The British Association of Malaya was founded in 1920, replacing the Straits Settlements Association which had existed since 1868. It subsequently became the British Association of Malaysia and the British Association of Malaysia and Singapore.
From 1952 to 1967 the Secretary of the Association was Hugh Bryson. He organised the accumulation of two important collections of historical material. In 1960, in cooperation with the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bryson initiated the gathering of original documents - memoranda, diaries, correspondence - and the writing of special reminiscences by those with first hand experience of the geographic area covered by the Association. Subjects of particular significance include politics and government, trade and commerce, social and cultural history, the First and Second World Wars, and the Malayan Emergency. As the material was received it was deposited in the Royal Commonwealth Society Library. Bryson also collected photographs, particularly those reflecting the history of South-East Asia.
The British Institute at Ankara (BIAA), formerly British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, is a research institute that supports, promotes, and publishes research into the humanities and social sciences of Turkey and the Black Sea region. The Institute was founded in 1947 and became legally incorporated in 1956 as part of a cultural agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the United Kingdom. The institute is a UK registered charity and part of the British Academy's Overseas Institutes. The Institute has an office in London and has its base in Ankara, where it maintains a library, research facilities, and accommodation for visiting scholars.
Charles Philip Brown was born in Calcutta on November 10, 1798 to Rev. David Brown, a missionary, who learnt Sanskrit and other native languages to help him in his work. After his father's death in 1812, Brown moved to England and was selected for a job with the East India Company. He arrived in Madras in 1817, proceeded to learn Telugu, and by 1824 had formed a life-long interest in the literature of the language. His frustrating experiences in learning Telugu caused him to begin compiling a dictionary and grammar text which are still used today.
He also amassed collection of more than 5000 manuscripts in Telegu, Sanskrit and other languages, either as originals or transcriptions at a cost of some 30,000 rupees. By 1845, he had placed his collection with the Madras Literary Society and had compiled the catalogues which comprise this collection in 1847.
Ill heath caused him to leave India in 1855, but he retained his interest in Telugu and was appointed professor of Telugu in London University in 1865, continuing to add new words to his dictionary almost till the end of his life. He died on the 12th of December 1884.