From 1952 to 1967 the Secretary of the Association was Hugh Bryson. He organised the accumulation of two important collections of historical material through the BAM. 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. After his death in 1977, a few further donations were received from former BAM members, and these have been incorporated in an Addenda section.