SOAS Special Collections

41. In 1948, Cathay Pacific suffered the world’s first mid-air hijacking. Gangsters targeted Miss Macao for its gold cargo. After the pilot was shot, the plane crashed into the sea—killing 25 of 26 onboard. Swire soon distanced itself from the Macau gold run. #JSSArchives50 🧵

Today’s #BlackHistoryMonth highlight is from our rare books collection!

Thomas Birch Freeman, West African pioneer is a selection of letters from Thomas Birch Freeman (1809-1890) and William DeGraft (d. c. 1847).

MMSL AF-WE065

40. On July 5, 1998, Cathay Pacific’s Flight CX889 “Polar One” became the first nonstop commercial flight from NYC to Hong Kong over the North Pole. The Boeing 747-400 was also the first to land at the new HK International Airport at Chek Lap Kok #JSSArchives50 🧵

Our next #BlackHistoryMonth highlight is our fantastic collection of Mail Art by Hassan Musa!

Hassan Musa (b.1951, Sudan), a contemporary visual artist, is well-known for his complex textile paintings and subjective calligraphy.

MS 381333

39. Founded in 1946, Cathay Pacific caught Jock Swire’s eye as air travel rose. In 1948, Swire took a management stake. From one surplus DC3 named Betsy, the fleet grew to six DC3s & a Catalina. Cathay’s rise became Jock Swire’s special pride. #JSSArchives50 🧵

38. WWII bombing devastated Swire’s London records. Backups in Liverpool & Glasgow were also lost to fire. “All our books and records are gone,” wrote Jock Swire. In Hong Kong, Japanese occupation left just one scrap of paper when staff returned to the office #JSSArchives50 🧵

37. When Hong Kong fell in 1941, Taipan C.C. Roberts was interned at Stanley Camp for 4 years with 155 B&S staff and families. His letters to London and detailed records of rations, finances, and sleeping arrangements offer a vivid glimpse into camp life #JSSArchives50 🧵

37. When Hong Kong fell in 1941, Taipan C.C. Roberts was interned at Stanley Camp for 4 years with 155 B&S staff and families. His letters to London and detailed records of rations, finances, and sleeping arrangements offer a vivid glimpse into camp life #JSSArchives50 🧵

36. WWII brought hardship for Butterfield & Swire staff in Hong Kong & China. In 1941, HK staff were interned after the Japanese invasion; Shanghai staff followed in 1942. The company stayed in touch & offered support to its interned employees and their families #JSSArchives50 🧵

35. During WWII, Butterfield & Swire moved its HQ to Bombay & Calcutta after Japanese forces occupied Shanghai & HK. From India, it managed regional operations, including CNCo ships requisitioned for war. A small office in Chungking oversaw business in China #JSSArchives50 🧵

34. Formed in the 1930s to supply CNCo, OPCo launched a paint factory in Shanghai despite Swire’s limited expertise. Partnering with British firm PJ&Co in 1934, OPCo was seized by the Japanese in 1942, but returned to Swire in 1945—with production back by 1946 JSSArchives50 🧵

Poster of Durga as the killer of the buffalo demon, 1976-1978 #EYAMonsters https://ow.ly/tL5c50X1xBo

Reminiscent of the Indian Mkara and the sino-annamite dragon an ornate twelfth-century figure of a fantastic monster representing the more violent aspect of cham design in culture. #EYAMonsters https://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA000392/00001

33. The 1967 Hong Kong riots, fueled by the Cultural Revolution, saw 3,000 Dockyard workers strike in solidarity, followed by 150 from the Refinery. On June 6, the manager was surrounded by angry, spear-carrying workers after a police ban on leftist posters #JSSArchives50 🧵

Poster of Durga as the killer of the buffalo demon, 1976-1978 #EYAMonsters https://ow.ly/tL5c50X1xBo

We've just opened access to a new tranche of School Governing Body Minutes and Papers (1938–1945) — a fascinating window into the war years, a pivotal period in our history. Find out more: https://archives.soas.ac.uk/records/SOAS?cid=

32. Beyond housing, Taikoo Dockyard & Sugar Refinery offered education. The Taikoo Free School opened in 1924 with 170 children. Funded by Swire, it grew post-WWII—reaching 600 pupils by 1951 and over 700 by 1956. A lasting legacy of care for workers’ families #JSSArchives50 🧵

30. Though destroyed during WWII, Taikoo Dockyard & Refinery was rebuilt and fully operational by 1950. Its revival showcased Swire’s resilience and helped power Hong Kong’s shift to manufacturing—turning TKDY into a key hub for ship repair and regional trade #JSSArchives50 🧵

The lion-faced ogre kirtimukha—seen in the text boxes of this 1903 Javanese manuscript—appears across Hindu, Buddhist & Islamic art in SE Asia. Derived from South India’s “face of glory,” it’s a symbol of protection #EYAMonsters digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA005781/0...

This 19th-century Burmese silver bowl showcases deep repousse work & vivid storytelling. Figures like Ravanna, Princess Sita & the ogress Ma Gambi (the golden deer) animate compressed local versions of the Rama tale, popular across the region. #EYAMonsters https://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA005819/00001

Krishna kills the demon Keshi. Image by Paul Fox, 1978 #EYAMonsters https://digital.soas.ac.uk/AA00000160/00001

31. By 1960, three generations of families had worked at Taikoo. Chan Sing-Kwan was a garage casual; his grandfather served 20 years as a carpenter’s assistant before dying during the Japanese occupation, & his father worked over 20 years before passing in 1950 #JSSArchives50 🧵

30. Though destroyed during WWII, Taikoo Dockyard & Refinery was rebuilt and fully operational by 1950. Its revival showcased Swire’s resilience and helped power Hong Kong’s shift to manufacturing—turning TKDY into a key hub for ship repair and regional trade #JSSArchives50 🧵

The lion-faced ogre kirtimukha—seen in the text boxes of this 1903 Javanese manuscript—appears across Hindu, Buddhist & Islamic art in SE Asia. Derived from South India’s “face of glory,” it’s a symbol of protection #EYAMonsters https://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA005781/00004/5x

The lion-faced ogre kirtimukha—seen in the text boxes of this 1903 Javanese manuscript—appears across Hindu, Buddhist & Islamic art in SE Asia. Derived from South India’s “face of glory,” it’s a symbol of protection #EYAMonsters https://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA005781/00004/5x

29. Built by Taikoo Dockyard, Shasi was CNCo’s first ship to reach Ichang in 1891. Sold in 1910, she was tragically lost in 1931—destroyed by explosion and fire 40 nautical miles up the Yangtze en route to Yangchow #JSSArchives50 🧵

28. Shortly after opening, Taikoo Dockyard was struck by a devastating typhoon, delaying operations. “I could cry when I see it,” wrote the Taipan, reflecting the scale of destruction. #JSSArchives50 🧵

This image is of Zeeba, a mythical Tibetan beast created by Shiva #EYAMonsters https://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAB000124/00001?search=beast&cid=

27. Plans for a dockyard at Quarry Bay emerged alongside the Sugar Refinery, using surplus land. Though J.S. Swire opposed it as uneconomic, rising demand for ship overhaul in the East led to the launch of Taikoo Dockyard in 1900–1901 #JSSArchives50 🧵

26. The 1920s brought typhoons, strikes, poor markets & a 3-month boycott—but in 1925, Taikoo Sugar Refinery became the world’s largest single-unit refinery. Letters & financial records in the archive trace both the challenges and the triumph #JSSArchives50 🧵