The Time Travelling Trio

The gang travels back to a time before smartphones and tablets. In a kampong, the trio try their hands (and feet) at goli, gasing and capteh. They are joined by Auntie Shirley, a 75-year-old cosplayer, who shares her memories and experiences playing kampong games and toys.

Eye Spy Singapore
by Pippa Chorley
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children

Come along with Ling and Kamal on an island-wide adventure as they play their favourite game, Eye Spy Singapore! Learn incredible facts about the Garden City and uncover hidden treasures all across the island.

Bursting with colourful scenes from around Singapore, this interactive look-and-find book will provide hours of problem-solving, puzzle fun. Children will enjoy exploring the illustrations, picking out and counting the objects, while developing skills in numeracy, reading, matching and identification.

Source: Synopsis from Marshall Cavendish International

Layang-Layang
by Lucy Pou K. H.
Publisher: L.A.M.P. Learning

Kassim feels sad when his birthday present, a kite, is lost. When Kassim finds the kite that he lost, it is no longer the same. Can Kassim do anything about it?

Source: Synopsis from book cover

Gateway to Old School Games
by Asiapac Editorial
Publisher: Asiapac

Source: Synopsis from book cover

Blast from the Past

Favourite Old Pastimes 
Besides kite-fighting, gasing and capteh, people used to go to the beach, watch movies at the cinema and enjoy a day out at Happy World amusement park.

Off the Record
A Girl Playing Five Stones, 1950s
Do you know how many steps it takes to complete a game of five stones?

Singapore Infopedia

Gasing
by Stephanie Ho

Gasing refers to both the Malay spinning top and the game of top spinning. It was a popular game played in the kampongs of Singapore and Malaysia. Competitive gasing is still played in Malaysia today.

Capteh
by Bonny Tan

A traditional game that requires skills and balance in keeping a feathered shuttlecock in the air for as long as possible by juggling it with the heel of the foot. It is popular among children in Singapore, and also well-known internationally.

Oral History Interviews

Oral History Interview with Ronald Benjamin Milne
Accession Number: 000447

Mr Ronald Benjamin Milne talks about the games he played during breaks in school. He describes how the different types of games were played. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 63 and 64.

Oral History Interview with Sew Teng Kwok
Accession Number: 002209

Mr Sew Teng Kwok talks about the games children played during the Hungry Ghost Festival and the process of making kites. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 13 and 15.

Oral History Interviewee: ELENDRUS Osman
Accession Number: 004172

Mr Elendrus Osman recalls playing in the graveyard, as well as the traditional games he played such as rounders, mother hen and five stones. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 1.

Photographs

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Chalk, blackboards, wooden furniture, brushing your teeth by the drain. School days were different back then. The trio visit a classroom from the past and look at what life in school used to be like. Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, a lecturer from the Nanyang Technological University, also shares memories of his school days.

Aman Goes to School
by Sandeep Singh
Publisher: Not identified

Aman has started kindergarten but things are not going as planned! Feeling left out, lonely and anxious, he turns to his grandmother, whose stories always make him feel safe and loved. Will she be able to help Aman overcome his challenges in school?

Source: Synopsis from book cover

The Bus Driver
by Ames Chen
Publisher: Graceworks

Do you take the same bus to school every morning? Can you recall what the driver looks like? Find out how one student tries to save the job of his favourite bus driver, who is not just another face in the crowd, but his hero and role model.

Source: Synopsis from book cover

The Adventures of Greco and Beco: The School in the Glass City
by Gwen Lee
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children

Alex is not just mean to his schoolmates Bucky and Gaia; he also doesn’t think twice about wasting natural resources! When things get out of hand, Greco and Beco decide to intervene. With the help of a little magic, they transport Alex forward in time. The Singapore of 2047 looks picture-perfect, but is it really? Follow Greco and Beco as they reveal the key to a sustainable future.

Source: Synopsis from book cover

Blast from the Past

Schooling in the Past 
Did you know that recitation and penmanship were once taught in schools in Singapore? And that a visit to a local fishing village was a school excursion?

Off the Record

Sharity the Elephant and Friends, 1993
Sharity the Elephant is the mascot of Community Chest. The name is a combination of the words “Share” and “Charity”. Click through to find out more about Sharity’s makeover in 2011.

Teeth Brushing Exercise, 1969
Students in schools were given a 10-cent toothbrush and a 15-cent plastic mug. Squatting side-by-side along a drain, the students would brush their teeth together. And thus began the Teeth Brushing campaign in February 1969.

Singapore Infopedia

First Road Courtesy Campaign
by Lim Tin Seng

The Road Courtesy Campaign was launched by then Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye on 10 September 1966. It was the first national campaign to instil a greater awareness of road safety. It marked the start of a sustained effort in Singapore to bring down the number of road accidents and improve civility on the roads.

Oral History Interviews

Oral History Interview with Vivien Goh
Accession Number: 002939

Ms Vivien Goh talks about her school life and recess time at the Methodist Girls’ School. She also describes the games that were played during recess. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 2.

Oral History Interview with Mrs Carmee Lim
Accession Number: 002590

Mrs Carmee Lim recalls her school days at Yangzheng Primary. Despite attending a Chinese school, Mrs Carmee Lim said that she had no problems adjusting to an English-speaking environment at Stamford Primary School. A member of her school’s choir at Raffles Girls School, Mrs Carmee Lim also enjoyed sports. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 2.

Oral History Interview with Hossan Leong; Patrick Han; Tan Sia Lim Gary; Kuay Soong Teck; Amos Hilary Mok Liang; Leslie Tan Wee Ming; Douglas Yeo and Zakir Hamid
Accession Number: 004047

Seven Anglo-Chinese Primary School (ACPS) (Coleman) old boys (1976-81) share the fun things they did during recess at school. The games they played were capteh (feathered shuttlecock), hantam bola (playing tag with a ball) and capteh football. The interviewees also talk about the subsidised milk provided and having to squat by the drain to brush their teeth as part of the government’s teeth brushing campaign. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 2.

Audiovisual Recordings

Programme Title: Berita Singapura: 1. Secondary Schools 2. A Story of Courage 3. Regatta
Accession No: 1982000270
Ministry of Culture, courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore

Footage features children playing; children in class; new secondary school buildings; second language classes in progress; technical workshops; science laboratories; gymnastics class and a basketball game.

Photographs

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The kids encounter their worst nightmare – a time before fast food restaurants! In this episode, they learn about street hawkers and sample popular snacks from yesteryear. Auntie Linda shares her childhood memories of helping out at the noodle stall that her grandmother ran in Chinatown.

Eat with Your Eyes
by Low Lai Chow
Publisher: National Gallery Singapore

For little art lovers and their grown-up companions, feast on 14 yummy modern Southeast Asian artworks from the National Gallery Singapore. Don’t forget to share these tasty nibbles with a friend or two!

Source: Synopsis from National Gallery Singapore

Sing a Song of Hawker Food
by Lianne Ong
Publisher: WS Education

The worlds of nursery rhymes and Singapore hawker food collide in this book. Dive into fractured nursery rhymes with a local twist, featuring Singapore hawker food.Imagine Humpty Dumpty enjoying kaya toast, Jack and Jill grilling satay on a hill and the three blind mice eating chicken rice at the hawker centre. Wouldn’t that be a funny sight?

Cheeky illustrations highlight aspects of Singapore hawker culture that children will have fun identifying. Young readers (and not-so-young ones) can sing or read these hawker food rhymes and follow the familiar rhythms, while naming the well-loved hawker fare that appear in the rhymes.

Source: Synopsis from World Scientific

Nini Eat First Talk Later
by Fanny Lai
Publisher: Rojak City

Nini Eat First Talk Later tells the story of Singapore’s multi-cultural food heritage. It shows what life was like in the 60’s when family, friends and food were the most important things in life. With hundreds of Singapore’s famous street food beautifully illustrated for foodies.

Source: Synopsis from book cover

Blast from the Past

Food Hawkers 
Since the 1800s, hawkers have been peddling their wares on the streets and selling scrumptious favourites. Check out this curated selection of archival materials from the National Archives of Singapore to find out more about the hawker culture we know and love.

Food Culture
Food has always been an integral part of Singapore’s culture and heritage. Take a look at the various things that have contributed to our country’s rich food heritage, from traditional tiffin carriers (tingkat) and the sounds of itinerant hawkers, to famous dining venues of the past and the introduction of fast food.

Off the Record

Itinerant Hawker, 1950
Itinerant hawkers were already common sights in Singapore by the second half of the 19th century. These hawkers sold everything from food to textiles and moved from place to place to sell their goods. Hop on to the Archives Online to view more records on this topic.

Singapore Infopedia

Glutton’s Square
by Nureza Ahmad & Azizah Sidek
Glutton’s Square was one of the most popular street dining venues in Singapore in the 1970s. It was located in a carpark along Orchard Road, opposite what is now Centrepoint shopping mall.

Oral History Interviews

Oral History Interview with Wong Chow Meng
Accession Number: 002395

Mr Wong Chow Meng talks about the street hawkers and famous food stalls found in Chinatown in the 60s and 70s. He recounts an old hawker who sold bread on a bicycle and how customers would bring their own containers to buy food. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 5.

Oral History Interviewee: Nicholas Tang Khui Cheong
Accession Number: 001757

Mr Nicholas Tang Khui Cheong talks about the food that was sold during wayang (Chinese street opera) performances. He also describes how hawkers would call out to their patrons as they made their way through the neighbourhood. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 21 and 23.

Oral History Interviewee: Sylvia Toh Paik Choo
Accession Number: 003903

Ms Sylvia Toh Paik Choo describes how itinerant hawkers would visit the kampungs (Malay for rural villages) to sell their wares, what food they sold and how much it cost. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 9.

Audiovisual Recordings

Programme Title: Singapore Scene
Accession No: 2018012146
Ken Illsley Collection, courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore

Filmed by former British military personnel Ken Illsley who was based in Singapore in the late 50s, this home movie shows scenes of Clifford Pier, workers loading and unloading goods at the Singapore River, trishaw riders on Cavenagh Bridge, streets bustling with people, and families hanging around the street hawkers.

Photographs

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Wonderland. Van Kleef Aquarium. Great World. The kids go on an adventure and explore attractions from the past. Special guest Uncle Wilfred shares his miniature dioramas and stories of old homes and places of interest.

My Favourite Days
by Illo Picto
Publisher: TOUCH Community Services

The story conveys a heart-warming interaction between a little girl and her grandpa through a journey of self-discovery. Young readers will get to be inspired by a future where technology improves lives and opens up fresh opportunities.

Source: Synopsis from TOUCH Community Services

Out & About in Singapore
by Melanie Lee
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Editions

With Out & About in Singapore, young readers go on a fun and colourful tour around Singapore through the evocative hand-drawn illustrations of Singaporean artist William Sim. The book starts out with Singapore’s origin story, followed by captivating “tours” around the Civic District, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India. Popular spots such as Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Sentosa and Gardens by the Bay are explored as well.

Some related craft activities are thrown in as well just for the fun of it! This book is for children between 7 and 12 years old.

Source: Synopsis from Marshall Cavendish International

Rosie and the Mamak shop
by Rachelyn Gordon
Publisher: Rachelyn Gordon

Rosie loves the Mamak shop uncle and the kentang curry puffs Amma buys for her every morning. Then one morning, the Mamak shop is closed. Where is the Mamak shop uncle? What has happened to him? Will Rosie get to see him and eat kentang curry puffs again?

Source: Synopsis from book cover

Blast from the Past

Kampung Spirit 
An important part of Singapore’s treasured heritage, the kampung (Malay for rural villages) spirit refers to a sense of community and solidarity. It was not uncommon for people to readily offer their neighbours food, help and support.

Off the Record

Singapore Miniature Zoo, 1950s - 1960s
Did you know that there were once about six private zoos in Singapore?

Great World Amusement Park, 1950s
One of the three known amusements parks of Singapore of yesteryear, find out what attractions the Great World Amusement Park was known for back then.

Capitol Theatre, 1930s
Which movie stars promoted their movies at the Capitol Theatre when they were in town?

Singapore Infopedia

Street Wayang
by Serene Cai

Wayang, a Malay word meaning “a theatrical performance employing puppets or human dancers”, is also used to refer to Chinese street opera in Singapore, as well as other forms of opera such as wayang kulit.

Oral History Interviews

Oral History Interviewee with Richard Woon Kai Yin
Accession Number: 002908

Mr Richard Woon talks about the experience of watching movies with his friends at King’s Theatre on Kim Tian Road, Tiong Bahru. He also shares his experiences at the Capitol and Odeon cinemas. He talks about the Great World amusement park and explains why it was popular back then. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 2 and 3.

Oral History Interviewee with Aloysius Leo De Conceicao
Accession Number: 002057

Mr Aloysius Leo De Conceicao talks about watching movies and trips to Happy World amusement park. He also describes the traditional games he played as a boy and talks about how Chinese temples would host wayang (Chinese street opera) performances during festivals. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 2 and 5.

Oral History Interviewee with Tan Wee Him
Accession Number: 003058

Mr Tan Wee Him describes how Orchard Road was back then – where he and his friends hung out, the houses, the landmarks and where people would go for entertainment. Examples of entertainment venues include Lido Theatre and Barbarella, the first discotheque in Singapore. He also talks about the origin of the Malaya Cup and how important football matches used to be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium before they were moved to the National Stadium. To listen to the interview, head on to reel/disc 2 & 7.

Audiovisual Recordings

Programme Title: The People’s Singapore 3: 1. The Polytechnic 2. Community Centres 3. The Aquarium
Accession No: 1982000304 Ministry of Culture, courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore

Produced by the Ministry of Culture, this 1960 news magazine film features King George V Park, a popular park for picnickers and the Van Kleef Aquarium.

Photographs

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Singapore Infopedia
An electronic encyclopaedia on Singapore history, culture, and people written by researchers and librarians.

Archives Online
The National Archives of Singapore (NAS) collects and preserves public and private records across different formats. These include government files, audiovisual recordings, oral history interviews, photographs, speeches and press releases, posters, maps, building plans, records from overseas institutions and the Straits Settlements Records, Federated Malay States & other volumes. Find all of these at Archives Online, a rich and important resource for learning about Singapore!

Blast from the Past
Enjoy an introduction to NAS collections such as photographs, oral history interviews, audiovisual content and declassified government files as we explore Singapore’s past through themes such as food, sports, war history and fashion.

Off the Record
You can find archivist articles which are written in an inviting, casual but balanced tone that can be playful but is factually accurate and is properly cited.

Audiovisual Recordings
Watch snippets of audiovisual recordings that are of national and historical significance on Archives Online. These recordings serves as valuable research resources on Singapore and takes you back in time.

Oral History Interviews
Want to listen to the life stories and eye witness accounts of individuals who had influenced or witnessed the history of Singapore? Access our rich oral history recordings on Archives Online to listen to experts and read transcripts of these interviews.

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