Page 998 - Proceedings Collega2023

xiv
The Swettenham Papers reside in the National Archives of Malaysia. When they were first
deposited, they were known as the Swettenham Collection and classified using “Original Item Number.”
It was conjectured that there are 125 documents, labelled as Original Item 1 - 125. However, upon
discovery, with the employment made by the researcher using manual calculations, and cross-references
amongst the documents in the National Archives of Malaysia; call number of Original Item number 1 & 4-
11 are missing. Therefore, there are only 116 folders of Original Item Number. The Swettenham Collection
consists of various types of documents; 72 unpublished and published manuscripts of various
alphabetical scripts, 1 Photocopied document, 34 Printed documents, 27 Typescript documents, 2
photograph documents, and 1 mimeograph document. There are folders that have mixtures of different
types pf documents.

The Swettenham Collection which then consisted of 116 items or documents was later renamed
xv
as the Swettenham Papers in 1970 and its collection expanded through the deposit of relevant
documents, items sourced through various methods such as acquisition, donation, etc. and some original
items were split and distributed into different SP folders. This improvement was made by a taskforce led
xvi
by Encik Yeoh Keng Lock and his assistants. The Swettenham Papers was then classified as S.P. 12,
presumably under the acronym of Swettenham Papers. The number of folders has been expanded to 134
items. There are two physical booklets pertaining the access number and its titles in the collection of the
Swettenham Papers.
xvii
Then, the Swettenham Papers underwent a second change where they were made into a ten-
digit ascension number, generally starting with 2006/0037xxx. Yet some folders began with other digits.
The ascension numbers and titles of the documents are made known and accessible through the
COMPASS system. A system where one could only access through the National Archives computers
located in the Research Hall of the National Archives in Kuala Lumpur.

There is a total of 136 call numbers that are classified under thirteen categories; a. Files (5); b.
Treaties and Agreements (5); c. Cartography (2); d. Manuscript (16); e. Magazines and Newspapers (2); f.
Publications (26); g. Speeches (3); h. Writings (2); i. Paper Works (6); j. Personalia (2); k. Legalities (5); l.
Correspondence and Letters (50); and m. Audiovisual (12). The majority of the documents and
publications were written by Frank Swettenham in the various capacities he held and each document is
directly and indirectly related to him. The majority composition of the current Swettenham Papers are
correspondence letters which make up fifty plus letters; letters of appreciation, congratulatory letters,
letters of recommendation for Frank Swettenham, letters of correspondence with British Royal Family,
and letters from Malay Sultans and Royalty; 11 Journals on the Native Malay States by Frank Swettenham;
Memorandum on the Federation of Malay States, ideology, its paternity and how it came to be; the death
of J.W.W. Birch; Treaties between the Straits Settlements Government and the Native States;
Commissioner Reports, Financial Reports, and Administrative Reports; Proposals; Minutes; Legislations;
Economy; Museum journal; one journal with unknown writer; railway projects, fictional writings, one
epic poem, one heroic poem, cartoons, one map of Malaya, word registry, criminal statements, criticism
towards Frank Swettenham; a few gazettes; a few speeches and addresses; some pictures of Frank
Swettenham; one diary; Frank Swettenham’s leave and salary, writings of J.W.W. Birch, George Maxwell,
Pickering, and Richard Winstedt; history of states, governments and nations, and Frank Swettenham’s
opinions on Malay political institutions and Malay Chiefs.

There are various types of records in the Swettenham Papers and the main subject matters
pertain to Malay people and their custom and culture, political institutions, crafts, social institutions, and
skilled workers; the Federation of the Malay States. The period of the documents is circa 1874 to 1946.
However, the most of the literary works are unpublished.

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 985 -