Podcast
Somerset Maugham Scandalises 1920s Singapore
Though Somerset Maugham was already well-known as a writer when he came to Singapore in 1921, his stay here inspired some of his most celebrated short stories.
People
Barbara Kerr: Sharpshooter and Girl Guide Extraordinaire
Barbara Kerr made contributions to the Girl Guides, sports and animal welfare. She was also a talented soprano.
Governance
How the CPF Scheme Came to Be
If things had turned out differently, Singapore would now be using a national pension scheme instead of the Central Provident Fund scheme.
Maps
The Story of Sembawang from 19th-Century Singapore Maps
Sembawang’s history can be told through the many maps that have charted its changes over the years.
Culture
Chingay in the 19th and 20th Centuries
The Chingay Parade held annually in Singapore during the Lunar New Year has its roots in the tai ge from China.
Food
Cups and Sources: Hunting Down the Origins of Kueh Pie Tee
Kueh pie tee is a fixture of classic Singaporean cooking, yet its identity has the shape of an enigma, filled with mystery and garnished with riddles.
BiblioAsia Reels
Singapore’s Early Zoos
Before the Singapore Zoo in Mandai, there were early zoos in the Botanic Gardens, Punggol, Pasir Panjang and on East Coast Road.
People
Japanese Anglicans in World War II Singapore
During the Japanese Occupation, four Japanese Anglicans were a sign of hope for the locals during a dark chapter in Singapore’s history.
More Places and Buildings
A Kampong for the “Grand Old Man of Singapore”
Due to development and urbanisation, Lim Boon Keng’s last home at Paterson Hill no longer exists today.
podcast
Stella Kon: Beyond Emily of Emerald Hill
Playwright Stella Kon talks about the difference between writing plays and musicals, her favourite actor to play Emily, and her writing process.
People
AGS Danaraj: Pioneer Town Planner and News Reader
The former newsreader AGS Danaraj was also a pioneering town planner, who always made time to help the less fortunate.
Governance
Laws of Our Land: Foundations of a New Nation
The Singapore Citizenship Ordinance (1957), the Women’s Charter (1961) and the Employment Act (1968) are three legislations that have shaped modern Singapore.
Worship
Singapore’s Armenian Church Survived Close to 180 Years
Never large, Singapore’s Armenian community barely survived the war. Then came the demographic collapse.
Art
Singapore’s Pioneer Cartoonists
Many of the early cartoonists were ideologically motivated and their drawings aimed to bring about social and political change.
Local Icons
Singapore’s National Souvenir: The Gold-plated Past of RISIS
Much more than a tourist souvenir, Singapore’s gold-plated RISIS orchids were a triumph of grit and branding.
Tools of the Trade: Letterpress Printing in Singapore
Letterpress printing may be obsolete today but the tools involved continue to be objects of fascination.
BiblioAsia Reels
Traditional Letterpress Printing in Singapore
Typesettingsg founder Sun Yao Yu shares more about this printing technique – once the main commercial printing method here in the 19th century.
From Book To Cook
Sea Snail & Papaya Curry: A Eurasian Delight
MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva makes this uncommon Kristang curry that combines two very unlikely ingredients: sea snail and papaya.
VIDEO: FROM BOOK TO COOK
The Scoop on Otak Blangah
How does this Peranakan dish compare with otak-otak? Tanya Pillay-Nair from the Peranakan Indian Association of Singapore revives this old recipe with her aunt.
Local Icons
Sentosa’s Cable Cars at 50
As Singapore’s cable car system commemorates 50 years of service, we look back at the journey of this iconic attraction that has brought joy to many a rider.
VIDEO: FROM BOOK TO COOK
Soon Kueh Stories
What does a soon kueh recipe have to do with a Buddhist temple? Find out as researcher Kelvin Tan conquers sticky dough to make this humble vegetarian snack.
People
Cikgu Asfiah Abdullah: A Cultural Luminary
A former teacher and mak andam fulfils her dream by writing a book on Malay recipes in 1986, the first all-Malay cookbook from Times Books International.
People
Reconstructing Charles Darwin’s Lost Library
Almost 20 years of painstaking scouring and sleuth work have resulted in what is probably the largest and most comprehensive resource on Charles Darwin.
VIDEO: FROM BOOK TO COOK
Peeling Back the Layers of Bunga Kobis
What is bunga kobis and why was it prepared only for special occasions? Join librarian Toffa Abdul Wahed as she puts together this many-layered pastry.
Video: From Book to Cook
Unravelling the Mystery of Mee Maidin
Food historian and author Khir Johari whips up this noodle dish from Kampong Gelam, and reveals its special ingredient – krill.
Theatre and Dance
From Betty of Balmoral Road to Emily of Emerald Hill
A study of early drafts of Emily of Emerald Hill reveals fascinating choices and paths not taken.
Podcast
The Tragedy of Singapore’s First Boxing Superstar
Tan Teng Kee was the Mike Tyson of Singapore boxing in the 1920s. Known as Battling Key, the larger-than-life boxer attracted crowds wherever he went.
Sports
Battling Key, Yeo Choon Song and Singapore Boxing
In the aftermath of World War I, the “noble art” became wildly popular in Singapore thanks to two Straits Chinese who took on all-comers, including each other.
PODCAST
Chia Boon Leong: The Homegrown Football Olympian
Nicknamed “Twinkle Toes” for his agility, Chia Boon Leong (1925–2022) is widely regarded as one of Singapore‘s most talented football players.
Podcast
Singapore Bands in Wartime Vietnam
In the 1960s and ’70s, Singaporean musicians went to South Vietnam to perform for US troops during the war. They were met with cheers, bullets and assault.
podcast
Saving Singapore’s Film Heritage
Thanks to restoration, classic films like The Teenage Textbook Movie (1998) can still be shown on a big screen 20 years after its cinema run.
BiblioAsia Reels
Yip Yew Chong’s “I Paint my Singapore”
Yip Yew Chong’s masterpiece captures scenes of a bygone Singapore. Find out how he ensured historical accuracy in this 60-metre-long work.
podcast
The Lost Gold Coins of the Old Singapore Library
More than 180 years after two ancient gold coins went missing, librarian Foo Shu Tieng tries to solve the case.
Collection Highlights
A History of the Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association
One of Singapore’s oldest martial arts associations donated its unique collection of photographs and materials to the National Library, 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.
Collection Highlights
By the Public and for the Public
Singapore’s National Library is hard at work collecting new forms of documentary materials today for the sake of future generations.
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.
PODCAST
Artist Yip Yew Chong Paints His Story in History
Yip Yew Chong’s 60-metre-long work, “I Paint my Singapore”, merges history, memory and nostalgia.
Governance
Singapore's Hippie Hysteria and the Ban on Long Hair
Hippie culture was seen as a risk to Singapore in the 1960s and 1970s. To reduce its influence, the government began a campaign against men with long hair.
Culture
A Plethora of Tongues: Multilingualism in Malayan Writing
From the melting pot of cultures and languages 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.
