Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1800-1964 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
24 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Wilfred Lawson Blythe was born on 9 November 1896 and was educated at the Universities of Liverpool and Grenoble. He served in the First World War, 1915-1919, and joined the Malayan Civil Service in 1921. He studied Chinese in Canton during 1922-1924 and became the Protector of Chinese in various parts of Malaya during 1926-1936. He served as the Deputy President of the Municipality in Penang, 1936-1937, and again in 1939-1940 and as Deputy Controller of Labour (Chinese) during 1941-1942. He served with the Army in Malaya in 1942 and was interned from 1942-1945. In 1946 he became the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Federation of Malaya. From 1948-1950 he became the President of the Municipal Commission in Singapore. In 1950 he became Colonial Secretary of Singapore and remained there until his retirement in 1953. In 1969 he wrote Secret Societies in Malaya. He married Muriel Gertrude Woodward in 1925. He died in 1975.
Archival history
GB 0102 PP MS 31 Created 1800-1964 Collection (fonds) 24 boxes Blythe , Wilfred Lawson , 1896-1975 , colonial administrator
Wilfred Lawson Blythe was born on 9 November 1896 and was educated at the Universities of Liverpool and Grenoble. He served in the First World War, 1915-1919, and joined the Malayan Civil Service in 1921. He studied Chinese in Canton during 1922-1924 and became the Protector of Chinese in various parts of Malaya during 1926-1936. He served as the Deputy President of the Municipality in Penang, 1936-1937, and again in 1939-1940 and as Deputy Controller of Labour (Chinese) during 1941-1942. He served with the Army in Malaya in 1942 and was interned from 1942-1945. In 1946 he became the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Federation of Malaya. From 1948-1950 he became the President of the Municipal Commission in Singapore. In 1950 he became Colonial Secretary of Singapore and remained there until his retirement in 1953. In 1969 he wrote Secret Societies in Malaya. He married Muriel Gertrude Woodward in 1925. He died in 1975.
Donated in 1985.
Papers, 1800-1964, assembled by Wilfred Lawson Blythe for his research on secret societies in Malaya, used in his subsequent publication Secret Societies in Malaya (1969), comprising official departmental annual reports, intelligence reports, despatches, photographs and other reference material.
The collection is arranged into the following categories: primary sources (official papers of the government departments of the federation of Malaya and Singapore, despatches to and from the Secretary of State and proceedings of the Legislative Council); other reference material collected for Blythe's research on secret societies (triads) in Malaya; draft manuscripts, typescripts and other notes by Blythe; articles and books by other researchers, press cuttings and miscellaneous; photographs.
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English and Chinese
Unpublished handlist.
For papers of Wilfred Lawson Blythe held elsewhere, see Chris Cook, Sources in British Political History 1900-1951, vol 2 (1975).
16 May 2000 Associations Blythe , Wilfred Lawson , 1896-1975 , colonial administrator Central government China Civil servants Civil service Colonial administration Colonial countries Crime East Asia Federated Malay States Federation of Malaya Government Malaya Malaysia Newspaper press Organizations Photographs Political systems Press Press cuttings Public administration Secret societies Singapore South East Asia Straits Settlements Visual materials People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated in 1985.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1800-1964, assembled by Wilfred Lawson Blythe for his research on secret societies in Malaya, used in his subsequent publication Secret Societies in Malaya (1969), comprising official departmental annual reports, intelligence reports, despatches, photographs and other reference material.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following categories: primary sources (official papers of the government departments of the federation of Malaya and Singapore, despatches to and from the Secretary of State and proceedings of the Legislative Council); other reference material collected for Blythe's research on secret societies (triads) in Malaya; draft manuscripts, typescripts and other notes by Blythe; articles and books by other researchers, press cuttings and miscellaneous; photographs.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English and Chinese
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
For papers of Wilfred Lawson Blythe held elsewhere, see Chris Cook, Sources in British Political History 1900-1951, vol 2 (1975).
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Organizations » Associations
- Government » Public administration » Central government
- Government » Public administration » Central government » Civil service » Civil servants
- Government » Public administration » Central government » Civil service
- Political systems » Colonial countries
- Crime
- Government
- Press » Newspaper press
- Organizations
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Political systems
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Government » Public administration
- Visual materials
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English