The Sound of Memories: Recordings from the Oral History Centre, Singapore features the happy, funny, poignant and bittersweet — but always heartwarming and unforgettable — stories, memories and anecdotes of Singaporeans from all walks of life. Distilled from almost 5,000 interviews that the National Archives of Singapore's Oral History Centre has collected since 1979, these recordings describe the experiences of everyman, from tycoons and tailors to chief executive officers and chief cooks.
Relive the significant moments that have unfolded in Singapore's history through the eyes of people who personally bore witness to these events. Their recollections are vividly captured in chapters on communities, schooldays, popular pastimes, the Japanese Occupation, food, national tragedies, medicine, economy, women, the performing arts and sports.
Sample Chapter(s)
Foreword
CHAPTER ONE: COMMUNITIES
Contents:
- Foreword
- Communities
- Schooldays
- Pastimes
- The Japanese Occupation
- Food
- National Tragedies
- Medical Services
- The Economic Miracle
- Women
- Performing Arts
- Sports
Readership: Historians, students and the general public ineterested in learning more about Singapore's history.
About the Author
Cheong Suk-Wai is a lawyer by training, and a writer by choice. A former ASEAN Scholar and Thomson Foundation Scholar, she has been a construction litigator, a journalist and a public servant. Suk-Wai's varied background has helped her plumb the varieties of human experience for this book. In her 18 years at The Straits Times, Suk-Wai has won 32 journalism awards, including from the Society of Publishers in Asia. She has authored five books, notably In Chambers (2017), the history of Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers; Living The Singapore Story (2015), on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the nation's independence; and Rodyk (2011), the story of Singapore's oldest law firm.
About the National Archives of Singapore
As the official keeper of Singapore's history and heritage, the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) — an institution of the National Library Board — manages public records and provides advice to government agencies on records management. From government files, private memoirs, maps and photographs to oral history interviews and audiovisual materials, NAS is responsible for the collection, preservation and management of Singapore's public and private archival records, some of which date back to the early 19th century. NAS also promotes public interest in the nation's history and heritage through educational programmes, exhibitions and publications.
Visit NAS at www.nas.gov.sg