Collected works by eminent Malay and Indonesian scholar guest edited by Farouk Yahya

11 August 2021

Dr Farouk Yahya, Research Associate at SOAS, has guest edited the collected works on Malay manuscripts, paper and watermarks of the late Dr Russell Jones who was lecturer at SOAS for two decades, in the 1960s to 1980s.

During his time at SOAS, Dr Jones researched and published on the Malay manuscript tradition. He was a key figure in the development of the study of Malay and Indonesian languages and was instrumental in founding the Indonesian Etymological Project, a consortium of international scholars who worked to identify the origins of Indonesian words.

He later became interested in the study of paper used for Malay manuscripts and their watermarks, and was drawn to this field as it could help to establish the date that a manuscript was written or copied. In 2004 Dr Jones donated his collection of watermarks to SOAS Library Special Collections.

Rickshaw puller watermark (Photo: Russell Jones collection, No. 38)

The new guest edited special issue of the SOAS-based journal Indonesia and the Malay World gathers together his key works on this topic.

Dr Farouk Yahya said: "Russell’s research on paper and watermarks are of fundamental importance for the study of Malay manuscripts. They not only help us understand the development of the Malay manuscript tradition, but can also provide insights into the economic and social history of Southeast Asia. This special issue of Indonesia and the Malay World is a tribute to one of the founders of the journal, for his contribution and tireless efforts in this important field."