Bajān Tadjalli

Scope and Content

A typed manuscript entitled "Bajān Tadjalli: uitgegeven door P. Voorhoeve" discussing the Arabic-Malay manuscript titled "Uiteenzetting der Openbaring" (Exposition of Revelation). It is unclear whether this is Petrus Voorhoeve's own document concerning his publication Bajān Tadjalli, an earlier study of the manuscripts or an article reflecting on Voorhoeve's work. There are eight typed sheets of the article and a further two sheets of footnotes with some handwritten annotations.

Administrative / Biographical History

Petrus Voorhoeve was born in December 1899 in Vlissengen. In 1919 he became a student at the University of Leiden, first studying theology before switching to Indonesian languages continuing his studies to complete a PhD in Batak Folk Tales. In 1927 he was appointed government linguist at Balai Pushtaka, the Bureau of Popular Literature in Jakarta. He was granted leave in 1933 but on his return in 1934 he became a librarian at the Royal Batavia Society of Arts and Science. In 1937 he became linguist in the service of the Self-governing Districts of North Sumatra charged with creating a Simalungen dictionary. He was interned by the Japanese Army in 1942 and separated from his wife and children until after the War when, in 1946, they returned to the Netherlands. Voorhoeve then took up an appointment at the University Library in Leiden but returned to Indonesia in 1947 to complete his 20 years of service necessary for a full pension. He worked for the Institute of Linguistic and Cultural Research before returning to Leiden in 1949 to take up his position again of Curator. He catalogued many Malay manuscripts working at institutions around the world. He died in 1996.

Access Information

Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here . The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

Acquisition Information

It is unknown how this manuscript became part of the Society's collections.

Archivist's Note

This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Custodial History

The custodial history is unknown.

Related Material

Several publications by Petrus Voorhoeve are available in the Library Collections. Details are available here.