The History Workroom

02/05/2024

A hundred years is a milestone in a school’s history, especially in Singapore where so many schools are opened, closed and merged. We, at THW, were privileged to work with the Geylang Methodist School (GMS) on a heritage project for their centenary celebrations this year.

We started our journey with GMS in 2021 researching the founding of the school. Sometimes regarded as the “humble cousin” in the Methodist stable of schools, not much was known about the school’s establishment. And what was know was often hearsay, lacking documentary evidence. For us, this was the most exciting part of the project as we were able to do a deep dive into the past, and in the process uncover some interesting information.

For one, we were able to locate the school’s first principal, Miss Emma Walker, who had been “forgotten” in the existing history. We were also able to correct the name of the Methodist District Superintendent at that time, Floyd Sullivan, which has led to his family recently connecting with the school.

The research we did were then used in two living galleries, a commemorative book, and a graphic novel. We are delighted that the school’s rich history is now well-documented and passed on to the next generation of GMS students.

This has been an enriching project for us, not only for what we discovered and created, but also for the friendships we made along the way. And one of us even re-connected with our secondary school teacher who was posted to GMSP as principal during the course of the project!

Happy centenary GMS!

27/01/2024

Thank you Ynok & Yuree for a great night of delicious drinks, tasty eats and invigorating conversations at your beautiful bookshop . It was awesome to start a new year with new friendships and connections!

13/12/2023

We are so grateful for all your support! We have been busy sending out “The adventures of Samsui Girl” the last two weeks. A lot of packing and mailing it was! 🤪

We still have some copies left if you are keen to gift the young ones in your life the gift of reading. 📚 We’ll be taking some time off to recharge soon, do get in your orders if you need them in time for Christmas.

Scan QR code for order form.

02/12/2023

It’s been a while heh?

17 years, 2 editions and several reprints later, a refreshed Samsui Girl and Wayang Girl have come to say “hi”!

This time, we’ve put them into a single edition, with brand new illustrations from a very talented artist, for a new generation of fans. The well-loved history sections in the OG have been enhanced. A big shout-out to our lovely partner, The Lede, for helping make our dreams come true - again!

Get your copy today at a celebratory price of S$15 each (RRP $18). It includes free delivery within Singapore. Promo ends 31 December 2023.

Scan the QR code (last pic) for the order form, or click on this link: https://forms.zohopublic.com/thehistoryworkroom/form/OrderForm/formperma/hlPOpqThaXI4CZ-6KjPB3wBhPOMZEOQCDNP7hnNym_U

13/05/2023

Surprised and excited to find a new children’s picture book specialist in town. Located in one our our favourite heritage area - Armenian Street, carries gorgeous Korean publications (for now). But hey, beautiful artwork transcends language barriers. Check them out if you’re in the area. Oh, and they have a nice cafe area serving beautiful teas as well!

Thanks for your support !

Posted • Look who's here! Some gems from has been arrived. Although these may appear to be easy reads for young readers, they are highly recommended for anyone from outside of this land. And, pssst... All of these copies are autographed!

27/02/2023

A friend of ours, a veteran Japanese television producer and journalist who lives in Singapore, was inspired to make a short film on a little known subject matter: the karayuki-san (Japanese pr******te). Of course, this is a little imagining of what might been after...

Many people always brush Singapore history off as boring, but if we look beyond the surface, there are some many communities and individuals' whose stories are waiting to be told. The karayukis' stories are just some of the many waiting to be unearthed.

The Japanese community in Singapore was probably one of the smallest and "youngest", and they were most well known for their presence at the turn of the 20th century here - dentists, doctors, businessmen, photographers etc. Unfortunately, their presence have always been viewed through the lens of the Second World War and Japanese Occupation (hindsight), and they were always thought of as the fifth column - spies to gather information for the Japanese military's agenda. We began to see every Japanese in pre-war Singapore for more than they probably were.

I think it's time to see the individuals for who they were and listen to the stories they have to tell, and that's what our friend did. Here's what she has to say about the making of this short film (done over the weekend):

"I knew of the cemetery (The Japanese Cemetery) and Karayuki-san, but only thought of making a short film of this theme after I read an essay by a Japanese poet, Mitsuharu Kaneko, who travelled in Malaya in the 1920s. He came across a former Karayuki and her pimp who became an old couple and cared for each other.

"It gave me some kind of a strange relief that although many of them suffered and died of sickness and despair, some of them found peace in this land. And that some of them might have left offsprings...?

"This is a story to shed the light on what they might have left behind and that they actually played a role in the world that thrived on their presense."

Thank you for telling this story.

A 48-hour challenge to make a short film over a weekend!The story is inspired by a recount of a Japanese poet, Mitsuharu Kaneko, who traveled in Malaya in th...

24/12/2022

Wishing all friends and supporters a Happy Christmas and wonderful new year!

03/11/2022

I was doing some research on Lim Cheng Law, second son of Penang towkay Phuah Hin Leong. One interesting thing I found from newspaper research was that he was a prolific writer to Malayan newspapers. He started writing letters to the newspaper around 1910, and in his lifetime had way over 12,000 letters published! It seems that he had about 300 letters published a year. 😮

Growing up, I enjoyed reading the 'letters to the editor' section. I had composed many letters in my mind but probably only sent one or two, with them being published in highly edited form. I believe Singapore also had a prolific letter writer "Narayana Narayana" as I recalled seeing his name frequently in that section.

Today, there is less need to write letters to the newspaper. One can express one's opinion in so many ways via social media, and without that much gatekeeping. How the world has changed!

28/10/2022

I was reading this student essay from the 1957 magazine of the Geylang Methodist Girls' School. More than 60 years on, we're in the midst of a flu epidemic again, and reading the essay, it seems like things are not much different!

31/07/2022

A couple of years ago, my friend came to my place with this book: “When I was a kid; Childhood stories by Boey”. She said, "Read it! It's funny."
I read the book, giggled in parts, and sometimes laughed out loud. Boey grew up in Singapore/ Malaysia and his childhood stories come from a real place that I can totally relate to. The tiny drawings and scrawl-like handwriting convey a childlike feel which is charming. It really reminds me of little drawings and stories I used to write as a child and keep folded in my pocket, only showing them to my very best friend. It’s been years since I got the book and the book is still in my house. That’s how much I like it!

24/07/2022

Can you capture a place in a book?

It is obvious that Kampong Gelam means a lot to Hidayah Amin, author of Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam. This tome of a book comprising photos, illustrations, maps, poetry, memories and history must have been the result of years of painstaking research and collection. Even as time and “development” has changed the face of Kampong Gelam, and eroded much of what made this place the ancestral ground of the Malays in Singapore, this book serves as a documentation of its past and the changes it underwent over time. I must admit that I was overwhelmed at first, trying to look at all the photos and reading too fast. The reading experience is better when taken in small bites, rather than trying to take it in all at one go. To me, this is an invaluable reference for historians and anyone seeking to understanding Singapore better through the microcosm of Kampong Gelam.

02/07/2022

What was life like for the Mui Tsai?
The Mui Tsai were young girls who were "adopted" by rich Chinese families to work in their homes from the 19th century to the early 20th century. While proponents of the system say that these girls were like "adopted" little sisters, in actual fact, many were slaves and subject to abuse.

The House of Little Sisters by is a fictional story of Mui Tsais in 1930s Singapore. Through dual narrators - the Mui Tsai, "Ah Mei" and the cook, "Ah Wan Jie" - the reader is immersed into the world of the Mui Tsai. We hear the family gossip, savour the food, engage in domestic chores and learn about the larger societal context which led to the Mui Tsai being legally freed in 1932.

As a historian, a few details strike me as anomalies for the period but overall the book effectively transports the readers to the sights and sounds of colonial Singapore. I find the storytelling compelling with the author keeping us interested by slowly revealing new layers of information. This is a story of empowerment for the modern girl that will pique her interest in the past and encourage her to work towards an independent future.
- Stephanie

20/06/2022

What are the stories behind an old building?

In “Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay childhood" Hidayah Amin takes us back to her memories of Gedung Kuning – the Yellow Mansion – the iconic building next to Istana Kampong Glam.

I really enjoyed this book as I’ve always been interested in Malay culture but found few accessible books with such detail in English. In this book, Hidayah writes about her family, her childhood, and the Gedung Kuning community offering the reader invaluable insights into the domestic life of a Malay family and community.

It is also record of a time that has disappeared. There is no ambin in an HDB flat, or men carrying dulangs hawking kuihs right at your door any more. Beyond talking about physical changes, Hidayah is also open and candid in sharing stories about family secrets, marriages, mysteries and mystical happenings which highlight how culture and customs have changed over time.

The book ends with the government’s acquisition of Gedung Kuning. One can really feel the heartbreak of the author with the end of the family home and the break-up of the Gedung Kuning family who were forced to relocate to smaller homes and apartments. Although Gedung Kuning is now a commercial building, this book keeps the memories of the community that lived there alive.

Gedung Kuning was Hidayah’s first book, and she has since published many other books to educate the wider Singapore audience to Malay culture and heritage. My next book of hers to check out will be Leluhur: Singapore's Kampong Gelam which won the NUS Singapore History Prize in 2021.

12/06/2022

What was it like being a child during war?

War has never been my favourite topic. I have never been that interested in military hardware, strategy and always felt sadness at the loss of lives that always accompanied war. But I have always been fascinated by how ordinary people, especially children, survived these difficult times.

Reading the “The house on Silat Road” by Si-Hoe S.S. and Sim Ee Waun reminded me of a couple of other books on my shelf that tell the lives of young girls during war.

A classic book is “Aishabee at war”. Published in 1990, it is a “frank memoir” by Aisha Akbar that recounts her experiences during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore. She was around 12 years old when the Japanese Occupation started in 1942.

The book is filled with interesting details about Aisha’s life then: moving, trying to stay safe, interacting with the Japanese, performing in concerts, going to school(s), getting food and even going to simple parties and interacting with the opposite s*x. It is a nuanced account that is not all bad as is many people’s impressions of the war years. In fact, Aisha writes about numerous occasions where she and her family had positive interactions with Japanese officers, something which she was criticized for later. Her defence was: it really happened. I enjoyed re-reading this book and wished it was in broader circulation today.

02/06/2022

Did your grandmother tell you stories of her childhood?
My grandmothers on both sides never did. They were both practical women who spent their time cooking and caring for the family, they were not much of talkers. I suspect many Singaporean grandmothers are like that, so it is fortunate that we have Si-Hoe S.S. (Sing) to share her memories growing up in Singapore in the 1930s and 1940s in “The House on Palmer Road”.

I just got this book not too long ago and was prompted to read it when I met Si-Hoe’s daughter and co-author Sim Ee-Waun at the recent Asian Festival of Children’s Content. It is a charming and well-written book of short stories taken from Si-Hoe’s childhood in Singapore. Like most Chinese then, Si-Hoe came from a large family and much of her childhood was spent outdoors: climbing trees, catching frogs, exploring a “Black Hole”. There are some disasters but Si-Hoe’s stories are mainly of fun times so very suitable for children. The illustrations are evocative and whimsical which I like very much.

For me, as I have heard many such memories from older friends, it is a nostalgic and comforting read. For today’s children, I suspect it will be an eye-opener. I believe this would be an ideal read for parents/grandparents to read with their younger children, as the adults will have an opportunity to chip in their own memories as well.
-Stephanie

27/05/2022

Happy to announce a new book "The Adventures of Admiral Cheng Ho" from one of THW's own, Ho Lee-Ling (Stephanie)! This book introduces children to Admiral Cheng Ho (Zheng He), and his exciting adventures exploring the "Western Ocean" ie. Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and Africa more than 700 years ago. Best for primary-age students, the lively text is accompanied by colourful and dynamic illustrations.

This book is part of the Pop!Lit for kids series published by WS Education, and for this month, you can get a 20% off a set of 4 books (including Admiral Cheng Ho) by using the discount code in the image.

21/05/2022

So glad to have a little part in this really interesting project. Congrats to The Lede for another great publication.

02/04/2022

Since last year, I had the privilege of working with a sparkling 79 year old on documenting her memories and compiling them into a book.

Jaya was originally from Ceylon but she has lived in Singapore for the past 50 years. This was an great learning experience for me... I learnt about Jaya's culture, her philosophy in life, and how to be brave and speak up for things that matter. She inspired me in so many ways especially in her openness to learning and new experiences!

We are now doing the final touches on Jaya's book, but it is available for pre-order on Amazon. I love the cover image which is an original artwork by the author herself.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VGLLZH8

01/04/2022

As a person ages, we often think about the legacy we will leave when we depart from this life. Since we started our small business, we've always wanted to work with individuals or families to help them document their memories for family, friends and future generations.

In the past 2 years, we've had the privilege of working with the Martens, a couple who wanted to record their memories in the form of a book. Peter Martens was a legendary hockey teacher from SJI, and his wife, Maureen holds similar stature in St Theresa's Convent where she spent most of her teaching career.

Over the course of the project, I visited with the Martens many times and became closely acquainted with the couple, and their adorable pets. It was a very meaningful project for me. I gained so many new insights into the lived reality of history, I was inspired by their love for teaching and the care they had for the people around them, and I gained new friends.

This was not a commercial project as the book is not for sale. It is given as a gift to close family and friends. So far, the feedback to the book has been overwhelmingly positive. But the feedback which touched me the most is from Maureen. She told me that when she reads the book, it feels like Peter (who has since passed on) is speaking to her. Such projects are a way of keeping the memories of our loved ones alive.

Wonder if you are working on similar projects with your family?

13/02/2022

It's that time of year again to declare your love! So how did this special day come about?

01/02/2022

Wishing all health, wealth & happiness in the year of the Tiger!

10/12/2021

Growing up, I used to read stories about British girls in boarding schools (Enid Blyton), or American girls in middle and high schools. I never read any stories about girls growing up in Southeast Asia. So, when I started writing books for children, I made it a point to base my stories and characters in Singapore. A couple of years ago, I became interested in writing a historical story, and basing it on one of the islands in Southeast Asia. Some of the questions I was interested in exploring were: What would it be like to be a teenage girl 140 years ago? What would happen if I fought with my parents? Would I like school? Would I get crushes on boys?

The result was Habibah: The story of an island girl. It was partly inspired by my musings and partly by historical events. I was surprised to find out that many of the struggles of teenage girls are the same despite the differences in time and place!
- Stephanie (Lee-Ling)

Habibah is available for sale here - http://historyworkroom.com/thw-publications/

Tell us if you are sending it as a gift, and we can send the book gift wrapped with festive greetings! Oh, and free postage is included!

Read the story and tell us what you think!

27/11/2021

I was not very close to my grandparents but I liked them all very much. Each one showed me care and love in their own way. They did not buy me big, expensive presents or shower me with a lot of attention but they made dishes I liked to eat or gave me small things I enjoyed.

Happy grandparents' day to all grandparents!

- Stephanie

25/11/2021

Although an American tradition, many people around the world now celebrate thanksgiving.
The first thanksgiving was believed to have occurred on 25 Nov 1621 when the Plymouth colonists shared a harvest meal with the Wampanoag, a local native American tribe.
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in America in 1863 after much lobbying from Sarah Josepha Hale - the author of the nursery rhyme "Mary had a little lamb!"
Today, even Singaporeans have thanksgiving dinners with turkey, ham and cranberry sauce. For us, all these dishes are uncommon and interesting which lends to the celebration. But what people around the world can relate to is the need to look back at the year and give thanks.

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

06/11/2021

When we think of a family story, we often think of a book tracing the history of the family from as far back as possible to the present-day. Often these kinds of books takes years of research and commitment. Here are some ideas for interesting projects that can be done in a shorter time, and would make excellent Christmas presents!

05/11/2021

In September, we ran a workshop on how to get started on your family story. We were happy with the lively participation and learning about the interesting projects our participants have embarked on.

If you are starting on your own family story project, here are some tips from the workshop.

04/11/2021

Happy Deepavali to all! Here's hoping that it will not be too long before we see a return of the crowds and festivities.

29/09/2021

The PSLE strikes fear in many a Singaporean child and parents' heart! It is the first national exam Singapore children face and how well they do in it affects the secondary school they go on to study.

The PSLE was introduced as a national exam for all primary schools in 1960. Then Singapore had schools in different language mediums, and only English schools made their students take a secondary school entrance exam. But from 1960, the PSLE was introduced for all primary 6 students, and they were conducted in 4 languages to suit all different medium schools.

More than 60 years on, the PSLE is still around, albeit in a different format. On the eve of the PSLE written papers, here's wishing all P6 students all the best for the exams! Remember to breathe... (reminder for the parents!)