Local Icons
Books on Wheels: Singapore's Mobile Libraries
Between the 1960s and 1980s, libraries-on-wheels travelled around Singapore bringing books to residents in rural and suburban areas.
Podcast
Badang the Strongman
Many people know of Badang the strongman. Independent scholar William Gibson tells us the tale of Badang is much more complicated than is generally known.
Podcast
Peng Tsu Ying: Singapore's Pioneering Deaf Educator
Librarian Nathaniel Chew tells us about Peng's advocacy, his own journey learning the Singapore Sign Language and the different ways it has evolved.
Places and Buildings
Remembering the Part-Time Libraries
Part-time branch libraries served residents living in suburban Singapore before fulltime public libraries were built.
Podcast
The Trip That Led to the 1953 Landmark Art Exhibition
Gretchen Liu, the daughter-in-law of Liu Kang, tells us about the mysterious Bali trip undertaken by four Singapore pioneering artists in 1952.
Culture
History of the Golden Lions in Singapore
The Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association’s lion dance troupe opens their archives for a peek into the rich history of their Golden Lions.
Adventure and Travel
The Construction of Bali’s Mystique
In 1953, four artists held an art exhibition arising from their travels to Bali in 1952. Their trip was inspired by an image of the island as an untouched Eden.
Photography
Forgotten Photographs of the 1952 Trip to Bali
A treasure trove of negatives sheds new light on a trip that led to an exhibition now regarded as a milestone in the history of Singapore art.
Culture
Rites of Rehabilitation: The Social Work of the Zhenkongjiao
With its sometime unconventional treatments, the Zhenkongjiao worked together with local authorities to remove the scourge of opium addiction in Singapore.
Art
The Liu Kang Collection: A Portrait of an Artist
The Liu Kang Collection at the National Library Singapore looks at the creative process of one of Singapore’s most celebrated artists.
Places and Buildings
Karikal Mahal: Stories Reimagined and Retold
History, research and compelling storytelling come together to bring the story of Karikal Mahal to life.
People
Uncovering the Origins of Badang the Strongman
Relics of Badang the Strongman can be found throughout the region. But who was this enigmatic figure?
Podcast
What Makes An Animal Singaporean?
Environmental historian Timothy Barnard tells us what makes migrant animals, like otters and Aedes mosquitoes, Singaporean.
Governance
The Nominated Member of Parliament Scheme
The NMP Scheme was set up to present more opportunities for Singaporeans to participate in politics.
BiblioAsia Reels
Thai Buddhist Temple Wat Ananda
At Singapore's oldest Thai Buddhist temple, you'll discover elements that would not normally be found in a Buddhist temple in Thailand.
People
The Calligraphy of Ustaz Syed Abdul Rahman Al-Attas
The master calligrapher’s artworks not only adorn physical spaces but are also found in Malay print publications.
Podcast
A Tour of 60 Asian Port Cities
Ex–ACM director Kennie Ting tells us how port cities can reveal a different history of Asia, and what his "eat, pray, love" cities are.
People
John Sturgus Bastin: A Memoir
The late Dr John Bastin was the leading authority on Stamford Raffles, having published more than 20 books and many essays on Raffles.
War and Military
All Smoke? Opium Propaganda in the Syonan Shimbun
Imperial Japan justified its occupation of Singapore with opium propaganda and prohibition promises.
Podcast
He Wrote the National Pledge
Irene Ng, the authorised biographer of S. Rajaratnam, tells us the legacy of Singapore’s first foreign minister, and his relationship with Lee Kuan Yew.
People
W. Somerset Maugham: Secrets from the Outstations
Somerset Maugham’s visits to Singapore in the 1920s inspired some of his greatest stories, but these also triggered a fierce backlash against him.
BiblioAsia Reels
Pioneering Journalist R.B. Ooi
Malayan journalist R.B. Ooi (1905–72) worked for newspapers like the Straits Echo and the Malayan Times. Irene Lim, 96, shares her memories of her father.
More places and buildings
Eu Tong Sen’s “Pearl Under the Burning Tropical Sun”
The grandeur and opulence of Eu Villa on Mount Sophia was unrivalled in its heyday.
More Places and Buildings
Remembering the Hawkins Road Refugee Camp
A temporary home for Vietnamese refugees, the Hawkins Road camp received thousands of “boat people” over nearly two decades.
Film and Photography
The Awakening of the Modern Television Era
People weren’t particularly interested in upgrading their black-and-white TVs to colour TVs. Then came the World Cup.
People
S. Rajaratnam: The Lion’s Roar
In S. Rajaratnam’s biography, The Lion’s Roar, Irene Ng explains how the journalist-turned-politician was a critical figure in Singapore’s early years.
People
The Search for a “Lost” Towkay of Malaya
A man looks at his grandfather with new eyes after a mysterious envelope is found in an old workman’s outfit that was about to be thrown away.
Local Icons
The Early Years of the Singapore Zoo
The zoo was able to overcome major setbacks in its formative years to become the well-loved tourist attraction it is today.
Sports
30 Years of the Great Singapore Workout
Launched in 1993, the Great Singapore Workout helped spread the message that being physically active was important.
Podcast
Seaside Foraging and Eurasian Cuisine
MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva talks about the influences in his cooking philosophy and the importance of heritage cuisine.
Podcast
Food of the Peranakan Indians
Tanya Pillay-Nair talks about ancestor worship in the Chetti Melaka culture, when the community serve the dishes that the ancestors enjoyed the most.
Podcast
The Chinese Vegetarian Foodscape of the 1950s–60s
Set up by five Buddhist women in 1946, Loke Woh Yuen was the first Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Singapore.
Worship
At Wat Ananda, Thai Buddhism with a Singaporean Twist
Despite the golden stupa and ornate roofs that indicate this is a Thai Buddhist temple, the Singaporean influences are not hard to spot at Wat Ananda Metyarama.
Podcast
Hajah Asfiah: A Guardian of Traditional Malay Culture
A tireless steward of Malay culture, Hajah Asfiah worked all her life to preserve and pass on Malay crafts.
Collection Highlights
The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Collection
Materials donated by the association shed light on its contributions to the nation's social and cultural landscape.
Podcast
Kampong Gelam: Kitchen of the Malay World
Here you find different curries and bread, nasi padang, sup tulang, mee siam, a Javanese kitchen, Hainanese coffeeshops and more.
Video: From Book to Cook
Kueh Pie Tee or Kwei Patti
What’s in a name? Food writer and cooking instructor Christopher Tan delves into the origins of this tasty Peranakan snack.
WAR and Military
The Other Men Who Surrendered Singapore
Eleven other men had taken the decision with Arthur E. Percival to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942
History
It’s a Cat’s Life: Airborne Felines Fight War Against Rats
In 1960, 23 unsuspecting cats found themselves being airdropped into Bario, Sarawak, as part of a rat-busting operation.
History
A Cool Business: The History of Ice-Making in Singapore
Ice has been an indispensable commodity in tropical Singapore since the late 19th century.
Art
Memory, History, Art: Yip Yew Chong’s “I Paint my Singapore”
Yip Yew Chong’s 60-metre-long work, “I Paint my Singapore”, melds memories and research to produce stories about Singapore.
podcast
The True Story Behind Ubin's German Girl Shrine
A young German girl met an untimely end on Pulau Ubin in 1914. A shrine set up in her honour becomes Internet-famous.
more places and Buildings
Interview with Victor Savage
From Desker Road to Xilin Avenue, street signs around Singapore recall the lives of people whose stories are a part of the nation’s history.
BiblioAsia Reels
Singapore’s Early Publications
Printing in Singapore dates back about 200 years when Christian missionaries established a printing press here to spread the gospel.
