Release Date : 28 Aug 2013
Singapore, 25 July 2013 – The National Library's latest exhibition, Roots: Tracing Family Histories, explores the many facets of family history and genealogy, andSingapore, 25 July 2013 - The National Library's latest exhibition, Roots: Tracing Family Histories, explores the many facets of family history and genealogy, and encourages visitiors to race their own ancestry. Ms Sim Ann, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Education, launched the exhibition at the National Library Building today.
The exhibition follows the journeys of several Singaporean families as they uncover their family histories using personal documents, as well as official records from the National Library, the National Archives of Singapore and other government agencies. Visitors will learn about various useful resources that can help them discover more about their families' past. These include the National Library's collection of Singapore newspapers dating from 1831, as well as government gazettes and directories, and genealogy resource guides.
Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive Officer, National Library Board said, “Understanding where our families came from and how they lived is an important way of keeping meaningful family traditions and values alive. Roots: Tracing Family Histories celebrates the Singapore family by sharing stories about our origins, which many of us can identify with. We hope the exhibition will encourage Singaporeans to discover more about their families' past, using resources from the libraries and archives.”
The exhibition displays over 250 documents and objects, drawn from 17 families as well as the National Library, the National Archives and other institutions. The exhibition also looks at how common family traditions and legacies, such as family businesses, homes, heirlooms and food customs, are kept alive and passed down through the generations. Exhibit highlights include a birth certificate that dates back to the 1890s, a pre-war marriage certificate, and several genealogy charts from different communities. In conjunction with the exhibition, the National Library will organise guided tours and public talks on family history and research.
A travelling exhibition entitled 'What's in a Name?' will also be held over the coming months
at Marine Parade Public Library, Ang Mo Kio Public Library, Clementi Public Library and Woodlands Regional Library. Visitors will learn about how traditions and cultures play a part in determining one's name. They can also create their own family crest at this interactive exhibition.
Roots: Tracing Family Histories is held from 26 July 2013 to 16 February 2014 at the National Library Gallery, Level 10 of the National Library Building. Admission is free. For more information on the guided tours and public talks, please visit golibrary.nlb.gov.sg.
What's in a Name will be held at the following libraries:
Marine Parade Public Library, 22 July – 1 September 2013
Ang Mo Kio Public Library, 2 September – 3 November 2013
Clementi Public Library, 4 November 2013 – 5 January 2014
Woodlands Regional Library, 6 January 2014 – 27 February 2014
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