Oct - Dec 2012 · Vol

5 11 18 24 Through his eyes: Remembering MGS memories 重温“丽的呼声”昔日 Saya dan Bulan Bahasa old Singapore through the of 11 Mount Sophia 多姿多彩的时光 poems of Edwin Thumboo oct - 8 · issue 3 issn 0219-8126decvol. 2012 · Contents features nl notes bookmarks 05 24 42 03 Through his eyes: NLB-Saudi Arabia Cultural Saya dan Bulan Bahasa Director’s Column Remembering old Mission collaboration —Muhammad Ariff Ahmad — Ngian Lek Choh Singapore through the — Saudi Arabia poems of Edwin Thumboo Cultural Mission 30 04 — Stephanie Pee In the family: 44 Giving your past a present – Family history resources 11 the gift of remembering in the National Library iremembermagazines: our love affair with magazines — Gene Tan MGS memories of — Bonny Tan 11 Mount Sophia — Barbara Quek — Barbara Quek 36 10 46 新加坡民信业的起源、 PictureSG 18 Uniquely Singaporean memories 运作与历史 — Stephanie Pee 重温“丽的呼声” — Lee Meiyu 昔日多姿多彩的时光 — Leong Hui Chuan Editorial & Production Managing Editor Design and Print Barbara Quek Relay Room Times Printers Editorial Support Ang Seow Leng, Gracie Lee, Please direct all Front Cover correspondence to: Hock Lam Street in Janice Loo, Lim Siew Kim, 1977. This popular spot Mary Peh, Masamah Ahmad National Library Board for hawker food was Mazelan Anuar, Sharon Koh, 100 Victoria Street #14-01 the inspiration behind Vicky Gao National Library Building Edwin Thumboo’s Singapore 188064 poem “The Sneeze” Contributors Tel: +65 6332 3255 (p. 7). Expunged in the Barbara Quek, Bonny Tan, Fax: +65 6332 3611 late 1970s, the Funan Errata Gene Tan, Lee Meiyu, Email: [email protected] DigitaLife Mall now The caption of the photograph in the Website: www.nlb.gov.sg stands on this site. previous issue of BiblioAsia (July 2012, Leong Hui Chuan, Source: MICA Collection, vol. 8 issue 2), p. 14, should read: “The Union Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, BiblioAsia is available online at: courtesy of National Building and the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, http://nl.sg and http://libguides.nl.sg Archives of Singapore. in the late 1920s”. We are sorry for the error. Stephanie Pee BOOKMARKS 3 Director’s Column Memories are powerful reminders of who we are as individuals, members of a family, and citizens of a nation. Passed down through generations, such recollections are integral to the preservation of a family’s own heritage and legacy. When recorded and archived, they serve as remembrances In Saya dan Bulan Bahasa (The Malay Language of a country’s past and history. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Month and I), Malay language expert and Cultural Loong illustrated this in his National Day Rally speech Medallion recipient Muhammad Ariff Ahmad fondly on 26 Aug 2012, when he shared personal anecdotes from recalls his experiences and active participation in the his youth, and spoke on the importance of accumulating Malay Language Month since its inception in 1959. and collecting individual experiences for the telling of The National Library will be organising an exhibition in the Singapore Story. These memories form the soul of a December to show the impact that Ariff has had on the nation and are the emotional ties that bind and celebrate local literary scene. us as one people. In the family highlights the variety of resources available It is on this poignant note that this issue of BiblioAsia in the National Library to trace one’s family history. invites us on a walk down memory lane, drawing together These include directories, Who’s who listings, clan asso- personal and collective memories and stories woven in ciation publications, school yearbooks, and news archives. text and images. Such materials supplement one’s own family resources The lead feature Through his eyes: Remembering old such as photographs, birth certificates, letters, wills and Singapore through the poems of Edwin Thumboo goes back in other memorabilia. time to a memorable past of Hock Lam Street, Bras Basah We highlight two exhibitions in this issue, Money by and Bukit Batok captured in literature. Documenting mail to China: Dreams and struggles of early migrants, and many once-familiar landmarks in Singapore’s social iremember magazines. Also on display at the library is the history, these place poems by Singapore’s pre-eminent exhibition on Raffles’ letters: Intrigues behind the founding of poet “anchor our memories and identities” as a nation Singapore (www.facebook.com/SirStamfordRaffles), a rare and a people. collection of letters from the Bute Collection (Scotland) MGS memories of 11 Mount Sophia takes us on a nostalgic and the National Library, which we featured in the tour of the Methodist Girls’ School (MGS), which turned previous issue of BiblioAsia. Come by and view some of 125 this year, through the reminiscences and anecdotes these unique gems, many of which are on display for the of former principals and students whose lives have first time to the public. been profoundly shaped by their experiences at MGS. We hope this issue on memories will warm your The article allows us to revisit the scene as MGS students, hearts and inspire you to share your personal stories staff and alumnae bid farewell to their old school site atop and recollections of yesteryear. You are welcome to Mount Sophia. contribute your memories to the Singapore Memory The memories of former Rediffusion co-host, Mr Koh Project – a national initiative to collect 5 million Eng Soon, transport us to a bygone era when the private memories by Singapore’s 50th year of independence radio station was a source of popular entertainment for in 2015. many Singaporeans. Faithful listeners would tune in every Happy reading! day to the dialect programmes, especially the radio dramas and storytelling. The station closed in April 2012 after a 63-year run, and might have vanished from the air waves Ms Ngian Lek Choh had it not been saved by a former Rediffusion deejay. Director, National Library Produced by National Library Board. means, whether re-drawn, enlarged or While every effort has been made (whether re-drawn, re-photographed ©National Library Board otherwise altered including mechanical, in the collection, preparation and or otherwise altered) via the Internet, Printed in Singapore, Oct - Dec 2012 photocopy, digital storage and retrieval presentation of the material in this CD, DVD, E-zine, photocopied hand- issn 0219-8126 (print) or otherwise, without the prior book, no responsibility can be taken outs, or any other means (whether issn 1793-9968 (online) permission in writing from both the for how this information is used by the offered for free or for a fee) without All rights reserved. copyright owner and the publisher, reader, for any change that may occur the expressed written permission from except in the case of brief quotations after publication or for any error or both the copyright owner and the BiblioAsia is published and copyrighted embodied in critical articles and omission on the part of the National publisher is illegal and punishable by in 2012 by the National Library Board, reviews. The text, layout and designs Library Board, Singapore. Neither the the laws of the Republic of Singapore Singapore for all contents, designs, presented in this book, as well as the respective copyrights owners or authors and similar laws in other countries. drawings and photographs printed book in its entirety, are protected by or the publishers accepts responsibility The copyright owner and publisher in the Republic of Singapore. the copyright laws of the Republic of for any loss suffered by any person of this book appreciate your honesty BiblioAsia is published by National Singapore and similar laws in other who acts or refrains from acting on any and integrity and ask that you do not Library Board, Singapore with countries. Commercial production of matter as a result of reliance upon any participate in or encourage piracy permission from the copyright works based in whole or in part upon information contained in this book. of copyrighted material. Be sure to owner. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. the designs, drawings and photographs Scanning, uploading and/or purchase (or download) only authorized No part of this publication may be contained in this book is strictly distribution of this book, or any material. We thank you for your support. reproduced, stored or transmitted forbidden without the prior written designs or drawings or photographs in any form, for any reason or by any permission of the copyright owner. contained herein, in whole or part 4 BiblioAsia Oct - Dec 2012 Vol. 8 Issue 3 Giving Your Share your memory at Past a Present www.singaporememory.sg The Gift of Remembering I had just passed these people on the What was also very illuminating from Ruth’s “If streets, I would probably just brush experience is that she was drawn into an era past them without ever knowing the depth before her time, one that her generation would of the lives they have had and the stories they find almost alien. could tell.” Capturing memories to pass on to those Ruth was sharing her experience not of one’s time is akin to “giving the past interviewing residents of the soon-to-be-relo- a present” – the tagline of the Singapore cated Rochor Centre. They were recounting Memory Project. One of the most powerful how they continue to have communal dinners gifts that can be given to a nation’s future is with their neighbours – a demonstration of the memory of how she was built. The people the bona fide kampong spirit that some find so of Singapore have a perfect opportunity elusive in today’s Singapore. to present this gift to present and future Ruth is a student from the Victoria Junior generations of Singaporeans as those who College and part of the Memory Corps – witnessed Singapore’s nation-building journey volunteers of the Singapore Memory Project.

Load more