Gather 'old' tales before it's too late
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Apr 5, 2010 - ST Forum
Gather 'old' tales before it's too late
I REFER to Mr Liu Fook Thim's letter last Saturday, 'Do more to collect stories from the past', which expanded upon Mr Ho Kwon Ping's commentary ('Keep stories from the past alive', last Wednesday).
I could not agree more with their views on the importance of honouring the past in the legacy of family stories. It is unfortunate that many stories of how ordinary people lived out their lives and dreams in the sepia-tinged years gone by remain untold for lack of opportunity and other reasons.
A young man once said to me that his ageing aunt was a treasure trove of fascinating anecdotes about the 'old days' and he wished he could turn them into a story - if only he knew how and had the time.
My advice to him was to capture the anecdotes first before they fade from memory and worry about the story later. That would be the same advice to all readers. Capture your family histories before they are forgotten. You may think that no one is interested in them, but one day your children or grandchildren will thank you for it.
I should know as I am grateful to my father for leaving me the legacy of his story about his life as an itinerant cinema manager in Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo during the 1950s.
Wong Seng Chow
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It is good to write our memoirs for the children and grandchildren before they sink into oblivion.
But who is going to read them? The rich, powerful and famous may attract readers. Ordinary oldies will attract no one to share their experiences.
If you write them and send to Straits Times they will throw them away.
So what to collect from the past and who is going to treasure them??Posted by: steamroller at Mon Apr 05 10:10:16 SGT 2010 -
haiz... guess nobody like oldies.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
haiz... guess nobody like oldies.
must see wat kind. for example i more interested oni with linguistic aspects of the past
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Originally posted by BanguIzai:
must see wat kind. for example i more interested oni with linguistic aspects of the past
long time never go forbidden city.
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u go there now lor
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dunno how, now hidden inside the overgrown forums.
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http://www.sgforums.com/forums/2029
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what other old stuff you like?
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not realli leh
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generation gap.
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haha
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Apr 10, 2010 - ST Forum
Efforts under way to preserve our past
I THANK Mr Liu Fook Thim for his letter last Saturday ('Do more to collect stories from the past'). The National Heritage Board's support of the Eu Tong Sen biography is one of many efforts to convey historical stories of Singaporean individuals and organisations to the community. The board also collects suitable personal stories in various ways.
For instance, the National Archives of Singapore's Oral History Centre has collected about 17,100 hours of interviews with Singaporeans that are publicly accessible and used extensively in publications.
The centre also works with many institutions to build corporate memories, as well as grassroots organisations and schools, to document community and education history. By engaging the community and creating awareness of oral history, we hope more Singaporeans will volunteer to record their stories.
Our Heritage Industry Incentive Programme has supported many projects publicising local heritage and stories, and our museums use stories and materials from the community and present them via different platforms. Exhibitions become vital resources about local stories.
Over the next three years, the Singapore Art Museum will present retrospective shows of Singapore's pioneering contemporary artists, whose works were created in response to changes in society. These exhibitions will be another way for the public to learn about the transformations and issues facing Singapore since independence.
Cheryl Koh (Ms)
Deputy Director
Corporate Communications
& Industry Promotion
National Heritage Board