Culture
A Plethora of Tongues: Multilingualism in Malayan Writing
From the melting pot of cultures and language in postwar Singapore came the search for a Malayan identity, negotiated and presented through multilingualism.
People
Remembering William Lim
The late architect William Lim did more than shape Singapore’s skyline. He was also deeply passionate about urban planning, culture, the arts.
Places and buildings
A Short History of John Little at Raffles Place
A look back at John Little’s 170-year history and the lasting mark the store has made on our island.
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Art
Seeking the Unnamed Artists of Diard & Duvaucel's Drawings
Natural history drawings might seem clinical and cold, but an unlikely medium pulls back the curtains to find the humanity behind them.
BiblioAsia Reels
Professor Yu Chun Yee Plays on NLB's Heritage Piano
Professor Yu, who used to teach at the Royal College of Music in London, plays on the refurbished Chappell grand at the National Library.
WAR
Konfrontasi: Singapore's Experience of an Undeclared War
Opposing the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, Indonesia waged a three-year armed conflict against Malaysia and Singapore.
People
The Curious Visit of Qing Ambassadors to Singapore
The visit by Qing officials to Singapore in 1876 led to the establishment of the first Chinese consulate here a year later.
The Early History of Printing in Singapore
Printing in Singapore dates back 200 years with the establishment of a press by Christian missionaries.
Sports
Coach Choo Seng Quee, A Giant of Singapore Football
Uncle Choo masterminded Singapore’s famous Malaysia Cup victory in 1977. Four decades after his death, we remember his many contributions to the sport.
Sports
Forgotten Heroes of the Malaya Cup
We remember some legendary players of the interwar years who left an indelible mark on the local football scene.
podcast
The Recording Industry in Singapore, 1903-1985
Singapore used to be a major recording centre in Southeast Asia, with over 10,000 local recordings made before 1960.
podcast
The Stories Behind the Shrines on Kusu Island
Researcher William L. Gibson undertakes a pilgrimage into the archives to uncover the history of the keramat on Kusu Island.
podcast
The Mystery of Sarong Island
Librarian Lim Tin Seng rediscovers Singapore’s first island resort getaway and solves various mysteries surrounding it, including where Sarong Island is now.
video: From Book to Cook
Recreating a Recipe from the "Eat More Wheat" Campaign
What does a 1969 Chinese recipe for noodles have to do with a murukku press?
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ARTS
From Singapore Dance Theatre to Singapore Ballet
As the history of the company shows, its new name is less about breaking away from the past as it is about leaping confidently into the future.
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Collection Focus: A Comic Book Version of Operation Jaywick
The story of Operation Jaywick, a daring attack on Japanese ships at Keppel Harbour in September 1943, is retold in a comic aimed at boys.
Places and Buildings
32 Binjai Park: The Modernist Home of an Architect
The house that Lee Kip Lin built has stood the test of time, reflecting its simple yet modern and clean design.
Places and Buildings
Remembering Punggol’s Kampong Wak Sumang
Kampong Wak Sumang, one of Singapore’s earliest fishing villages, was purportedly founded by a warrior-diplomat whose musical abilities landed him in trouble.
podcast
My Grandfather Was a Rōmusha
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army used forced civilian labourers, known as rōmusha, to build the infamous Thai-Burma Railway.
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Film, Sound and Photography
The Singapore Record Industry in the 1960s
In this extract from the book From Keroncong to Xinyao, the author looks at why the record industry in Singapore took off in the 1960s.
Film and Photography
Restoring Classic Singaporean Films
Money No Enough, Forever Fever and The Teenage Textbook Movie are prime candidates for restoration.
Places and Buildings
Terraces on Tagore: The Curious Origins of Teachers' Estate
The Singapore Teachers’ Union wanted a clubhouse. They ended up building a housing estate.
People
Neo Tiew: The Man Who Built Lim Chu Kang
The opening up of Lim Chu Kang owes much to the efforts of Neo Tiew, who helped clear the land and later became the headman of the area.
Women
Women and the Typewriter in Singapore’s Herstories
The humble typewriter helped women become better educated, enter the workforce and contribute to society.
War
The Chinese Community During the Japanese Occupation
A showcase of items from the Chinese community relating to the Japanese Occupation. These are from the collection of the National Library of Singapore.
nature and environment
Singapore's Stone Tools
Stone tools have been found in and around Singapore since the late 19th century. Much about them remains a mystery.
culture
Rituals behind Firewalking
More than just the firewalking festival, Theemithi has a cycle of rituals that involves the re-enactment of events from the Mahabharatam over several months.
People
Loke Wan Tho: The Man Who Built Cathay
While best known as a giant in the movie business in Malaya, Loke Wan Tho was also passionate about bird photography and the arts
Governance
The Early Days of Family Planning in Singapore
Singapore’s family planning programme did not start with the “Stop at Two” policy in 1972, but goes back even earlier to 1949.
nature
Flower Power: Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy
When Queen Elizabeth II visited Singapore in 1972, the orchid Dendrobium Elizabeth was named in her honour.
places and buildings
Key Milestones in the History of Cathay Cinema
The closing of Cathay cinema at Handy Road, one of Singapore’s oldest cinemas, marks the end of an era.
Places
Manmade Tunnels and Caverns Underground in the City State
Singapore has been burrowing underground since the 19th century, but it was only after Independence that serious efforts were made to use subterranean space.
Photography
Japanese and Chinese Photo Studios in Prewar Singapore
Chinese and Japanese photography studios had to negotiate the politics of race, class and clan in the early 20th century.
places
The Story of Singapore’s Changing Wet Markets
Wet markets have existed in Singapore since 1825. Zoe Yeo looks at how these markets have changed over time.
