John Davies (archivist)
Encyclopedia
John Davies, A.M.N.
P.P.N. (July 27, 1925 – October 21, 1999) was an archivist
, writer
, and received the prestigious Ahli Mangku Negara award. He served as Executive Officer from the 1960s to the late 1970s with the National Archives of Malaysia (Arkib Negara Malaysia), Petaling Jaya
. He was a leading authority on the conservation and preservation of documents.
, Perak
, Malaysia to Joseph Sanghuni Nair
and Marial Joseph, he was baptised as John Davies, and was of India
n Malayali
Nair
descent. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya
in WWII Davies served as a rations officer. He later met Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard, who had seen potential in Davies and offered him a position at the National Archives of Malaysia. Davies excelled in his profession and was promoted to Archives Executive Officer. Davies published several books and traveled overseas to England, where he studied and refined his art. During this period of his career Mr Davies was awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara award from the Raja
of Selangor
for his service at the Malaysian Archives. Being a leading figure on the subject of preservation, he was required to lecture on many occasions throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa.
in the suburb of Hornsby
. He died on October 21, 1999 at the Royal North Shore Hospital
, St Leonards
, at the age of 74.
Order of the Defender of the Realm
The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritous service to the country...
P.P.N. (July 27, 1925 – October 21, 1999) was an archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and received the prestigious Ahli Mangku Negara award. He served as Executive Officer from the 1960s to the late 1970s with the National Archives of Malaysia (Arkib Negara Malaysia), Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
. He was a leading authority on the conservation and preservation of documents.
History
Davies was born in Parit BuntarParit Buntar
Parit Buntar is a main town in Kerian district, on the northwestern tip of Perak, Malaysia.The name Parit Buntar originated from a well-known leader, Tok Buntar, who was famous at the time when he and his followers built the drainage system, which used water from the Kerian River to irrigate the...
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, Malaysia to Joseph Sanghuni Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
and Marial Joseph, he was baptised as John Davies, and was of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Malayali
Malayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...
Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
descent. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
in WWII Davies served as a rations officer. He later met Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard, who had seen potential in Davies and offered him a position at the National Archives of Malaysia. Davies excelled in his profession and was promoted to Archives Executive Officer. Davies published several books and traveled overseas to England, where he studied and refined his art. During this period of his career Mr Davies was awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara award from the Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
of Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
for his service at the Malaysian Archives. Being a leading figure on the subject of preservation, he was required to lecture on many occasions throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa.
Later life
During the '80s John Davies had migrated to Sydney Australia and worked as a senior archivist at the Archives of New South Wales for several years.Death
In his later years, Davies lived on the Upper North Shore of SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in the suburb of Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
. He died on October 21, 1999 at the Royal North Shore Hospital
Royal North Shore Hospital
The Royal North Shore Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located in St Leonards. It serves as a teaching hospital for Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney and has approximately 740 beds. It is the referral hospital for Northern Sydney and the Central...
, St Leonards
St Leonards, New South Wales
St Leonards is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. St Leonards is located 5 km north-west of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of Municipality of Lane Cove, North Sydney Council and the City of...
, at the age of 74.
External links
- Preservation of Books and related materials by John Davies
- Preventive Conservation - Basic Conservation Techniques by John Davies.
- John Davies, Archives Executive Officer, National Archives of Malaysia, Petaling Jaya. 14.4.1964
- Microfilming of records / : J. Davies.
- First executive board of SARBICA 1968-1969