People
Rodolfo Nolli: The Quiet Sculptor Who Shaped a City
Between the 1920s and 1950s, this Italian craftsman created a number of significant sculptural works that are still seen in Singapore today.
Arts
P. Ramlee: The Singapore Years
The formative years of singer, actor and filmmaker P. Ramlee unfolded in Singapore, which he captured with vividness in his songs and films.
People
Architect of Separation
The decision that Singapore should separate from Malaysia was driven in large part by the efforts of Singapore’s Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee.
History
Got Milk? The School Milk Scheme in Singapore
In the 1970s and 1980s, primary school children were encouraged to drink milk in school until the initiative curdled in the late 1980s.
Culture
The 1965 Singapore Agricultural Show
Initially planned to encourage people to eat more eggs, the show eventually morphed into a mega event showcasing the achievements of farmers in Singapore.
History
Rediscovering Singapore Before 1800
Piecing together the Singapore narrative before Raffles is not easy but the sources are there, just waiting to be discovered.
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.
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.
Inspired by History
Painting History – One Stroke at a Time
When familiar landscapes disappear, artist Yip Yew Chong preserves them in paintings recreated from memory and archival photos.
Health and Medicine
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic in Singapore
When influenza hit Singapore in 1918, many were sickened, hospitals were overwhelmed and everyday life was disrupted.
People
In Search of Silvestr
Sparked by a box of old family documents, Jan Beránek embarked on an eight-year quest that brought him from a small Czech village to modern Singapore.
BiblioAsia Reels
Queenstown Library, the First Branch Library
Opened in 1970 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Queenstown Library has been a landmark on Margaret Drive for more than 50 years.
BiblioAsia Reels
Gems in the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Collection
An 1838 land title deed for a plot of land on Telok Ayer Street bears the signature of pioneer businessman Tan Tock Seng.
Technology
The Early History of Air Conditioning in Singapore
The humble air conditioner is an innovation that we take for granted today. But for the people of Singapore in the mid-20th century, it was a luxury.
Photography
Women Photographers in Singapore and Malaya
In the male-dominated world of 1940s and 1950s photography, three women in Singapore and Malaya found different ways to participate in their craft.
People
Luís de Camões in Asia
Portugal’s most important poet was once imprisoned in Goa, saw fighting in Ternate and worked as the Superintendent for the Dead and Missing in Macau.
Nature and the Environment
Daylight Robbery: Singapore’s Shifting Time Zones
In 1982, Singapore adjusted its time zone to follow Malaysia’s national synchronisation. This was not the only instance that Singapore changes time zone.
National Symbols
“Majulah Singapura” and Other Love Songs
National anthems often start off as songs for different purposes. Singapore’s “Majulah Singapura” is no different.
Inspired by History
Hidden History Brought to Life in a Game
From burial grounds to secret societies, HiddenSG weaves historical materials into immersive adventures across the island.
Inspired by History
One Man’s Mission to Uncover Singapore’s Past
From leading heritage walks to educating on social media platforms, Ho Yong Min is reintroducing the history of Singapore’s urban landscape.
Bacalah Singapura: Reading Habits in Singapore (1960s–1990s)
Reading surveys in the nation-building years reveal what Singaporeans read and why it mattered.
Culture
SYO Brings Singapore Composers into the Limelight
The Singapore Youth Orchestra’s practice of commissioning and performing the works of local composers was instrumental in the growth of Singapore music.
National Symbols
“Majulah Singapura” Finally Breached the Gap
In a BiblioAsia+ podcast episode, music director Julian Wong reveals little-known details about the composer of Singapore’s national anthem.
