Singapore Memories: Documenting Our Stories Together

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Image reference

Donations highlight

170 slides (35mm) captured by Mr Theo A. Strijker, documenting  everyday life, places and celebrations in Singapore in the 1960s.

Donated by Mr Theo A. Strijker.

(Total number of donated items: 1 set of 170 slides)

The images provide a vivid documentation that reflect aspects of local life and culture that were of popular interest and curiosity among expatriates in Singapore at the time. The images are well-taken, hold historical significance and value for research as they capture in detail the places and ways of life that no longer exist today. They also hold social significance as the older generations of Singaporeans still identify with these sights captured which may evoke a sense of nostalgia about the past.

1. View of Tanglin Halt and Queenstown, with Queen’s Circus and New Town Secondary School in the foreground 
(Sleeve 1_0010)
2. Hawkers selling birds’ nest drink (left) and rojak (right) 
(Sleeve 5_0017)
3. Street market, showing Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns for sale, Chinatown
(Sleeve 6_002)
4. Sale of exotic meats, Chinatown
(Sleeve 6_003)
5. Anchor Brewery along Alexandra Road
(Sleeve 8_006)
6. The railway siding and bonded store at the Anchor Brewery. This was located across the road from the brewery (where the IKEA store stands today).
(Sleeve 8_008)
7. Malay wedding at Kampung Siglap
(Sleeve 8_009)
8. Guests at a Malay wedding, Kampung Siglap
(Sleeve 8_0020)

2.

Malay books and magazines that were published in Singapore, from 1946 to the 1960s. The magazines, written in Jawi and Romanised scripts, include popular titles such as Mastika and Majalah Filem. In addition, a photograph of the Municipal Abattoir Council taken in 1932 was also donated.

Donated by The Malay Heritage Foundation Ltd.

(Total number of donated items: 216)

Malay-language magazines from as early as 1946 to1960s such as Mastika, Majalah Filem, Hiboran Film, Juita Filem and Asmara were very popular. These donated items bring to life the thriving entertainment and film industry in the region.

3.

150 items (including 44 digital), comprising a record book capturing donations received for the establishment of their training ground in 1946, photographs (physical and digital) were mostly taken between 1940s and 1970s, as well as publications by the association and other organisations.

Donated by Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association.

(Total number of donated items: 150)

1. Donation record for the construction of Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association training ground, 1946 (Unpublished)

Association membership increased as Singapore rebuilt its society and economy after the war. In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the association in 1946, donation funds as recorded in this book, were sought for the construction of Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association training ground to cater to expanding needs, which included land rental and other miscellaneous expenses.

2. View of Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association training ground, circa 1940s

Mentioned in the donation record from its construction in the 1940s, a historical view of the Singapore Chin Woo training ground which spans about 4,880 square feet.

4.

Distinctive green ink architectural concept sketches for residential houses, villas including his award-winning Tokio Marine Centre, by Mr Sonny Chan, founder of Chan Sau Yan Associates (also known as CSYA Pte Ltd). He has been a practising architect for more than 50 years, and has won several architectural awards for design distinction, including the President’s Design Award 2011 - Designer of the Year. Some of his distinctive works include the Subordinate Courts, Hyatt Kuantan and Tokio Marine Centre. He was also a founding member of the Singapore Planning and Urban Research Group, a juror for the President's Design Award and had served in various other capacities within the professional community and government institutions.

Donated by Mr Chan Sau Yan Sonny.

(Total number of donated items: 194)

Distinctive green ink architectural concept sketches for residential houses, villas including his award-winning Tokio Marine Centre.
Today’s generation of architects do not use free hand to draw their ideas and inspiration.  Hence, this is truly a special collection that reflects and provide insights to how past and pioneer architects create and develop their architectural works.

5.

148 donated items, most of which are related to the pre-war Japanese presence in Southeast Asia, and the Japanese military campaign and subsequent occupation of Southeast Asia in WWII. The materials are dated between 1889 and 1958.

Donated by Mr Lim Shao Bin.

(Total number of donated items: 148)

Title: 皇太子殿下御渡欧 第三艦隊記念写真帖 = Kōtaishi denka gotoō  Daisan kantai kinen shashinchō
Author: 第三艦隊司令部 = Daisan kantai shireibu
Publisher: 東京市 : 畵報社，= Tōkyō-shi: Gahōsha， 1921

This is a commemorative publication on Crown Prince Hirohito’s (later Emperor Hirohito) historic visit to Europe in 1921. Along the journey, the royal entourage made a stopover in Singapore. This book contains images of Singapore taken during his stay here. They include scenes of North Bridge Road lined with Japanese businesses, Anderson Bridge, Government House, a flooded Raffles Square, the Botanic Gardens, Victoria Park, the impounding reservoir at Thomson Road, a rubber plantation, students from the local Japanese elementary school and the Japanese welcome party at the Singapore harbour.

6.

23 photographs related to Dr K. Ramiah’s Teachers' Training College days, graduation, wedding ceremony (taken with prominent personalities such as Ko Sarangapani, Tamil Murasu founder Govindasamy Pillai), activities of Umar Pulavar school students and his cousins' shops.

Donated by Family of Dr K. Ramiah.

(Total number of donated items: 23)

The Umar Pulavar Tamil School was founded by the Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League (SKML) under the leadership of A.N. Maideen in 1946. It was renamed the Umar Pulavar Tamil High School in 1960, and was the first and only Tamil-medium high school in Singapore until its closure in 1982 due to declining enrolment. The school was recognised for its efforts to alleviate the educational, cultural, social and economic status of the Tamil community.

7.

A collection by Wu I Shiang, a well-known editor and publisher for Teochew Home News (《潮州乡讯》) and Teochew News of Malaysia (《泛马潮讯》) from 1947 to 1962. The donation consists of a rare photograph, clan publications, literary publications by Singapore and Malaysian authors before 1980s.

Donated by Family of Wu I Shiang.

(Total number of donated items: 834)

新加坡侨团大会举行爱国精神总动员宣誓 (Mass assembly of Chinese clan associations and societies for pledging their patriotism towards China), 1 May 1939
 
Headed by Tan Kah Kee, the China Relief Fund Committee organised a mass assembly at Happy World stadium on Labour Day, 1 May 1939, to unite the Chinese community in Singapore and crowd-source for funds to support the anti-Japanese resistance movement in China. More than 10,000 individuals from 300 Chinese clan associations and societies attended and pledged patriotism, by donating funds and supporting the boycotting of Japanese products. This photograph was produced by the committee the next day.

8.

《鼠疫及消毒法》, around 1930s published in China

A collection of publications related to Singapore’s education and history published between the 1950s and 1980s. Among them is a publication by Wu Lien-teh, published in the 1930s.

Donated by Mr Ng Ching Huei.

(Total number of donated items: 37)

《鼠疫及消毒法》
伍连德著，吴钟瀚译
Circa 1930s
Wu Lien-teh is well-known for his role in eradicating the Manchurian plague of 1910. This Chinese translated work, published circa 1930s, is probably one of its kind during that time as many of Wu's works were published in English.

9.

This collection consists of books and photographs of Se Ve Shanmugam with his contemporaries, including writers and other prominent personalities of the Tamil community. For example, Se Ve Shanmugam with Kannadasan (a well-known poet from Tamil Nadu) during his visit to Singapore.

Donated by Family of the late Mr Se Ve Shanmugam.

(Total number of donated items: 13)

Literary pioneer Se Ve Shanmugam was very active in Singapore's Tamil cultural and literary scene. These pictures were taken during the visit of the famous poet Kavignar Kannadasan from Tamil Nadu to Singapore in the 1970s. Kannadasan is heralded as one of the greatest and most important writers in the Tamil language. Se Ve Shanmugam, along with Tamil philanthropist, Govindasamy Pillai, and Journalist V T Arasu are also seen in these pictures.

10.

A diary, manuscripts, letters, photographs and publications related to Mr Ann Jong Juan’s teaching and artistic journey since the 1960s. The collection was received as part of the Singapore Online Arts Repository (SOAR) project, in collaboration with the National Arts Council.

Donated by Mr Ann Jong Juan (aka Han Lao Da).

(Total number of donated items: 250)

Manuscript and leaflet of "Jin Yin Hua" (金银花), 1982.

"Jin Yin Hua", performed by Southern Arts Society during the Drama Festival in 1982, was one of Cultural Medallion Recipient Han Lao Da’s earliest scripts, which he co-wrote with several members of Southern Arts Society. Han was also the assistant director for this theatre production, that was directed by Yong Ser Pin.

11.

A collection of more than 100 titles covering Law Wai Lun’s music compositions and arrangements, programme booklets of concerts featuring his works, CDs and DVDs, posters and photographs. The scores date back to the time when he was based in Hong Kong to recent years. The collection was received as part of the Singapore Online Arts Repository (SOAR) project, in collaboration with the National Arts Council.

Donated by Mr Law Wai Lun.

(Total number of donated items: 161)

《雨中行》by 罗伟伦 (Law Wai Lun)
Inspired by the Cantonese folk tune 《落水天》,《雨中行》(A Stroll in the Rain) was commissioned by the National Arts Council for the 2002 National Chinese Music Competition. The piece begins like a light drizzle leading to a downpour that washes away the impurities of the earth, signifying a renewed future. The donated score is accompanied by a handwritten synopsis by Cultural Medallion Recipient Law Wai Lun of this score and two other pieces.

12.

• Publications from 1999 to 2021, such as Sri Warisan’s commemorative books, a step-by-step guide to Malay dance, newsletters, magazines and guidebooks
• Various ephemera including exhibition posters, flyers, booklets and postcards on Sri Warisan’s events over the years.

The collection was received as part of the Singapore Online Arts Repository (SOAR) project, in collaboration with the National Arts Council.

Donated by Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd.

(Total number of donated items: 332)

This collection of ephemera from posters to flyers, capture the productions and activities of Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts over the years. Founded by Cultural Medallion Recipient Som Said, this performing arts company blends both traditional and contemporary dance. Their creative works reflect their active promotion of Malay traditional dance.

13.

Sketches, manuscripts, documents, letters, photographs and ephemera by artist Chng Seok Tin, detailing her artistic and literary creative processes, as well as the activities and exhibitions she had undertaken locally and overseas from 1960s to 2019.
The collection was received as part of the Singapore Online Arts Repository (SOAR) project, in collaboration with the National Arts Council.

Donated by Family of Chng Seok Tin.
(Total number of donated items: 690)

Cultural Medallion Recipient Chng Seok Tin’s works often contain contour line portraits and abstracted human forms in dance-like postures. In this sketchbook donated by her family, the various drafts by Chng follow her process of observation, rendering, and artistic creation. Such materials show a glimpse beyond the completed artworks, into the otherwise unseen processes of an artist.

14.

Photographs of Tan Tock Seng Sports Team, Academy of Medicine Annual Induction Dinner, letters, books on Singapore Medical Council, a collection donated by Dr William Chan’s daughter, Ms Chan. Dr William Chan was formerly a Senior Consultant Physician, Head of the Department of Medicine, and occasional acting Medical Superintendent, Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Donated by Family of Dr William Chan Wai Lim and Mrs Chan Tsok Fah.

(Total number of donated items: 95)

1) Dr William Chan (seated, front row, centre) serving as a sports team doctor. 
2) Dr William Chan (seated, extreme right) serving as a team doctor to the bodybuilding team.
3) Dr William Chan (standing back row, sixth from left), at the Academy of Medicine Annual Induction Dinner on 16 Apr 1970. Seated in the front row (third from left) is Dr Kwa Soon Bee, who later became the Permanent Secretary for Health and Director of Medical Services from 1984 to 1996.

15.

(00:38:57 - 00:40:17) Alexandra Brickworks

(00:08:00 - 00:10:23) Flight Over Malaya

Two digitised videos shot in Singapore in the 1930s by Mr Tyrrel Adrian Goskar, who was the Managing Director of Alexandra Brickworks. The footages capture many Singapore landmarks, including beautiful video portraits of the local people and their activities, and of animals and nature. 

(Total number of donated items: 2)
Donated by Mr Thomas Goskar.

(00:38:57 - 00:40:17) Alexandra Brickworks
Tyrrel Adrian Goskar was born in 1904 in London, United Kingdom. He was the Managing Director of Alexandra Brickworks (then owned by the Borneo Company Ltd) in Singapore from 1935 until the Japanese invasion in 1942. Tyrrel and his wife Irene arrived in Singapore from London aboard S.S Rawalpindi on 21 June 1935. They lived in the Alexandra Brickworks Manager’s House on Alexandra Road. These footages feature Alexandra Brickworks and the lively activities at the quarry with people hard at work.

(00:08:00 - 00:10:23) Flight Over Malaya
Possibly a record of the first ever commercial flight that took off from Singapore, in June 1937, this footage shows the Goskars on a flight to Kuala Lumpur in a Wearnes Air Services De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide aeroplane known as “Governor Raffles”. The footage shows the plane on the ground, inside the plane in the air, and aerial views before landing at the Kuala Lumpur Flying Club.

16.

1,460 open reel recordings of Rediffusion programmes and advertisements, donated by former Rediffusion Chinese Programme Executive and Producer, current Chairperson and CEO of Rediffusion (2012) Pte Ltd, Eeva Chang Mei Hsiang (张美香). 

Highlights 
1. Radio plays in Mandarin and Chinese dialects, covering a range of genres like:
• Chinese classics (三国演义)
• Mystery tales (血手印)
• Martial arts plays (花郎, 厦语新派武侠小说)
• Dramas (出卖爱情的人)
• Operas (赵氏孤儿)
• Teochew play from 新加坡潮剧联谊社 (The Teochew Drama Association)

2. Advertisements from defunct businesses, such as the Tang Dynasty City and Emporium departmental stores.

Donated by Rediffusion (2012) Pte Ltd.

(Total number of donated items: 1,460) 

Rediffusion Pte Ltd was established in 1949 as Singapore’s first cable-transmitted, commercial radio station. The donation comprises Rediffusion broadcasts from the 1980s and 1990s, and complements the existing collection of Rediffusion dialect programmes preserved by the NAS. The recordings document the transition of Rediffusion from dialect to Mandarin programming in the 1980s, following the introduction of the Speak Mandarin campaign. The radio advertisements also gave a glimpse of popular brands, and the types of products and services they offered during this period. 

17.

Videos consisting of rushes of the two expeditions, and various preparatory climbs the team embarked on from 1995 to 2001, donated by Mr David Lim, a motivational speaker and Singaporean mountaineer who led the first Singapore Mount Everest expedition in 1998, and the second Singapore-Latin American expedition in 2001. 

Donated by Mr David Lim Yew Lee.
(Total number of donated items: 140)

This selection of video clips shows the Everest team’s journey to the summit, which includes trekking across deep crevasses, ascending Lhotse Face, climbing Khumbu Icefall, crossing the Western Cwm, avoiding avalanches as they reached the Death Zone and The Yellow Band, and finally reaching the coveted summit of Chomolungma, Mt Everest.

18.

A collection of architectural drawings and plans of buildings such as Church of Our Saviour, Tampines North Community Centre, The Patterson Edge, The Oliv, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, as well as the refurbishment of National Museum of Singapore and the renovation of Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. The collection covers projects which the firm had undertaken since the early 1980s. The materials capture the design language of the firm and provide insights into the planning and thought processes behind each project.

Donated by William Lim Associates and W Architects Pte Ltd.

(Total number of donated items: 22)

Design sketches of a residential block of The Loft showing the side and front elevation, 1997.
The Loft is a cluster of 77 residential apartments located in Nassim Hill off Orchard Road. It has five blocks that are linked by a series of glass-walled bridges. The blocks and the bridges are placed strategically so that they can retain its natural surroundings including the nine mature trees rooted along the site's boundaries. These were intended to provide its residents a peaceful sanctuary on the edge of Singapore's main shopping street.