National Archives of Singapore

The National Archives of Singapore (NAS), established in 1968, serves as the official custodian of Singapore's public archives. Since 2013, it has been under the management of the National Library Board. NAS is responsible for the collection, preservation, and management of both public and private archival records pertaining to Singapore. Notably, it preserves records of national and historical significance, documenting the deliberations, decisions, and actions of the Singaporean government. It also collects historical maps, photographs, oral history interviews, and audio-visual records. 

NAS maintains a significant collection of Tamil-related materials that offer valuable insights into Singapore's Tamil cultural heritage. Among its holdings are oral history interviews with prominent Tamil figures, including Cultural Medallion recipients such as writer J M Sali and poet K T M Iqbal, veteran Tamil Murasu editor V T Arasu, as well as Carnatic orchestra founder and conductor Lalitha Vaidyanathan. By 2024, NAS has accumulated over 350 hours of Tamil oral history interviews.

In addition, NAS has preserved Tamil audio and video public service broadcasts from the 1960s. These materials include speeches, news and current affairs programmes, as well as selected infotainment and entertainment programmes, and dramas. Records from Singapore’s only Tamil–medium high school, the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre, can also be found in the NAS holdings. Many of these records are available online. Currently, there are more than 20,000 hours of Tamil-related audio and video content in the NAS collection.



For more information
National Archives of Singapore. (n.d.). Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.