John Davies, A.M.N. P.P.N. (July 27, 1925 – October 21, 1999) was an

archivist An archivist is an information professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to Document, records and archives determined to have long-term value. The records maintained by an archivist c ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

, and recipient of the prestigious

Ahli Mangku Negara The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace o ...

award. He served as Executive Officer of the National Archives of Malaysia (Arkib Negara Malaysia),

Petaling Jaya ) , website = , image_skyline = , image_caption = ''From top, left to right:Skyline of Petaling Jaya, the 1 Utama Mall integrated with Bandar Utama Station, the Kota Darul Ehsan arch, the Petaling J ...

between the 1961 and 1977. He was the world's leading authority on the conservation and preservation of documents during his era.

History

Davies was born in Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia to Joseph Sanghuni

Nair The Nair , also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom histor ...

and Marial Joseph, he was baptised as John Davies, and was of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Malayali The Malayali people () (also spelt Malayalee and also known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian peoples, Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. ...

descent. During the Japanese occupation of

Malaya Malaya refers to a number of historical and current political entities related to what is currently Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia: Political entities * British Malaya (1826–1957), a loose collection of the British colony of the Straits ...

in WWII Davies served as a rations officer. He later met Lord Mervyn Cecil Ffranck Sheppard ( Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard), who had seen potential in Davies and offered him a junior position at the National Archives of Malaysia. Davies excelled in his profession, rose up the ranks and was promoted to Archives Executive Officer. Davies published several books and traveled overseas to England, where he studied and refined his art. Later on in his career Mr Davies was awarded the

award from the

Raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...

Selangor Selangor (; ), also known by its Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 Malaysian states. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east ...

for his service at the Malaysian Archives. Being the world's 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 1980s John Davies migrated to

Sydney, Australia Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...

and worked as a senior archivist at the Archives of New South Wales for several years.

Family

Davies was married to Muriel Pavalam David. They had seven children and ten grandchildren.

Death

In his later years, Davies lived on the

Upper North Shore The North Shore is a region within Northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, generally referring to suburbs located on the northern side of Sydney Harbour up to Wahroonga, and suburbs between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove ...

of Sydney, in the suburb of

Hornsby, New South Wales Hornsby is a suburb in the Northern Sydney region, or Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia, approximately north-west of the Sydney central business district. It is the administrative centre of the local ...

. He died on October 21, 1999 at the

Royal North Shore Hospital The Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) 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 over 600 beds. It is the prin ...

St Leonards St Leonards may refer to: Places Australia *St Leonards, New South Wales **St Leonards railway station *St Leonards, Tasmania, suburb of Launceston * St Leonards, Victoria Canada *St. Leonard's, Newfoundland and Labrador New Zealand * St ...

, at the age of 74.

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : Medallist of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace o ...

(P.P.N.) (1965) * : Member of the

(A.M.N.) (1977)

References

Microfilming of records/J. DaviesPreservation of books and related materials/John DaviesPreventive conservation: basic conservation techniques. Sydney: Archives Authority of New South Wales, 1983.

External links

Preservation of Books and related materials by John DaviesPreventive Conservation - Basic Conservation Techniques by John Davies.John Davies, Archives Executive Officer, National Archives of Malaysia, Petaling Jaya. 14.4.1964Microfilming of records / : J. Davies.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, John 1925 births 1999 deaths Malaysian curators Archivists Medallists of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Members of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Malaysian people of Indian descent Malaysian people of Malayali descent People from Perak Malaysian emigrants to Australia People who lost Malaysian citizenship