Oct–Dec 2023

Before the 1970s, it was not compulsory to wear a crash helmet while riding a motorcycle or scooter in Singapore. But a campaign encouraging people to voluntarily wear helmets failed, and the government had to use legislation instead.

Director's Note

The Bumpy Ride to Making Crash Helmets Mandatory
Getting people to wear crash helmets was an uphill task. Sharad Pandian. (PDF)

Forgotten Heroes of the Malaya Cup (1921–1941)
Before the war, these footballers were household names in Singapore. Nick Aplin. (PDF)

Coach Choo Seng Quee: A Giant of Singapore Football
Four decades after his death, we remember Choo Seng Quee’s many contributions to the sport. A. Thiyaga Raju and Gary Koh. (PDF)

A Grand Piano’s Chequered History: The Journey of a Chappell Grand Piano from the Victoria Memorial Hall to the National Library Building
A grand piano that was to be the pride of Singapore failed to silence its critics. The odds, however, were always against it. Bernard T.G. Tan. (PDF)

The Early History of Printing in Singapore
Printing in Singapore dates back 200 years with the establishment of a press by Christian missionaries. Their efforts to spread the gospel also helped spread knowledge of the printing press here. Gracie Lee. (PDF)

Revisiting the Mystery of the Missing Gold Coins
Two ancient gold coins, probably from Aceh, were discovered in Singapore in the middle of the 19th century. Unfortunately, they mysteriously disappeared a few decades later. Foo Shu Tieng. (PDF)

Panton Malaijoe dan Portugees: A Rediscovered Manuscript Sheds Light on the Languages and Traditions of Colonial Batavia
A forgotten manuscript found in the archive of a Portuguese museum offers insights into the languages and traditions of a unique community in the Dutch East Indies. Hugo C. Cardoso. (PDF)

Going Against the (Rice) Grain: The “Eat More Wheat” Campaign
The call for Singaporeans to switch from eating rice to eating wheat in 1967 did not take root despite best efforts by the government. Jacqueline Lee. (PDF)

A Well-Choreographed Move: From Singapore Dance Theatre to Singapore Ballet
The company’s new name is less about breaking away from the past as it is about leaping confidently into the future. Thammika Songkaeo. (PDF)

New Books on Singapore History
New books available in the National Library’s collection. (PDF)