Problems and Prospects of Researching in the British and Brunei National Archives

B. A. Hussainmiya

Historical Studies Programme Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Archival Records in Britain and Brunei

• Both the UK and Brunei National Archives have rich collection of Brunei historical materials in the form of colonial records, correspondence, memoranda, official reports, newspapers, gazettes, private papers etc.; Many historians have consulted the British sources while only a few accessed the Brunei Sources. The UK National Archives (formerly Public Records Office=PRO) is by far the best place on earth to do research on Brunei historical matters in the modern period. It is well and long established providing free public access to all researchers. Besides, the records are well kept and extensively catalogued which are now available on line. Copies of the documents are easy to obtain at a cost.

• The Brunei National Archives do not duplicate much of the records kept in Britain, but possesses some unique records which are critically important to study the local perspectives on Brunei History.

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Aims of this Paper:

•Importance of Archives for Historical Research.

•Relative merits of Records in the British and Brunei Archives.

•Prospects and problems in the Archives for prospective researchers.

•To provide some suggestions for the local archival administration.

* constitutes the memory of a society, and enables that society to make informed decisions based on the evidence of past experience; Reinforces MIB ideology in Brunei* provides documentary evidence of the respective rights and obligations of government and individuals•constitute a source for a society’s understanding and identification of itself. Reinforcing Brunei’s Jati Diri aspirations•* professional leadership of the country’s records, managers, archivists and information specialists* government information specialist and primary advisor on information matters.

Some Common Functions of Public Archives

References for Scholars• Almost all serious writings on published on Brunei history are

mainly based on records from the British National Archives• Nicholas Tarling, Donald Brown, Graham Saunders, Anthony

Horton, Greg Poulgrain and others rely upon U.K. archival records.

• Brunei history researchers for their post-graduate degrees use extensively similar records. Haji Matasssim Jibbah, (M.A.) Dato Paduka Haji Eusoff Agaki(M.Phil), Dr Haji Mohd. Yusop Damit,(PhD), Dr Haji Abdul Hadi Melayong (Ph.D), Dr. Nani Abubakar(PhD) to name a few. (All works remain unpublished (except Dr Hadi’s)

Sources of UK National Archives- (Formerly Public Records Office)

• British Colonial Office• Foreign Office• Dominion Office• Commonwealth Office• War Office• British Foreign and Commonwealth Office• British Admiralty• British Cabinet papers• Memoirs and papers of British Leaders

Some Sample Records on Brunei in the British National ArchivesCO 943 Brunei (1946-1951), Original Correspondence.CO 1022 South- East Asia Department, Original Correspondence.CO 1030 Far- Eastern Department, Original Correspondence. DO 35 Dominion Office , Original Correspondence.FO 12 Borneo and Sulu, Original Correspondence.FO 572 Borneo and Sulu, Prints of Correspondence.FCO 15 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Series on Brunei

Sample Screen shot from British National Archive Web Page

A Sample List of Catalogue on Brunei at the UK N.A.

Reference Title Or Scope CoveringDates FormerRef

FCO 15/22Asian Development Bank: Hong Kong and Brunei

1967-1968 6/19

FCO 15/288Termination of Anglo/Brunei agreement

1967-1968 3/1 Part A

FCO 15/289Termination of Anglo/Brunei agreement

1968 3/1 Part B

FCO 15/2186Leading personalities in Brunei

1976 Jan 01 - 1976 Dec 31 FAR 10/1

FCO 15/2187Political relations between Brunei and Malaysia

1976 Jan 01 - 1976 Dec 31 FAR 20/353/1

FCO 15/2188 UK policy towards Brunei 1976 Jan 01 - 1976 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/1

FCO 15/2189Negotiations with Sultan of Brunei

1976 Jan 01 - 1976 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/2

FCO 15/2190 Brunei and United Nations 1976 Jan 01 - 1976 Dec 31 FAR 22/522/1

FCO 15/2191Vietnamese refugees in Brunei

1976 Jan 01 - 1976 Dec 31 FAR 341/1

FCO 15/2269Brunei: annual review for 1976

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 14/1

FCO 15/2270 Internal situation in Brunei 1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 14/3

FCO 15/2271Australian attitude over Brunei

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/345/1

FCO 15/2272Political relations between Brunei and Malaysia

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/353/1

FCO 15/2273Negotiations with Sultan of Brunei

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/1 PART A

FCO 15/2274Negotiations with Sultan of Brunei

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/1 PART B

FCO 15/2275Negotiations with Sultan of Brunei

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/1 PART C

FCO 15/2276Negotiations with Sultan of Brunei: briefs and records of conversations, June 1977

1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/1 ANNEX

FCO 15/2277 UK policy towards Brunei 1977 Jan 01 - 1977 Dec 31 FAR 20/548/2 PART A

AVM Horton’s List of documents 'destroyed under statute'• COLONIAL OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO

BRUNEI 'DESTROYED UNDER STATUTE' 1906–1934 • Horton highlighted documentation relating to Brunei during

the period 1906–1934 which has been 'destroyed under statute'. The data have been derived from the Registers of Correspondence (CO 352/7 and CO 777/1–3).

• It is clear that a vast amount of material has been weeded out; and the researcher cannot but regret the loss of these papers. Some of the destruction was pure vandalism. On the other hand, the clues contained in the remaining indices, whilst seldom conclusive in their own right, may on occasion offer a vital pointer.

Unavailable Documents due to• 30 year Rule- Not always consistent • Weeding out sensitive documents affecting UK

Security matters?• Embargo of specific documents for 50 years or

100 years• Missing files unaccounted

Anyway no special problems as available records are copious and mostly comprehensive

Setting up of the Brunei National Archives• The National Archive was created in 1977 under the

administration and management of the Museum Brunei Department. The introduction of the National Archive is in accordance with the National Archives Act, 1975 revised 1983, and was fully enforced on August 1, 1981.

• Brunei became a member of the International Council on Archives (ICA) in 1981 and the Southeast Asian Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (Sarbica) in 1984.

Main Brunei Repositories

• The Brunei National Archives• The Brunei Museum• Pusat Sejarah• Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Malay Manuscripts)• Universiti Brunei Darussalam• Ministry of Foreign Affairs• Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien-

Foundation(Under construction)

The Importance of Brunei National Archives

• The safekeeping and safety of priceless archival records as primary sources are of great importance to the National Archives of Brunei Darussalam.

• The National Archives is home to some 260,000 documents or more, books and other materials of historical value and national interest, with some dating back to as early as 1888.

• The Brunei National Archives plans to build a centre for record management and reference services for "semi-active and inactive records", provision of services online and digitisation of selected archival materials. At the same time, it will continue to strengthen the national collection through material collection, study and research.

The Multiple Use of the Local Archives• Conservation of archival materials is important for education

and research about national history as well as for improving government effectiveness, integrity and honesty and in upholding the fundamental rights of individuals.It is important for people to be aware of the importance of archival materials so that by knowing one's nation's history one can develop a sense of patriotism.

• The challenge facing Brunei National Archives is the need for support in strengthening the institution, increasing awareness on the importance of preserving records and archives, audio visuals and electronic records management.

• Adequate Funding and Hiring of Documentation Experts • Professional Commitment and Enthusiasm among the Staff

Indexes in Brunei National Archives

• SUK Records ( State Secretary Office later merged into Setia Usaha Kerajaan Records)

• Brunei Residents’ Office records• Gazettes• Newspapers (Salam, Borneo Bulletin, Daily Star, Pelita

Brunei, and others)• Private Collections and • Other Government Notifications

S.U.K Indexes• It has 5 series of indexes

Series no.1

• Archives list no. from: BA/11945/1978 to BA/14313/1978• File no. from: BRO/1908/C to 1975• Year record: 1908 to 1975• Available record: 1908, 1913 – 1915, 1918 – 1925, 1929 –

1941, 1946 – 1975• Total record: 2911• Total box: 280

SUK Series No 2

Series no.2

•Archives list no. from: BA/5567/1978 to BA/5650/1978•File no. from: -•Year record: 1922 to 1971•Available records: -•Total records: 86•Total box: 18

SUK Series no.3

• Series no.3

• Archives list no. from: BA/1983.1.0001 to BA/1983.1.4314

• File no. from: BRO/8/46/pt.IV & R.O. Brunei No.93/07 to SUK/406/81

• Year records: 1907 to 1981• Available records: -• Total records: 4327• Total boxes: 425

SUK Series no.4

• Series no.4

• Archives list no. from: BA/1983.2.0001 – BA/1983.2.1186• File no. from: 0007/46 to SUK/433/1978• Year record: 1946 to 1978• Available record: 1946 - 1952, 1954, 1958 - 1974, 1977 -

1978• Total records: 1210• Total boxes: 92

• Series no.5

• Archives list no. from: BA/1983.3.1187 to BA/1983.3.1557• File no. from: SUK/359/1947/Temp.A to SUK/420/1979• Year record: 1947 to 1979• Available records: 1947 – 1948, 1950 – 1962, 1964, 1966 –

1967, 1969 – 1971, 1973 - 1979• Total records: 375• Total boxes: 31

Kumpulan Rekod-Rekod SUK

• Accident report• Brunei Malay Regiment• Building Bangunan• Bomba• Brunei Arts and crafts• Brunei/Sarawak• Brunei Student Union• Community Service

Council

• Coronation• Constitution• Education/pelajaran• Ekonomi/Economy• Elektrik• Enactment (rules &

regulation)• Executive council

meeting

It has 3 set of folders:

Folder 01

Folder 02

• Forest/Perhutanan• Imigresen• Istana• Japanese• Kampong Sungai Kianggeh

Tamu• Kastam & Eksais• Kehakiman• Kerja Raya• Kuala Belait• Girl Guides• History of Brunei• Hospital

• Land Committee Meeting• Laut• Legislative Council• Majlis Mesyuarat Adat

Istiadat• Mesyuarat Daerah Daerah• Mesyuarat Menteri• Military and Naval Records• Minutes of State Council

Meeting• Minutes of Development

Meeting• Minutes of District Council

Belait

Continue: Folder 02

• Minutes of Brunei-District Advisory Council

• Minutes of Tutong District Advisory Council

• Minutes of Meeting of Temburong District Advisory Council

• Minutes of Religion Council

• Mosque• Muzium Dalam dan Luar

Negeri• Notification

• Pelabuhan• Penghulu dan Ketua

Kampong• Pengangkutan Darat• Perikanan• Persatuan-Persatuan• Pertanian• Petroleum• Pilgrimage• Polis Diraja Brunei• Pos

Folder 03

• Queen Elizabeth II• Report/Laporan• Resettlement• Religious Affairs• Road/Jalan Raya• Rumah Jerambak• Rumah Semaun• Scout• Silver Jubilee• Silversmith

• Speeches• Sport• Sultan of Brunei• Surat Keliling/Circular• Tanah• Temburong• Tutong• Ukur• Visit

Agreement and other Documents (perjanjian)

There are 3 folders: •File 17A – recorded in August 1999•File 35 – recorded in October 2001•File 36 – recorded in January 2007

•For example, ANB/SP.1976.001 – Peristiharan kerana memberhentikan Pentadbiran tentera British di Negeri Brunei Agreement (1946)

•Note: Each folder was index by years for example 2000, 2002, 1992, 1993

Senarai Koleksi Poster 1978 – 2006

The lists are indexes by years from1978 to 2006

Example; No. : ANB/PS/2006.105Received on : 4th October 2006Title : “KOD 486” Rasuah Dihina, Maruah Dibina.Publisher : Biro Mencegah Rasuah.

A Page from the Brunei State Council Minutes, November 1907- Brunei National Archive

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Some Problems and Grievances of the Users• THE National Archive lacks a proper catalogue and

computerised database system that have hindered amount and level of research.

• Use of any form of electrical equipment for copying purposes not allowed.

• difficulty in being able to write up large amounts of information for a project by hand.

• The documents and files are located in piles of boxes and the staff have to go through the reference number on the boxes to identify the documents or files needed. It shows that the facility does not have a proper filing system in shelves instead they are stacked in boxes.

• Source : Brunei Times, 27 November 2007

Suggestions for Local Archive Development• To be user friendly: Online access information• Increased Budgetary Allocations for Archival holdings• Recruitment of competent Archivists• Transferring departmental Archives under the National

Archives Act to the main repository• Sorting and Weeding documents• Hiring professional staff to identify and catalogue crucial

documents for research • Publication of indexes• Publication of primary sources• Publicity for public awareness of Archival use etc;