Collection stories: Asia
This blog keeps readers updated on new acquisitions and developments in the Asian collections at the IISH.
Collecting materials on Asia started in earnest in 1987, and in 2011 the South East Asia Region desk was created. The Desk collected materials from Burma, China, Indonesia/Dutch East Indies, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
There were also Desks for:
- Middle East & Central Asia (Iran, Caucasus and Central Asia)
- South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal)
- Arab Middle East (Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon)
In 2017 the Desks were disbanded, but of course the IISH still collects Asian materials. The coordinator within the IISH for acquisitioning Asian Collections is Eef Vermeij
A different memory of the Statesman
12 June 2019 17:29
Recently (May 26, 2019) Prem Tinsunalond, the chairman of the Privy Council and influential meddler in Thai politics passed away. Next to all the eulogies, there were actually some critical pieces as well which threw a different light on his career in the Thai military and Thai politics.
Speech at City Hall
2 October 2018 15:56
There’s a number of speeches from Aung San held at City Hall Rangoon, Birma:
The 30th anniversary of 8888 The Uprising - Photographer - Htein Win
18 July 2018 15:45
A selection of photos from Htein Win's collection of '88 photographs is now on display in Burma for the 30th anniversary of the uprising.
Patricia Herbert Collection on Burma
3 July 2018 15:18
Early 2018 IISH received a small collection on Burma from Patricia Herbert (London, 1943).
Flag of the National United Front of Kampuchea (NUFK)
1 May 2018 15:42
When Peter Schumacher was still correspondent in Asia he visited Cambodia in 1973 and 1974 from Hong Kong where he was based. These visits resulted in stories on the war for the Dutch progressive weekly Vrij Nederland.
Songkran, songkran, songkran ...
10 April 2018 15:42
Songkran or Thai New Year (April 13-15) is the most important festival/holiday in Thailand and a festival rich with traditions a.o. merit making and offering food to monks, paying reverence to elders etc.
2000 Planes shot down
29 March 2018 15:42
Poster from Laos, produced by the Editions du Neo Lao Haksat (Lao Patriotic Front) to celebrate the 2000th U.S. plane shot down over Laos, in the period from 1964 until 1971.
A little pearl from Korea
20 March 2018 15:42
Recently, while going through yet to be processed posters from diffferent Asian countries, we stumbled upon this little gem.
Antoinette R. Raquiza Collection
28 September 2016 14:03
In 2014 Antoinette Raquiza donated her collection of documents on the Philippine Left to the International Institute of Social History.
New Thai Collections
23 June 2016 14:03
Recently two new Thai collections have been made available at the IISH.
Michael Bedford Papers
6 April 2015 16:03
After having announced last September the availability of the Michael Bedford Collection, it is now time to announce the same for the Michael Bedford Papers.
Thailand Surprises 3
6 April 2015 15:29
The business of Low San Lee (right side of the yellow sign) seems to be closed down, the actual lettering of his business has been taken of, but the stains left behind clearly spell out his name ...
