Issue

Jan–Mar 2023

1 January 2023

Repairing and restoring Singapore’s reel heritage, and other stories in BiblioAsia Volume 18, Issue 4

In the 1950s and 1960s, Cathay-Keris and Shaw Brothers produced many films that became classics. In the cover story, find out how the Asian Film Archive managed to restore some of these films.

Cover of Biblio Asia magazine Volume 18 Issue 04, featuring an article on restoring old classics.

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Director's Note

Repairing and Restoring Singapore’s Reel Heritage
The Asian Film Archive has been restoring classic Malay films by Cathay-Keris and Shaw since 2014. Chew Tee Pao. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

Singapore’s Stone Tools
Stone tools have been found in and around Singapore since the late 19th century. Foo Shu Tieng. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

The Origin Stories of Keramat Kusu
Pilgrimages to the keramat on Kusu Island began in the 1840s, though stories about the people associated with the shrines have changed over time. William L. Gibson. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

Subaraj Rajathurai: A Voice for the Wild
A gentle giant with a larger-than-life personality, Subaraj Rajathurai helped to save Singapore’s green spaces. Benjamin Ho. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

“Book City” in Two Streets: The Chinese Bookstore Scene in Postwar Singapore
Chinese bookstores in Singapore underwent transformational change in the postwar period. Lee Ching Seng. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

Maiden Lim of Redhill and Her Sisters: Taoist Folk Goddesses of Singapore
The local Taoist pantheon includes goddesses only found in Singapore such as Lin Guniang, Lei Niangniang and Huang Guniang. Ng Yi-Sheng. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

The Divine Lance: Thaipusam and Murugan Worship in Singapore
The specific form of Murugan worship during Thaipusam has its roots in the story of Murugan meeting the primeval devotee Idumban. Nalina Gopal.(PDF) (opens in new tab)

In Their Own Voices: Preparing for War in Singapore
Before the fall of Singapore in 1942, people prepared for the imminent war by stockpiling food, building air raid shelters and volunteering in civil defence units. Christabel Khoo and Mark Wong. (PDF) (opens in new tab)

New Books on Singapore History
A quick look at four new books available in the National Library’s collection. (PDF) (opens in new tab)