Theknowledge was gleaned through Linschoten’s privilegedappointment as Secretary to the Portuguese Archbishopof Goa. With his publication, the gates to the East wereopened for other European colonialists and inspired earlycartographers to draft new maps of the journey to the East.This publication also facilitated Gibson-Hill’s study on theSingapore Straits 2 .The Collection also includes some of the earliest storiesof journeying. Several are compilations of tales such asthe early 18 th century compilation of travel narratives byHarris Navigantium atque itinerantium bibliotheca (1705)biblioasia | 22

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sand Hakluyt’s own Principal navigations (1907,1927) whichwas first published in 1598 with key works of the Ageof Discovery. There are a number of accounts of MiddleEasterners visiting Asia such as Ibn Batuta’s Travels in Asia(1929) written originally in the 14 th century, and anotherby Abu Zayd Hasan – Ancient accounts of India andChina (1733) of the 9 th century voyages of Sulaiman theMerchant (851 A. D.), and Ibn Walib (877 A. D.) to China.The journeys of the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and Britishinto the Far East capture the charm and courage of theAge of Discovery, and include such classics as The worldencompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1854), Three voyagesof Vasco da Gama (1869) and Magellan’s First voyageround the world (1874). Interspersed are the sojourns ofindividuals such as Pietro della Valle’s through India towardsthe Holy City in the Middle East in the 17 th century, andCharles R. Boxer’s translations of Brito’s tales of Portugueseshipwrecks and sea disasters of the mid-16 th to mid-17 thcenturies.Many titles describe unusual exploits such as Fortunedisguising himself to uncover the secrets of tea plantingin China leading to India’s rise in the tea industry and theend of China’s monopoly 3 . Others are the diaries of earlytravellers and tourists, including some unusual Victorianwomen. The latter category includes Isabella Bird who iswell-known for her famed work The Golden Chersonese(1883) and Annie A. Brassey who travelled on the Sunbeamwith her whole family, pugs and all.Accounts of Early MalayaThe early accounts and pre-colonial studies of Malaya lendthe Gibson-Hill collection its value. Wheatley’s classic TheGolden Chersonese (1955) highlights the earliest mentionof Malaya from Ptolemy’s first century work, to earlyChinese records and 7 th century Arab travelogues. Anotheris Groeneveldt’s Historical notes on Indonesia and Malayacompiled from Chinese sources (1960) which presents14 th to 17 th century accounts. Complementing these areShellabear’s Sejarah Melayu (1948, 1957), a translationof the early history of Malaya as conveyed orally to thecommunity, Tome Pires’ The Suma Oriental (1944) whichgives one of the earliest published descriptions of Malaccain the 16 th century and Skelton’s Explorers’ maps (1954)which conveys the Age of Discovery through maps.The colonial rivalry over the Spice Islands is reflectedin several compilations of travel tales to the East. BesidesLinschoten’s, there is Purchas’ Pilgrimage (1613) whichbrings together the works of more than a thousand authors,some of whom traversed the Far East. The Churchills’ sixvolume18 th century work A collection of voyages andtravels (1732) is impressive not only for its accounts of Asiain the 17 th century but also for its illustrations and maps.Most outstanding is Marryat’s Borneo and the IndianArchipelago (1848). Marryat was both a surveyor and askilled draughtsman who illustrated more than just maps.Whilst on Edward Belcher’s tour of the Indian Archipelagobetween 1843 and 1846, he sketched the culture, costumesand scenery of the lands they visited. The book has vividcolour images of the region, including Singapore, as well asblack-and-white details brought out through artfully placedlight and shade. The copy in the Gibson-Hill Collection isone of the few that still has its original red binding with agold Mandarin stamped on its cover.Early British explorations and the study of the Malayarchipelagos are invariably part of Gibson-Hill’s Collection.These include the works on Francis Light 4 , those by 5 andon 6 Raffles and those by his contemporary, John Crawfur 7 .Aside from the works of the founding leaders, a number aresurveys by naturalists like Forbes’ A naturalist’s wanderings(1885), or employees of the British East Indies like Marsdenwho provided the epic The history of Sumatra (1811). TheCollection also includes the journeying of other nationalitiesin the region such as Horsfield, the first American tosurvey Java’s natural heritage in Zoological researches inJava (1824) and Honig and Verdoorn’s (1945) collectionof scientific articles (translated from Dutch) of researchin Indonesia. There is even an account of the escape toJava from religious persecution by a Frenchman (Le Guat,1708) 8 with descriptions of natural life observed duringthe harrowing journey. References of Singapore during itsfledgling days as a British colony are also made in the worksof Moor (1837) 9 ,Davidson (1846) 10 who describe the settlement between1826 to 1840s, Keppel (1856) 11 in his autobiographicalaccounts of his visits to Sarawak, passing through Singapore,Robertson’s Straits memories (1910) giving an account ofSingapore’s community in the late 19 th century, and Read’sgraphic Play and politics (1901).Marryat’s cover and an etching of Singapore insidebiblioasia | 23

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sErudite EditorGibson-Hill left an indelible mark as the Editorof the Journal of the Malayan Branch of theRoyal Asiatic Society. Since the Straits Branch ofthe Royal Asiatic Society had established itself inthe grounds of the Raffles Library and Museumin 1878, a succession of Directors had held aconcurrent role as President of the Society’sBranch. During Gibson-Hill’s term, the positionof editor was made separate from that ofHonorary Secretary freeing him to focus on thetask of editing the Journal. Erudite and particularto a fault, Gibson-Hill was known to add lengthy footnotes,bibliographies and maps to articles, clearly enhancing theoriginal work. However, his diligence invariably delayedthe publication of these articles, often to the annoyanceof many.One of his earliest tasks as editor was to compile theJournal’s first post-war index – the Index of Volumes 1–20(1922–1947). The index was instrumental in raising thesales of the Journal’s back issues and helped generate a tidysum for the newly reinstated Society Branch. Aside from editing,Gibson-Hill also wrote extensively for the Journal andbecame the third most prolific contributor, with a total of49 articles on various topics from the history of the regionto boats and hats. 12 His work showed a deep knowledgeof Malaya, its culture, ethnology and natural history. Moreimportantly, they exemplified his willingness and doggeddetermination in helping ferret out difficult-to-find information.For example, his detailed history of a local newspaper– The Singapore Chronicles 13 ,and a listing of MasterAttendants 14 who served in Singapore between 1819 and1867 were responses to requests for more facts on theselittle researched areas 15 . Gibson-Hill had an innate ability totranslate dry facts into living stories and transform seeminglymeaningless lists, complex legislation and bureaucraticreports into gems of information and knowledge. He wasalso an active contributor to the Malayan Nature Journaland the Bulletin of the Raffles Museum, with whole editionsdedicated to his articles. His works also appeared inthe local daily, The Straits Times, specialised journals suchas Ibis as well as in general titles such as The GeographicalMagazine (London).Articulating a New Malayan HistoryDuring the 1950s, the rumblings for Merdeka (Independence)swept through the Peninsula. It was expressed notonly in politics but also institutionally. During this period,Malayan Studies was set up at the University of Malaya andProfessor Cyril Northcote Parkinson was installed as theProfessor of History. With Parkinson’s encouragement, newWalker’s Voyages and cruises(1928) are bound in Gibson-Hill’s unique batik coversstudies into Malayan history by Asians wereinitiated and textbooks by Malayans for Malayanswere published.The Gibson-Hill Collection is a testamentto Parkinson’s influence in this field. It hasfour titles from the Background to MalayaSeries 16 (a series credited to Parkinson)which provide bite-sized insights on Malaya’seconomy, politics and history. Besides severalof Parkinson’s titles such as A short history ofMalaya (1956) and War in the Eastern Seas1793–1815 (1954), the Collection also hasseveral textbooks and readers on Malaya’s history. Theseinclude Moorhead’s A history of Malaya and her neighbours(1957) as well as rare history textbooks for Malayans byMalayans, such as Radhava’s History in the Malayan PrimarySchool (1960) and Morris’ A history of Malaya for schools(1955). Alongside these are the popular readers such asPearson’s People of early Singapore (1955) and A history ofSingapore (1956).Many of these works were outcomes of ferventdiscussions in academic circles on Malayan history andidentity during the 1950s, even as Malayan politicianswere calling for independence. Capturing some of thisfervency is Bastin’s The study of modern Southeast Asianhistory (1959) which analyses the various interpretationsof a Malayan history, evaluates Western perspectives andencourages further articulation of a truly Malayan history.Gibson-Hill after all was often at the heart of these debates,having to attend to the enquiries of many of these buddinghistorians, as evidenced by their acknowledgements of himin their books.A Vision of Malayan CultureEven social institutions were being transformed by thissearch for a Malayan identity. In the 1950s, the SingaporePhotographic Society (originally known as the SingaporeCamera Club) and the Singapore Arts Society conveyed thevisual expression of being Malayan. Gibson-Hill and LokeWan Tho were active in both societies often alternating asChairman or President and attracting important names tothe exhibitions which they coordinated. Thus, copies ofthese societies’ journals such as The Singapore Artist as wellas their respective exhibition catalogues 17 are found in theCollection.The Gibson-Hill Collection has titles in Loke Wan Tho’sname, inter-shelved retrospectively after the donation wasmade. Many of Loke’s titles are related to photography– its techniques, craftsmanship and development, includingthose from the giants of photography such as Ansel Adam 18and William Mortensen. 19 It was after all photography ofbiblioasia | 24

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t stheir first loves – the birds of Malaya – that drewGibson-Hill and Loke together. Both producedphotographs of birds which were so highlyregarded that their respective photographsof the tern for example were independentlychosen as symbols for the local currency andcollection of historical paintings and printsin the Raffles Museum. He was credited inTeo, Chong & Oh’s publication Nineteenthcentury prints of Singapore (1987) for tracingthe provenance and topographical details ofthese early artwork of Singapore.postage stamps – Gibson-Hill’s image of theblack-naped tern Sterna sumatrana appears onSingapore’s 1966 15-cent stamp, while Loke’simage of the Black-naped Tern on SquanceRock off Changi appears on the 1971 issue ofthe Singapore dollar.In spite of his severe short-sightedness, The only book plate ofA Quiet EscapeThe mid-1950s saw Gibson-Hill’s healthdeteriorate. A diabetic, he did little to managehis health and remained a heavy smoker.Since 1956, he suffered bouts of oedemaand was hospitalised in October 1959 forGibson-Hill’s photographs and techniques wereGibson-Hill found in theclose to three months, and again at the endtitle Practical taxidermyhighly commended. Gibson-Hill had published (1922) by Montagu Brown of 1960. In 1956, Tweedie’s announcementseveral photographic works of Singapore andMalaya. The first entitled Singapore; twenty-four camerastudies (1948) features the island’s built landscape in starkblack-and-white. This was followed quickly by The Malayanlandscape; seventy camera studies (1949) which portrayedthe quiet idyllic life of Malayans in nine states, reflecting bothurban and rural perspectives. In Hancock’s Architecture inSingapore (1954), Gibson-Hill details the colonial buildingsand landmarks in Singapore through both images and text.The photographs were part of an extensive exhibition ofSingapore’s landmark buildings. Gibson-Hill’s photographs 20of the 1950s remain vital images of Singapore’s historyas they capture structures, many of which have beendemolished or changed over time.The bush jacket he frequently wore was often packedwith lenses, films and notebooks, the last filled with detailsof his photographs. He was also known to, at the spur ofthe moment, jump into his station wagon and take off onexpeditions. His secretary Eileen Lee remembers 21 that theseincluded pit stops at the Kallang River to barter for hatsfrom Indonesian boatmen while at the same time studyingtheir unique watercrafts. Sometimes the expeditions wentfurther afield to the Johore River for archaeological digsor to take photographs of ancient monuments. Often,Lee would assist him on these journeys, holding on to histrusted Nikon.The photographs taken were sometimes used forGibson-Hill’s illustrations. These sketches were generally inpen and ink but sometimes drawn to life-size proportions.The works were scientific representations rather thanartistic pieces. He illustrated almost all his articles, drawingbirds, animals, boats, maps and artefacts. His interestin illustrations is reflected in his Collection of books, forinstance in the beautiful works by animal artists suchas Tunnicliffe 22 . His eye for art and imagery along withhis scholarly bent naturally led him to organise the richof his forthcoming retirement the followingyear meant that Gibson-Hill had to fill his shoes as Directorof the National Museum. For the same reason Gibson-Hillwas also made President of the Society’s Branch but withthe challenges of a dwindling membership, and Gibson-Hillholding all the key posts in the Society in addition to hisduties as Director of the Museum, something had to give.Meanwhile, the political and social landscape of Malayawas rapidly changing. With the formation of Malaysia slatedfor September 1963, an exodus of British expatriates soonfollowed. Eric Alfred observed 23 that many came personallyto bid farewell to the Museum Director, whether they knewhim personally or not, almost as a final pilgrimage beforethey left the country they loved so much. What couldGibson-Hill have felt in the face of these farewells?For the first time, in 1962, the Malaysian Branch of theRoyal Asiatic Society held its meeting in Kuala Lumpur(instead of Singapore) where Tun Abdul Razak was electedas its President. By now, Gibson-Hill would have realised thatthese changes foreshadowed what would invariably befallthe Museum management. With the rise of nationalismand the drive to place locals in senior government positions,Gibson-Hill’s days as an expatriate Director of the RafflesMuseum were numbered. Lee recalls 24 that Gibson-Hill hadbeen depressed particularly since his term as Director of theNational Museum was not renewed and his time in Malayawas drawing to a close. Some suggest that his good friendand fellow ornithologist, Loke had offered Gibson-Hilllodgings in the Cathay building apartments to continue hisstudy of Malaya upon his retirement from the Museum.This was not to be. Less than a month to his retirement,Gibson-Hill was found dead in his home in August 1963,alone. Whether his death was due to ill health or depression,rumours remain. What is certain is that he left behind aninvaluable body of work in the form of texts and images,and an irreplaceable vacuum of knowledge on Malaya.biblioasia | 25

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sThe Donation of a Treasured CollectionUnfortunately, within weeks of his death,the merger of Singapore with Malaysiawas announced, and two years later itsseparation would follow. Because ofthe subsequent political transition andinstitutional reorganisation, it would only bein 1965 that the Asian Branch of the AsiaticSociety would remember Gibson-Hill in itsJournal. At the same time the donation ofhis treasured collection was made.Loke Wan Tho had been the first directorof the National Library Board 25 . Establishedin 1960, the Board was instrumental in giving advisorysupport to the newly instituted National Library. One ofthe key collections established was the Southeast AsiaRoom which included the heritage collections of the RafflesLibrary and the Tan Yeok Seong’s collection on the NanyangChinese. It is believed that Loke had seen the potential inGibson-Hill’s collection. Loke’s plans had been to purchasehis late friend’s books and donate it to the National Library.Unfortunately, an aircrash on 20 June 1964 over Taiwan ledto Loke’s demise. It was Loke’s mother, Mrs Loke Yew whooffered the donation on her son’s behalf on 18 June 1965,almost a year after Loke’s death.The collection comprises close to 1,000 items, withmore than 600 titles which are not duplicated 26 and 80%of these not found elsewhere in the National Library Board’sholdings 27 . Accompanying this collection are at least 25titles contributed by Loke. Unfortunately, no manuscript,photograph or illustration of Gibson-Hill’s was foundamongst this set of published works. Upon receipt of thedonation, each title was marked with a label ascribingthe donation to Loke Wan Tho. The books are otherwiseuntouched, with scarcely a scribbled note or a dog-earedpage. Selected titles however, have scrawled within them,Gibson-Hill’s signature and a date. Using this marking, theacquisition of some of his titles can be traced. For examplehis earliest acquisitions in the 1940s were primarily of birdswhilst his later acquisitions diversified to ethnological studiesand travel literature. However, only 45 of such titles weremarked. Only one title has his personal bookplate whichdepicts a Peregrine in flight above a unicorn.Today, the books are located in the Closed Stacks of Level11 of the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. They can beaccessed directly from the counter (at Level 11) or, for itstitles which are considered Rare Books, accessed through itssurrogates on microfilm. By the end of 2008, a catalogueof his works, with a brief analysis of selected titles andappended with his biography, will be published to assist inGibson-Hill's signature anddating found on specific titlesfurther exploration of this fine treasure-troveof Malayan heritage.ENDNOTES1. Gibson-Hill published an earlier workWarwickshire (1936) describing the landscape ofhis hometown. However he published it under apseudonym John Lisle.2. Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1956). Singapore:Old Strait & New Harbour, 1300–1870. Singapore:General Post Office.3. The story is found in Fortune A Journey to the TeaCountries of China (1852).4. Clodd, Harold Parker. (1948). Malaya’s first Britishpioneer: The Life of Francis Light. London: Luzac.5. Such as Raffles’ History of Java (1830).6. Sophia Raffles’ Memoir of the life and Public Services of SirThomas Stamford Raffles (1830).7. Namely Crawfurd’s History of the Indian archipelago (1820)and his A descriptive dictionary of the Indian Islands & adjacentcountries (1856).8. Le Guat, Francois (Leguat, Francis). (1708). A new voyage to theEast-Indies and his companions. Containing their adventures intwo desart islands, and an account of the most remarkable thingsin Maurice Island, Batavia, at the Cape of Good Hope, the islandof St. Helena, and other places on their way to and from thedesart isles. London: R. Bonwick, W. Freeman and Tim Goodwin.9. Moor, J. H. (1837). Notices of the Indian archipelago, andadjacent countries: being a collection of papers relating toBorneo, Celebes, Bali, Java, Sumatra, Nias, the Philippine islands,Sulus, Siam, Cochin China, Malayan Peninsula, etc. Singapore:[n. p.].10. Davidson, G. F. (1846). Trade and travel in the Far East, or,Recollections of twenty-one years passed in Java, Singapore,Australia and China. London: Madden & Malcolm.11. Especially in keppel, Henry. (1853). A visit to the IndianArchipelago, in H.M. ship Maeander; with portions of the privatejournal of Sir James Brooke. London: Richard Bentley.12. Tiew, Wai Sin. (1998, July), History of Journal of the MalaysianBranch of the Royal Asiatic Society (JMBRAS) 1878 – 1997: Anoverview. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science,3(1), p. 50.13. JMBRAS (1953), 26(1), pp. 175–199.14. JMBRAS (1960), 33(1), pp. 1–64.15. Gibson-Hill’s indicates that "(t)he difficulty experienced in dealingwith what should have been a small problem showed clearly thatno previous investigation into the matter had ever been recored,and that there was no extant official list (Gibson-Hill, "TheMaster Attendants (Harbour Masters) at Singapore, 1819-67",(1960), JMBRAS, 33(1), 1)".16. Parkinson, Cyril Northcote. (1956). A short history of Malaya.Singapore: Donald Moore; Tweedie, Michael Willmer Forbes.(1957). Prehistoric Malaya (Rev. Ed.). Singapore: Donald Moore;Josey, Alex. (1954). Trade unionism in Malaya. Singapore: DonaldMoore & Silcock, Thomas Henry. (1955). The economy of Malaya:An essay in colonial political economy. Singapore: Donald Moore.17. Examples of catalogues are primarily from the Singapore ArtSociety and include Singapore Art Society. (1954). A loanexhibition of Chinese art of the early periods [at the] BritishCouncil Centre, Singapore, May 7 th to 16 th , 1954. Singapore:Singapore Art Society; Singapore Art Society. (1956). Chen WenHsi: Exhibition of paintings in the British Council Gallery on May4 th to May 13 th . Singapore: Singapore Art Society & Singapore ArtSociety. (1951). A definitive exhibition of Malay arts & crafts [atthe] British Council Centre, Stamford Road – Singapore, July 21 stto 29 th , 1951. Singapore: Craftsman Press.biblioasia | 26

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t s18.19.20.Including Adams, Ansel. (1948). Making a photograph: Anintroduction to photography. London: Studio.Including Mortensen, William. (1935). Pictorial lighting. SanFrancisco, California: Camera Craft Publishing Co; Mortensen,William. (1949). Mortensen on the negative. New York: Simonand Schuster & Mortensen, William. (1947). Outdoor portraiture;problems of face and figure in natural environment. SanFrancisco, California: Camera Craft Publishing Co.These photographs are now scattered among the NationalMuseum of Singapore, Pitt River Photographs (more than 4,000photographs of ethnographic value), Singapore ArchitectsAssociation (mainly architectural photographs as well as ofhistorical maps of Singapore which were originally at Pitt Rivers),Singapore Motor Club (of the Singapore Grand Prix whichwere originally at Pitt Rivers) and the Library of the Centre forS.E. Asian Studies at the University of Hull (non-ethnographicphotographs for example of Bangkok and other urban centreswhich were originally at Pitt Rivers). The details of the distributionof photographs originally with Pitt Rivers Museum is derived froman unpublished paper by John R. Clammer (1973) “The CarlGibson-Hill S. E. Asian Photographic Collection: Its history, scopeand disposition.” University of Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum.21. Personal interviews with Eileen Lee in 2007.22.Tunnicliffe, Charles Frederick. (1945). Bird portraiture. London:The Studio.23. Personal interviews with Eric Alfred in 2007.24. Personal interviews with Eileen Lee in 2007.25.26.27.The Board was then a non-executive body with an advisory role,unlike the current Board formed in 1995, serving as the umbrellabody housing both the National Library and the Public Libraries.About a third of the titles in the holdings are duplicates withseveral copies of the same found within the Collection. The finalcatalogue thus lists only 673 individual titles integrating bothduplicates and multi-volumed works.These titles cannot be found elsewhere in the National Libraryand the Public Libraries under the National Library BoardREFERENCES1. Abu Zayd Hasan ibn Yazıd al-Sırafı.. (1733). Ancient accounts ofIndia and China, by two Mohammedan travellers, who went tothose parts in the 9th century; translated from Arabic, by the latelearned Eusebius Renaudot. With notes, illustrations and inquiriesby the same hand.London: Samuel Harding.Call no.: RRARE 954 ANCMicrofilm no.: NL 254532.3.4.5.6.7.8.Alfred, Eric. (2007). Personal interviews with Eric Alfred.Anderson, Romola & Anderson, Roger Charles. (1926). Thesailing ship: Six thousand years of history. London: G. G. Harrap.Call no.: RCLOS 623.82209 AND [GBH]Adams, Ansel. (1948). Making a photograph: An introduction tophotography. London: Studio.Call no.: RCLOS 770.28 ADA [GBH]Aymar, Gordon Christian. (1936). Bird flight: A collection of 200action photographs. London: Bodley Head.Call no.: RCLOS 598.2 AYM [GBH]Bastin, John Sturgus. (1959). The study of modern SoutheastAsian history. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya in KualaLumpur.Call no.: RCLOS 959 BAS [GBH]Bird, Isabella L. (Mrs Bishop). (1883). The Golden Chersonese andthe way thither. London: Murray.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 BIS [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 7462Brassey, Annie Allnutt. (1881). A voyage in the ‘Sunbeam’:our home on the ocean for eleven months (2nd Ed.). London:Longmans, Green.Call no.: RRARE 910.41 BRA9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.Brito, Bernardo Gomes de (Ed.). (1959). The tragic history of thesea, 1589–1622; narratives of the shipwrecks of the PortugueseEast Indiamen São Thomé (1589), Santo Alberto (1593), São JoãoBaptista (1622), and the journeys of the survivors in South EastAfrica. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Call no.: RCLOS 910.8 HAK [GBH]Campbell, Bruce. (1953). Finding nests. London: Collins.Description: 256p. , ill., 20cm.Call no.: RCLOS 598.2 CAM [GBH]Chatterton, Edward Keble. (1909). Sailing ships; the story of theirdevelopment from the earliest times to the present day with ahundred and thirty illustrations. London: Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd.Call no.: RCLOS 623.821 CHA [GBH]Chatterton, Edward Keble. (1914). The old East Indiamen.London: T. Werner Laurie.Call no.: RCLOS 382.0942 CHA [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 18277Churchill, Awnsham & Churchill, John. (1732). A collectionof voyages and travels, some now first printed from originalmanuscripts, others now first published in English (Vols. 1–6).London: J. Walthoe.Call no.: RRARE 910.8 CHUMicrofilm no.: NL 25456Clammer, John R. (1973) “The Carl Gibson-Hill S. E. AsianPhotographic Collection: Its history, scope and disposition.”Unpublished paper for the University of Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum.Clark, Kathleen. (1965). Carl Gibson-Hill. JMBRAS, 38(2), pp.17-21.Clodd, Harold Parker. (1948). Malaya’s first British pioneer: Thelife of Francis Light. London: Luzac.Call no.: RCLOS 959.510320924 LIG [GBH]Microfiche no.: NL0003/142-144Corner, E. H. (1981). The Marquis: a tale of Syonan-to.Singapore: Heinemann Asia.Crawfurd, John. (1820). History of the Indian Archipelago,containing an account of the manners, arts, languages, religions,institutions, and commerce of its inhabitants (Vols. 1-3).Edinburgh: A. Constable.Call no.: RRARE 991 CRAMicrofilm no.: NL 25440 (Vol. 1), NL 25441 (Vols. 2 & 3)Crawfurd, John. (1856). A descriptive dictionary of the IndianIslands & adjacent countries. London: Bradbury & Evans.Call no.: RRARE 959.8 CRAMicrofilm no.: NL 6554, NL 25418Davidson, G. F. (1846). Trade and travel in the Far East, or,Recollections of twenty-one years passed in Java, Singapore,Australia and China. London: Madden & Malcolm.Call no.: RRARE 950 DAVMicrofilm no.: NL11223Della Valle, Pietro. (1892). The travels of Pietro della Valle in India.From the old English translation of 1664 by George Havers (Vols.1 & 2). London: Hakluyt Society.Call no.: RCLOS 910.8 HAK [GBH]Ewart, Ernest Andrew (Cable, Boyd [pseud]). (1937). A hundredyear history of the P. & O., Peninsular and Oriental SteamNavigation Company. London: Ivor Nicholson & Watson.Call no.: RCLOS 357.243 EWA [GBH]Forbes, Henry Ogg. (1885). A naturalist’s wanderings in theEastern Archipelago, a narrative of travel and exploration from1878 to 1883. London: S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington.Call no.: RCLOS 992 FOR [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 25438Fortune, Robert. (1852). A journey to the tea countries of China;including Sung-Lo and the Bohea Hills; with a short notice of theEast India Company’s tea plantations in the Himalaya Mountains.London: J. Murray.Call no.: RCLOS 951 FOR [GBH]Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1946). “Boats and fishing on theCocos-Keeling Island”. Journal of the Royal AnthropologicalInstitute, 76(1), pp. 13–23.Call no.: RCLOS 639.209698 GIBbiblioasia | 27

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t s26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.41.42.Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1948). “Index Vols. 1–20 (1923–1947) of the Society’s Journal”. Journal of the Malayan Branch ofthe Royal Asiatic Society, 21(3), pp. 1–60.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 JMBRAS [GBH]Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1948). Singapore, twenty-fourcamera studies. Singapore: Kelly & Walsh.Call no.: RCLOS 959.51 GIBMicrofilm no.: NL10071Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1949). The Malayan landscape;seventy camera studies. Singapore: Kelly & Walsh.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 GIB [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL10058Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1949, September). “An annotatedchecklist of the birds of Malaya”. Bull. Raff. Mus., (20), pp. 5–299.Call no.: RCLOS 574 RAF [GBH]Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1950, December). “Ornithologicalnotes from the Raffles Museum, No.11, Nesting notes onthe Malayan Long-tailed Tailor-Bird, Orthotomus sutonicusmaculicollis Moore”. Bull. Raff. Mus., (23), pp. 82–97.Call no.: RCLOS 574 RAF [GBH]Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1952, December). “Documentsrelating to John Clunies Ross, Alexander Hare and theestablishment of the colony on the Cocos-Keeling Islands”.JMBRAS, 25(4 & 5), pp. 1–306.Call no.: RCLOS 969.8 GIBMicrofilm no.: NL9980Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1953, July). “The SingaporeChronicle (1824–37)”. JMBRAS, 26(1), 175–199.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 JMBRAS [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL10071Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1956). Singapore: Old Strait & NewHarbour, 1300–1870. Singapore: General Post Office.Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1960, May). “The Master Attendants(Harbour Masters) at Singapore, 1819–67”. JMBRAS, 33(1), pp.1–63.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 JMBRASGroeneveldt, Willem Pieter. (1960). Historical notes on Indonesiaand Malaya compiled from Chinese sources. Djakarta: C. V.Bhratara.Call no.: RCLOS 959.8 GRO [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 8131Hakluyt, Richard. (1907, 1927). The principal navigations,voyages, traffiques & discoveries of the English nation, made bysea or overland to the remote & farthest distant quarters of theearth at any time within the compasse of these 1600 yeares (Vols.1 & 5). London, J. M. Dent & Co., New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.Call no.: RCLOS 910.4 HAK [GBH]Hancock, T. H. H & Gibson-Hill, Carl Alexander. (1954).Architecture in Singapore. Singapore: Singapore Art Society.Call no.: RCLOS 722.4095957 SIN [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL10286Harris, John. (1705). Navigantium atque itinerantium bibliotheca,or, A complete collection of voyages and travels: consistingof above four hundred of the most authentic writers ... in theEnglish Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German orDutch tongues.... (Vols. 1 & 2). London: Thomas Bennet.Call no.: RRARE 910.8 HARMicrofilm no.: NL 25462Hodgson, Geoffrey. (1965). “Memoir of C. A. Gibson-Hill”.JMBRAS, 38(2), 1–15.Honig, Pieter & Verdoorn, Franz (Eds.). (1945). Science andscientists in the Netherlands Indies. New York, Board for theNetherlands Indies, Surinam and Curaçao.Call no.: RCLOS 509.91 HON [GBH]Hornell, James. (1920). The origins and ethnological significanceof Indian boat designs. Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press for TheAsiatic Society.Call no.: RCLOS 623.8210954 HOR [GBH]Hornell, James. (1924). The boats of the Ganges: The fishingmethods of the Ganges. Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal.Call no.: RCLOS 623.82109541 HOR [GBH]43.44.45.Horsfield, Thomas. (1824). Zoological researches in Java, and theneighbouring islands. London: Printed by Kingsbury, Parbury, & Allen.Call no.: RRARE 591.9922 HORMicrofilm no.: NL 25740Hosking, Eric John & Lowes, Harold. (Eds.). (1947). Masterpiecesof bird photography. London: Collins.Call no.: RCLOS 778.932 HOS [GBH]Hosking, Eric John & Newberry, Cyril William. (1949). Birds inaction. London: Collins.Call no.: RCLOS 778.932 HOS [GBH]46. Ibn Batuta and Gibb, Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen.(1929). Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325–1354, translated andselected by H. A. R. Gibb...with an introduction and notes.London: G. Routledge & Sons, Ltd.Call no.: RCLOS 950 IBN [GBH]47. Josey, Alex. (1954). Trade unionism in Malaya. Singapore: DonaldMoore.Call no.: RCLOS 331.8809595 JOS [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 1190048. Keppel, Henry. (1853). A visit to the Indian Archipelago, in H.M.ship Maeander; with portions of the private journal of Sir JamesBrooke. London: Richard Bentley.Call no.: RCLOS 959.52 KEP [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 805949. Le Guat, Francois (Leguat, Francis). (1708). A new voyage to theEast-Indies and his companions. Containing their adventures intwo desart islands, and an acount of the most remarkable thingsin Maurice Island, Batavia, at the Cape of Good Hope, the islandof St. Helena, and other places on their way to and from thedesart isles. London: R. Bonwick, W. Freeman and Tim Goodwin.Call no.: RRARE 991 FRYMicrofilm no.: NL 764050. Lee, Eileen. (2007). Personal interviews with Eileen Lee.51. Linschoten, John Huygen van. (1598). Iohn Huighen vanLinschoten, his discours of voyages into ye Easte & West Indies[John Huyghen van Linschoten, his discourse of voyages into theEast and West Indies]. London: Printed by John Wolfe.Call no.: RRARE 910.8 LIN [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 802452. Loke, Wan Tho. (1957). A company of birds. London: M. Joseph.Call no.: RCLOS 598.295 LOK [GBH]53. MacGregor, David Roy. (1961). The China bird: The history ofCaptain Killick and one hundred years of sail and steam. London:Chatto & Windus.Call no.: RCLOS 910.45 MAC [GBH]54. Madoc, G. C. (1947). An introduction to Malayan birds. KualaLumpur: Malayan Nature.Call no.: RCLOS 598.29595 MAD [GBH]55. Marsden, William. (1811). The history of Sumatra: Containing anaccount of the government, laws, customs, and manners of thenative inhabitants, with a description of the natural productions,and a relation of the ancient political state of that island (3rd Ed).London: Printed for the author by J. M’Creery.Call no.: RRARE 992.1 MARMicrofilm no.: NL 715656. Marryat, Frank. (1848). Borneo and the Indian Archipelago: withdrawings of costume and scenery. London: Longman, Brown,Green and Longmans.Call no.: RRARE 991.1 MARMicrofilm no.: NL 746557. Menon, Kanichat Radhava. (1960). History in the MalayanPrimary School (Book 1). Singapore: India Publishing House.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 MEN [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 1121158. Mitman, Carl Weaver (Ed.). (1923). Catalogue of the watercraftcollection in the United States National Museum. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.Call no.: RCLOS 623.821 MIT [GBH]biblioasia | 28

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t s59.60.61.62.63.64.65.66.67.68.69.70.71.72.73.1.Moorhead, Francis Joseph. (1957–1963). A history of Malaya andher neighbours. London: Longmans, Green.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 MOO [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 18274Moor, J. H. (1837). Notices of the Indian archipelago, and adjacentcountries: being a collection of papers relating to Borneo, Celebes,Bali, Java, Sumatra, Nias, the Philippine islands, Sulus, Siam,Cochin China, Malayan Peninsula, etc. Singapore: [n. p.].Call no.: RRARE 991 MOOMicrofilm no.: NL 5722Morris, Margery. (1955). A history of Malaya for schools. London:University of London Press.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 MOR [GBH]Microfiche no.: NL 0008/068-070*Mortensen, William. (1935). Pictorial lighting. San Francisco,California: Camera Craft Publishing Co.Call no.: RCLOS 778.72 MOR [GBH]Mortensen, William. (1949). Mortensen on the negative. NewYork: Simon and Schuster.Call no.: RCLOS 770.283 MOR [GBH]*Mortensen, William. (1947). Outdoor portraiture; problems offace and figure in natural environment. San Francisco, California:Camera Craft Publishing Co.Call no.: RCLOS 778.92 MOR [GBH]Moses, Henry. (1824). Sketches of shipping: Views in PortsmouthHarbour. London: H. Moses.Call no.: RRARE 743.996238 MOSMicrofilm no.: NL 25730Murphy, Robert Cushman. (1947). Logbook for Grace; whalingbrig Daisy, 1912–1913. New York: The Macmillan Co.Call no.: RCLOS 910.4 MUR [GBH]Parkinson, Cyril Northcote. (1956). A short history of Malaya.Singapore: Donald Moore.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 PAR [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 11211Parkinson, Cyril Northcote. (1954). War in the Eastern Seas1793–1815. London: Allen & Unwin.Call no.: RCLOS 940.27 PAR [GBH]Pearson, Harold Frank. (1955). People of early Singapore.London: University of London Press.Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 PE [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL15394Pearson, Harold Frank. (1956). A history of Singapore. London:University of London Press.Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 PEA [GBH]Microfiche no.: NL 0002/097-099Pires, Tomé. (1944). The Suma oriental of Tomé Pires, an accountof the East, from the Red Sea to Japan, written in Malacca andIndia in 1512–1515, and The book of Francisco Rodrigues, rutterof a voyage in the Red Sea, nautical rules, almanack and maps,written and drawn in the East before 1515 (Vols. 1 & 2). London:Hakluyt Society.Call no.: RCLOS 910.8 HAKMicrofilm no.: NL 14208Purchas, Samuel. (1613). Pvrchas his Pilgrimage. Or, Relationsof the world and the religions observed in all ages and placesdiscouered, from the creation vnto this present. In foure partes.This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie ofAsia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaringthe ancient religions before the flovd, the heathnish, Jewish, andSaracenicall in all ages since. London: William Stansby.Call no.: RRARE 200 PURMicrofilm no.: NL 7434Raffles, Thomas Stamford. (1830). The history of Java. London:John Murray.Description: 2 v. in 1; 21 cm.Call no.: RRARE 992.2 RAFMicrofilm no.: NL 25444Raffles, Sophia. (1830). Memoir of the life and public servicesof Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, F.R.S. &c., particularly in thegovernment of Java, 1811–1816, and of Bencoolen and its1.2.3.dependencies, 1817–1824: with details of the commerce andresources of the Eastern Archipelago and selections from hiscorrespondence. London: John Murray.Call no.: RRARE 959.570210924 RAFMicrofilm no.: NL 3280Read, William Henry Macleod. (1901). Play and politics, recollectionsof Malaya by an old resident. London: W. Gardner, Darton.Call no.: RRARE 959.503 ROBMicrofilm no.: NL 14075Robertson, E. J. (1910). Straits memories, being recollectionsof incidents, peoples and life in Singapore and the Straits ageneration ago. Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.Call no.: RRARE 959.503 ROBMicrofilm no.: NL 8762Shellabear, William Girdlestone (Ed.). (1948). Sejarah Melayu, or,The Malay Annals (3rd Ed.). Singapore: Malaya Publishing House.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 SEJ [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 112174. Skelton, Raleigh Ashlin. (1954). Explorers’ maps: Chapters in thecartographic record of geographical discovery. Routledge & K.Paul.Call no.: RCLOS 910.9 SKE [GBH]5. Silcock, Thomas Henry. (1955). The economy of Malaya: An essayin colonial political economy. Singapore: Donald Moore.Call no.: RCLOS 330.9595 SIL [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 119296. Singapore Art Society. (1951). A definitive exhibition of Malayarts & crafts [at the] British Council Centre, Stamford Road– Singapore, July 21st to 29th, 1951. Singapore: Craftsman Press.Call no.: RCLOS 745.449595 SIN [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 83427. Singapore Art Society. (1954–1955). The Singapore Artist (Vol. 1,Nos. 1–3). Singapore: Singapore Art Society.Call no.: RCLOS 705 SA [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 9939, NL 118048. Singapore Art Society. (1954). A loan exhibition of Chinese art ofthe early periods [at the] British Council Centre, Singapore, May7th to 16th, 1954. Singapore: Singapore Art Society.Call no.: RCLOS 709.51 SIN [GBH]9. Singapore Art Society. (1956). Chen Wen Hsi: Exhibition ofpaintings in the British Council Gallery on May 4 – May 13.Singapore: Singapore Art Society.Call no.: RCLOS 759.9595 SIN [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 1211110. Smyth, Herbert Warington. (1906). Mast and sail in Europe andAsia. London: J. Murray.Call no.: RCLOS 623.822 SMY [GBH]11. Sutter, Ernst. (1953). Paradiesvogel und Kolibris: Bilder aus demleben der Tropenvogel. [Birds of Paradise and Humming Birds:Illustrations of the lives of these tropical birds]. Zurich: VerlagSilva-Bilderdienst.Call no.: RCLOS 598.865 SUT [GBH]12. Teo, Marianne; Chong, Yu-Chee & Oh, Julia. (1987). Nineteenthcentury prints of Singapore. Singapore: National Museum.Call no.: SING 769.4995957 TEO13. Tunnicliffe, Charles Frederick. (1945). Bird portraiture. London:The Studio.Call no.: RCLOS 743.682 TUN [GBH]14. Tweedie, Michael Willmer Forbes. (1957). Prehistoric Malaya (Rev.Ed.). Singapore: Donald Moore.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 TWE [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 1408415. Waters, David Watkin. (1940). Chinese Junks: An exception: TheTongkung. London: Society for Nautical Research.Call no.: RCLOS 623.822 WAT [GBH]16. Wheatley, Paul. (1955). The Golden Chersonese. London:Institute of British Geographers.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 WHE [GBH]*Books marked with an astrix* do not originally belong to Gibson-Hillbut are donations by Loke Wan Thobiblioasia | 29

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sH i g h l i g h t s o f t h eGibson-HillCollectionCover and photographs of theBlacknaped Tern by LokeLoke, Wan Tho. (1957). A company ofbirds. London: M. Joseph.Call no.: RCLOS 598.295 LOK [GBH]A showcase of startling imagesof birds of India, New Guineaand Malaya – a compilation ofLoke’s ornithological journeys inthe region. Some articles in thepublication are reprints from the Journal of the BombayNatural History Society. This visual piece has a forewordby Malcolm MacDonald and a 12-page autobiographicalaccount of Loke with details of his passion for birds and hismeticulous approach to photography. A large collection ofphotographs of birds of New Guinea in the 1950s that werepublished here are now in the Natural History Museum inLondon. This signed title is the only one in the Collectionthat has a personal comment from Loke for Gibson-Hill.Hancock,T. H. H &Gibson-Hill, CarlAlexander.(1954).Architecturein Singapore.Singapore:Singapore Art Society.Call no.: RCLOS 722.4095957 SIN [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 10286This book contains at least 180 descriptions ofbuildings and landmarks in Singapore in the1950s based on a collection of photographsby Gibson-Hill, exhibited from 26 March to5 April 1954. Although not all thephotographs originally exhibited arepublished, the book includes reproductionsof paintings found in the Raffles Museum.The notes on buildings and its architecturalfeatures are by Hancock and Gibson-Hill.Harris, John. (1705). Navigantium atqueitinerantium bibliotheca, or, A completecollection of voyages and travels:consisting of above four hundred of themost authentic writers ... in the EnglishLatin, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese,German or Dutch tongues.... (Vols. 1 & 2).London: Thomas Bennet.Description: 2 v. Vol. 1: 862 p., Vol. 2: 928p., ill, map (fold), index.Call no.: RRARE 910.8 HARMicrofilm no.: NL 25462This two-volume work includes papers by Hakluyt and Purchasin English along with writings of voyages and discoveries invarious languages. Besides, the Dutch East-India Companyreports and other writings translated from French, Spanish,Portuguese, German and Dutch, the journeys covering Asia,Africa, America, Europe and various islands are accompaniedby fascinating drawings and maps. This is one of the oldestpublistions in the collection.Hawkins, Gerald.(1952). Malaya (1 stEd.). Singapore:Government PrintingOffice.Description: 114 p. :ill. , maps ; 27 cm.Call no.: RCLOS 959.5HAW [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL10187A survey of the historyof the Federationof Malaya and Singapore – of a countrythat had not yet “found a soul”. Thisfirst edition has photographs by Gibson-Hillwhich offers a visual reflection of post-warMalaya. The Collection also has the third impressionof this publication.biblioasia | 30

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sParkinson, CyrilNorthcote. (1953). TheMace of the City ofSingapore. Edinburgh:Pillans & Wilson.Description: 18 p: col.front. , illus., plates;22 cm.Call no.: RCLOS 929. 8PAR [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 10772Originally a weapon,the mace in Englishtradition is nowregarded as a ceremonial symbol, reflecting an officeor a parliamentary meeting in session. This goldenmace was donated in 1953 to commemorate theoccasion of King George VI raising the status ofSingapore to a City in 1951. This brochure givesdetails of the design and significance of each symbolicelement in this particular mace. Gibson-Hill was partof the committee consulted on the design of the macewhilst Loke had financed its production.the National Library of Singapore.Call no.: RCLOS 705 SA [GBH]Microfilm no.: NL 9939, NL 11804*Singapore ArtSociety. (1954–1955).The Singapore Artist(Vol. 1, Nos. 1–3).Singapore:Singapore ArtSociety.Description: v; 21 cm.Notes: Presented byDato Loke Wan Tho toThe Singapore Artist or the Journal of the SingaporeArt Society was published when a rising interest in thelocal arts scene was evident as seen in the increasednumber of art exhibitions in the 1950s. Articles areby members of the Society, the community of artsaficionados and the artists. The discussion of the artsis not limited to that practised in the English-speakingcommunity, but extends to that evolving out of theChinese, Indian and Malay communities. The 1 st issuewas released in September 1954. By the 3 th issue, itwas so widely read throughout Malaya that it wasrenamed Malayan Artist. Gibson-Hill was a foundingmember and the Society’s first Chairman from 1949to 1953.A poster for the Senoi Temer especially to aid them inevacuation. The bearded man represents the Adviser onAboriginsMalaya. Department of the Adviser on Aborigines.(1951). Notes on the administration, welfare and recordingof technical data relating to the Malayan aborigines. KualaLumpur: Printed at the Govt. Press.Description: 88 p., ill. (some folded).Call no.: RCLOS 572.9595 MAL [GBH]This is a compilation of circular memoranda distributedin 1950 to guide local authorities in administratingthe aboriginal population. The five sections describenot only administrative details, such as the role ofthe Federal Department of the Adviser on Aboriginesand the recording of data concerning the community,but deal also with issues concerning the aborigines inthe context of the Emergency – the British offensiveagainst Malayan communists. Fold-out propagandamaterial and graphics for distribution to the aboriginesare also appended.K. Kadang.(1960). Ukiranrumah Toradja.Djakarta: DinasPenerbitan BalaiPustaka.Call no.: RCLOS736 KAD [GBH]Kadang’s workdescribes the decorative arts found etched on Torajahomes in Central Sulawesi providing insights to theirsymbolic meanings. The Toraja’s original animisticbeliefs and the lack of a written language resulted inthe development of an intricate system of animals andplants motifs each with its own meaning. Carved outof wood, these motifs decorate the Toraja homes instark red and black. The publication presents a seriesof these designs in square panels of red and black,providing the Toraja and Indonesian names as well asthe function and significance of these motifs.biblioasia | 31

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t s林 光 挺 先 生 , 二 战 前 的 马 来 亚 瓜 庇 社 会 领 袖 , 历 任 瓜 庇 中 华 商 会 、 树 胶 公会 、 华 侨 筹 赈 兵 灾 难 民 会 会 长 等 要 职 , 赞 助 同 盟 会 , 捐 助 教 育 事 业 , 长 袖 善 舞 , 交 游 广阔 。 1939 年 庆 祝 六 秩 荣 寿 并 结 婚 四 十 周 年 纪 念 ; 1940 年 不 幸 逝 世 , 享 年 61。生 荣 死 哀 , 留 下 6 册 约 800 页 的 祝 寿 颂 文 、 逝 世 挽 词 及 相 关 的 照 片 、 函 件 和 报 导 。林 光 挺 先 生 的 幼 子 林 琼 先 生 于 2007 年 捐 赠 这 批 文 献 给 国 家 图 书 馆 。简介赖 燕 鸿顾 问文 化 遗 产 馆 藏 发 展 处by Lai Yeen PongConsultant,Heritage Collection Development,National LibraryCalligraphy of Zhou Enlai inpraise of the philanthropy ofMr Lim Kong Thing and wishinghim longevity on the occasionof his 60 th birthday andeverlasting happiness on theoccasion of the 40 th anniversaryof marriage in 1939.Letter of the Consulate Generalof the Republic of China toMr Lim Kong Thing of theRubber Association on 22 Dec1932 seeking his assistanceto introduce friends to makedonations towards the buildingof a hospital in honour of MrFang Sheng Dong who died amartyr for his involvement inthe Huanghuakang Uprising of1911.Letter dated 27 Oct 1939from the Chinese Consulate inKuala Lumpur to the ChineseConsulate General in Singaporeregarding the assemblage ofartefacts related to Dr Sun YatSen for an exhibition at theSun Yat Sen Villa in Singaporescheduled for opening on 12Nov 1939 to commemorate thebirth anniversary of Dr Sun.这 批 文 献 主 要 是 以 下 未 曾 出 版 的 手 稿 :喜 庆 文 献 :第 一 册 : 寿 刊 - 题 词 集 ( 一 )第 二 册 : 寿 刊 - 题 词 集 ( 二 )第 三 册 : 寿 刊 - 颂 文 集 、 事 略 集 、 通 信 集颂 文 集 ( 三 )事 略 集 ( 四 )通 信 集 ( 五 )荣 哀 文 献 :第 四 册 : 荣 哀 录第 五 册 : 来 函 集第 六 册 : 哀 思 纪 念 册战 前 的 文 献 能 留 至 今 日 已 是 不 易 , 更 何 况是 当 时 属 于 极 度 敏 感 的 文 献 。《 林 光 挺 文 献集 》 收 集 了 中 国 及 东 南 亚 许 多 近 代 名 人 字 迹 ,包 括 同 盟 会 、 筹 赈 中 国 难 民 各 分 会 、 侨 务 委员 会 、 国 民 党 等 组 织 和 机 构 的 要 员 及 文 人 的手 稿 。 倘 若 在 长 达 三 年 零 八 个 月 的 日 治 时 期里 被 日 军 查 获 , 文 献 保 存 者 及 文 献 册 内 署 名 的许 多 东 南 亚 华 侨 领 袖 都 很 可 能 会 遭 遇 不 测 。据 林 琼 先 生 说 , 日 治 时 期 这 批 文 献 曾 经 埋 在 土里 , 藏 在 天 花 板 上 , 战 后 才 从 瓜 庇 带 来新 加 坡 。 虽 然 经 历 曲 折 , 大 部 分 的 文 件 还 是 保存 得 相 当 完 好 。这 批 文 献 具 有 非 常 珍 贵 的 历 史 与 艺 术 价值 。 文 献 包 括 许 多 名 人 手 稿 , 例 如 周 恩 来 、biblioasia | 32

c o l l e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t sA colourful certificateacknowledging donation of MrChen Yi Yuan towards the SelangorOverseas Chinese China ReliefFund on the occasion of the 60 thbirth anniversary of Mr Lim KongThing, a community leader ofKuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan in1939.A colourful certificateacknowledging donationtowards the Perak OverseasChinese China Relief Fundon the occasion of the 60 thbirth anniversary of Mr LimKong Thing, a communityleader of Kuala Pilah, NegriSembilan in 1939.蒋 宋 美 龄 、 孙 科 、 林 森 、 白 崇 禧 、 王 宠 惠 、蒋 梦 麟 、 陈 绍 宽 、 陈 树 人 、 于 右 任 、 郁 达夫 、 林 连 登 等 人 的 真 迹 及 印 章 。 许 多 函 文 是写 在 中 国 及 东 南 亚 各 政 府 和 私 人 机 构 的 信 笺上 , 揭 示 出 海 外 华 侨 的 网 络 及 其 层 层 关 系 。色 彩 嫔 纷 的 筹 赈 礼 券 折 射 出 当 时 华 侨 对 中 国的 天 灾 人 祸 的 忧 虑 和 关 怀 。《 林 光 挺 文 献 集 》 是 研 究 战 前 东 南 亚 ,尤 其 是 新 马 华 人 历 史 的 一 组 重 要 的 原 始 资料 。 为 了 方 便 研 究 者 的 参 考 , 国 家 图 书 馆 特为 每 册 《 林 光 挺 文 献 集 》 附 上 个 别 的 目 录 ,并 且 另 外 复 制 两 套 文 献 集 存 放 在 李 光 前 参 考图 书 馆 。 国 家 图 书 馆 已 将 文 献 集 数 码 化 以 方便 国 内 外 人 士 上 网 参 考 阅 览 。SummaryMr Lim Kong Thing was a successful businessmanand a renowned community leader of Kuala Pilah inNegri Sembilan, who was very well connected to othercountries in Southeast Asia and China. He was a strongsupporter of Tongmenghui (led by Dr Sun Yat Sen) andserved as advisor to the Committee of Overseas ChineseAffairs. After his passing in 1940 at the age of 61, heleft behind some 800 pages of documents, comprisingeulogies, elegies, correspondence, photographs, noticesand other ephemeral materials. The collection wasdonated to the National Library in 2007 by his youngestson, Mr Lin Qiong, a retired teacher and writer who isnow 78 years old. The collection offers an insight to theChinese diaspora of pre-WW2 Malaya and SoutheastAsia, and the socio-economic network and connectionas well as the political alignment and allegiance of theChinese overseas in Southeast Asia in the first half of the20 th century. Besides its historical and research value, thecollection has its cultural significance and calligraphicmerits as many of the manuscripts were written by wellknownpersonalities such as Zhou Enlai, Chiang-SoongMei-ling, Sun Ke (son of Dr Sun Yat Sen), Chen Shuren,Yu Youren and Yu Dafu. It is amazing that the collectionwas not destroyed before or during the Japaneseoccupation of Malaya and Singapore in the 1940s asmany of the documents were very sensitive and wouldhave cost the lives of those whose names were listed inthe 6 volumes of documents. The National Library hasrecently digitised the collection so that users can haveaccess to its content via the Internet.An announcement of the ChinaKuomintang Nanyang Main Branch on15 Oct 1927 on the appointment offund-raising committee members inNegri Sembilan for the construction ofthe KMT party building.An announcement from theCommittee of Overseas ChineseAffairs in 1938 regarding theChinese government restrictionon overseas travel for the peopleof the Fujian and Guangdongprovinces to prevent evasion ofmilitary conscription. It clarifiedthat the restriction did not apply tothose Overseas Chinese who hadbeen staying overseas for morethan three years.A clarification note from theSecretariat of the Committeeof Overseas Chinese Affairs in1938 in response to a smearingcampaign conducted by a fewex-staff of the committee.Calligraphy of Yu Youren, a mastercalligrapher, poet and member ofKuomintang.biblioasia | 33