An oral history of the Journal of the Siam Society.

• Main Author: Tejasen, Chirabodee.
• Other Authors: Brendan Luyt
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Library and information science::General; DRNTU::Humanities::History
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/50893
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study seeks to chart, through an oral history approach, a life story of the Journal of the Siam Society (JSS), by examining how it has evolved. First published in 1905, JSS is one of the oldest learned journals devoted to the geographical theme of Siam/Thailand and her neighbouring countries. Regarding JSS as a community of contributors, readers, printers and editors, this dissertation suggests that this community can be seen as a web of actors responsible for producing the journal. Purposive sampling was employed. Based on analysis of data gained from semi-structured interviews with living editors – past and current – of JSS, the life story dates back to 1970. Since 1970, contributors to JSS have predominantly been western specialists in Thai studies, contributing on various subjects. Thai contributors have stayed at the margin. In terms of readership, all editors have tended to aim at academics, although JSS is published by a learned society, not an academic institution. Throughout the period under scrutiny (1970–present), the Siam Society has continued to have the journal printed by the leading printing houses. It was revealed, nevertheless, that in the 1970s, the printer occasionally delayed the production of the journal. At the centre of the web were the editors, who have demonstrated goodwill to do their best in mediating between each element in the JSS community. It was made clear that, through the changing times, JSS has evolved and established itself as an outlet where contributors, readers, printers and editors come together to produce and disseminate knowledge about Siam/Thailand and the region.