Film and Photography
A Century of Singapore’s Cinemas
Once central to Singapore’s social and cultural life, cinemas are now more utilitarian and prosaic halls housed in shopping malls.
History
Fridge Maker Freezes Stock Market
Pan-Electric’s enormous debts and subsequent collapse caused the Stock Exchange of Singapore to close for three days in 1985.
Inspired by History
Echoes from the Archives: Where Memories and Mystery Meet
Where past traumas echo in oral testimonies, Tracey Morton discovers both a window into Singapore’s past and inspiration for her novel, Someone Is Coming.
Culture
“We Do”: Mass Weddings in Singapore
Initially inspired by the “New Life Movement” in China, couples in Singapore would opt for mass weddings to save money.
Women
A Pioneering Philanthropist: The Life of Mrs Lee Choon Guan
One of Singapore’s first women philanthropists, Mrs Lee, née Tan Teck Neo, supported a wide range of charities.
Nature and the Environment
The Transoceanic Pollination of the Double Coconut
In 2011, pollen from coco-de-mer trees in Singapore successfully fertilised female plants in Hawaii.
Essays and Opinions
An 800-Year-Old Family History
Thanks to his ancestry book (zupu) and a lot of persistence, a practising Taoist priest was able to trace his ancestry all the way back to 1195.
People
How Tay Seow Huah Became the First Spy Chief of Singapore
In a BiblioAsia+ podcast episode, Simon talks about this father, the founding Director of the Security and Intelligence Division.
More Places and Buildings
A Mansion in Serangoon: Whampoa House-Bendemeer
In the 19th century, Whampoa’s legendary home was a nexus of wealth, power and extravagant entertainment.
People
The Life and Times of Giovanni Gaggino
The remarkable story of an Italian merchant who once owned Pulau Bukom and authored an Italian-Malay dictionary in colonial Singapore.
People
Dutch Burghers in British Malaya
A murder mystery sheds light on the little-known story of the Ceylonese pioneers from the Dutch Burgher community in British Malaya.
podcast
The Making of "Majulah Singapura" as We Know It
Emeritus Professor Bernard Tan plays the different versions of "Majulah Singapura" on his piano.
Inspired by History
How a 500-Year-Old Map Became Fashion
When Singapore designer Afton Chen chanced upon the Mao Kun Map, she decided to embark on a new fashion collection.
Inspired by History
Crafting Stories from History
From research to reimagination, the library and archives have shaped Felix Cheong’s creative processes.
Film and Photography
A Peek at the Audio-Visual Archives
The National Archives of Singapore has been safeguarding Singapore’s rich audiovisual legacy for the last 30 years.
Podcast
First Spy Chief of Independent Singapore
Legal academic Simon Tay tells us about how his Penang-born father came to play a giant role serving a newly independent Singapore.
Women
Hedwig Anuar: First Lady of the National Library
Hedwig Anuar was not only known for being the director of the National Library, she was also an activist and advocate for women’s rights.
People
Kung Tian Cheng, First Clerk of Raffles Library
In the late 19th century, Kung Tian Cheng helped compile a complete catalogue of the Raffles Library, before going to China to work for President Yuan Shikai.
Podcast
Hawker Culture in Singapore
Researcher Ryan Kueh explains why hawkers in Singapore sell their food in fixed stalls in hawker centres, rather than on streets, like in other countries.
Local Icons
A Short History of the National Library
The National Library Singapore began life in 1837 with a modest collection of 392 publications belonging to the Singapore Free School.
Places and Buildings
Pages of Progress: The Toa Payoh Public Library
Over the last five decades, the library has developed to keep pace with the changing needs of the residents of Toa Payoh.
Places and Buildings
Remembering the Part-Time Libraries
Part-time branch libraries served residents living in suburban Singapore before fulltime public libraries were built.
Places and Buildings
Lady in Red: The Former National Library
Beyond being a mere repository of books, the library on Stamford Road was a place for acquiring knowledge, making memories and creating friendships.
Nature and the Environment
The Floods of 1954
The severe floods of 1954 spurred significant infrastructure improvements and left a lasting impact on Singapore’s flood preparedness measures.
BiblioAsia Reels
Newly Discovered Photos from Liu Kang’s 1952 Bali Trip
Gretchen Liu sheds light on the discovery of more than 1,000 photos and negatives taken by her father-in-law Liu Kang during his 1952 Bali trip.
Art
A Bridge Between East and West
Liu Kang’s works show the influence of Western artists such as Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Matisse, as well as the tradition of Chinese ink painting.
Education
Signs of Progress: Deaf Education in Singapore
The first school for the deaf in Singapore was established in 1954, paving the way for deaf education and the development of Singapore Sign Language.
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.
What You Didn’t Know About the Straits Times
The first fake news. The illegal postwar edition. Newsmen turned presidents. The Straits Times has had an interesting 180 years.
BiblioAsia Reels
Exploring Sembawang from Old Maps
Find out how Sembawang, once home to pepper and gambier plantations got its name, and its transformation into a naval base.
