Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1966 - 2015 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 archival folder, typed manuscript, and 29 digital files
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
William Augustus Collins is an anthropologist, scholar/teacher, development specialist and programme administrator. He was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his MA in Southeast Asian Studies in 1967 and PhD in Anthropology in 1979. From the 1990s through the 2010s, he was involved in various educational and legal projects in southeast Asia, primarily in Cambodia, authoring papers and books in connection to those projects. His previous major roles include President of the Center for Advanced Study at Phnom Penh in Cambodia (1997-2000); Country Director for The Asia Foundation in East Timor (2002-2003); UNICEF educational consultant, based in the Ministry of Education in Cambodia (2004-2006); scholarship consultant for the World Bank (2005); UNICEF technical advisor to the Cambodian Education for All National Secretariat (2006-2007) and Academic Dean for Asia and the Pacific at World Learning, SIT Study Abroad (2008-2012).
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Preah Sihanouk Raj Academy was a non-political, problem oriented institution devoted to research and public debate on issues and problems affecting Cambodia.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
All material was donated to the Royal Asiatic Society by the creator in 2023, except file WAC/2/1, for which the source of acquisition is unknown. The memory stick containing the digital files, transferred from the creator along with the physical files, and copies of correspondence regarding the donation are kept together with the material.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
These papers consist of a memoir of William Augustus Collins, as well as a number of his publications, research papers and reports relating to his work in Southeast Asia. The majority of the material relates to Cambodia, where Collins was involved in various social, educational and legal support programmes and projects. A small part of the digital material concerns a project aiming at improving access to justice in East Timor.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Further transfers of research material from the creator are expected.
System of arrangement
The papers are arranged into one file and two series:
- (File) WAC/1 - Memoir by William Augustus Collins
- (Series) WAC/2 - Material relating to Cambodia
- (Series) WAC/3 - Material relating to East Timor
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address on the RAS website. The archive is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Language of material
- English
- French
- Indonesian
- Portuguese
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
A copy of William Augustus Collins's book 'The guritan of Radin Suane: a study of the Besemah oral epic from South Sumatra' is available at the RAS Library. Please search the Library catalogue for more information.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Name access points
- William Augustus Collins (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
File WAC/2/1 was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2020. The remainder of the papers was catalogued by James Liu, RAS Archivist, in 2025.