The following is a list of academic exercises completed by honours students graduating from AY (academic year) 1989/1990 to 1998/1999. Aside from showcasing student works which may otherwise go unnoticed, we also hope that such a compilation will aid historical research and stimulate ideas for further study.

This list hopes to continue to collect academic exercises (1) submitted to the Department of History (NUS) for the Honours degree, and (2) concerning Singapore / Malaysia history from other colleges and universities (indicated after title). Titles concerning Singapore and Malaysia are marked with an asterix (*).

The list is not exhaustive and is put together by using information made available online by the Library INtegrated Catalogue (LINC) of NUS Libraries.

Information is correct as at 2 February 2008

1998 / 1999

Chia, Yeow Tong, Konfrontasi and the Making of Malaysia, 1963: British Responses *

Chin, Kuok Sheung Quentin, History of Crime Prevention in Singapore *

Chua, Kien Wei Wendell, British Interests in the Chinese Commercial World (1861-1865): Perceptions and Realities

Dhillon, Davinder S, The Indians of Natal: Resistance to Apartheid, 1971-1985

Fong, Kum Kuen, The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Historiographical Study in Three Keys

Foo, Ee June, Historical Representations of Brunei: 1970s to Present

Han, Chieh Yuen Jeremy, The Nanjing Massacre 1937: A Historiographical Study

Koh, Jaime Sock Seah, Outside China: the Shanghai Culture in Singapore, 1920s-1930s *

Koh, Siew Im Priscilla, An Iconography of Vietnamese Women at War (1965-1998)

Koh, Wee Khiang Kelvin, Link in a ‘Chain of Disaster’?: Lewis Heath and the Malayan Campaign *

Lam, Sin How, The Methodist Movement in Singapore since 1976 *

Latha Sinasamy, Tamil Malar: Voice of the Tamil Community (1964-1980)

Lee, Ri Qiang Kestrel, The Shipping of Taiwan in the Late Nineteenth Century (1874-1894)

Low, Choon Sai James, Kept in Position: the Labour Front-Alliace Government of Chief Minister David Marshall in Singapore, April 1955-June 1956 *

Malini, Hema, Bharata Natyam in Singapore: Historical Development and Contemporary Considerations *

Neo, Choong Wei Dalvey, Merger and the Citizenship Controversy *

Ng, Wei Kwang, Sarawak’s Entry into Malaysia: Policies and Issues *

Ong, Eng Ann Alexander, Insecurity in a Prosperous Age: Emperor Qianlong and the Jinchuan Campaigns (1747-49 and 1771-76) *

Ong, Lay Ching. Sultan Omar Ali Saifunddin III and Brunei’s Refusal to Join Malaysia *

Png, Soon Hock Charles, Conservative and Liberal Visions of the Raj: the Viceroyalties of Lytton and Ripon 1876-1885

Sevea, Iqbal Singh, The Evolution of Sikh Religious Institutions in Singapore *

Shakila Tabassum Hashmi, The Trial of Bahadur Shah: Representation and Reality in Mughal British Relations

Suhaila Ahmad, A History of Community Self-Help Organisations in Singapore: the Case of Mendaki and AMP *

Tan, Soo Lin Jessica Louise, British Transfer of Power in Singapore 1959-1963 *

Toh, Boon Ho, Operation Photo or Operation Liberation?: the October 1956 Singapore Riots.

Toh, Boon Kwan, The Attlee Government and the Malayan Emergency, 1948-1951 *

Yeow, Oon Ling Jean, Peranakan Cuisine as a Projection of the Peranakan Identity *

1997 / 1998

Abd. Rashid A. R., The Singapore National Trades Union Congress in the 1970s: Modernisation of the Labour Movement *

Buay, Kee Seng Christopher, T.S. Raffles: A Colonial Administrator: Historian *

Chew, Ee, Meiji Japan (1894-1905) in the Eyes of the Foreign Press

Chong, Choy Hoong Beatrice, A History of Diplomacy and Trade in Nineteenth Century Labuan *

Gan, Eunne Ru Denise, Public History in Singapore in the 1990s: the Second World War *

Ho, Kah Wai Alexandra, Women and Education in Early Modern England

Kirupanantha Kumar Palaiyan, A Biography of A C Suppiah *

Koh, Ai Lin Debbie, Shanghai: Life in a Treaty Port, 1843-1854

Lau, Maung Hoe, The Transformation of the U.S. Army, 1973-1991

Lee, Kah Seng Jerry, The Catholic Origins of the Just War

Lee, Su Fook Salmon Aidan, Britain in the League of Nations 1931-39: an Assessment Based on Three Case Studies

Leong, Chou Keen, The Disarmament Conference 1932-34: the Role of France, Britain and the United States

Liew, Kai Khiun, The Impact of American Presence on South Vietnamese Culture & Society (1965-73)

Lim, Li Jing, A Special Relationship at War: Anglo-American Relations and the Escalation of the Korean War, 1950-51

Mohd. Azhar Terimo, UMNO and Malay Political Activities in Singapore, 1959-1965 *

Narayanan Andiappan, The Role of Dr. Subandrio in the Indonesian Communist Coup of 1965.

Ng, Aik Boon, A Fateful March: the Taiping Northern Expedition (1853-1855)

Rasheedah Begum Hamid, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 1945-50

Tan, Peng Hong, Reaching a Compromise the Deliberations of the Singapore Internal Security Council *

Tan, Siang Yang Sunny, Barisan Sosialis: Years at the Front Line 1961-1966

Tan, Teck Kin Derrick, Taking Back Singapore: SEAC’s Plans for the Recapture of Malaya and Singapore 1944-1945

Tan, Wee Peng, British Defence Policy and the Formation of NATO 1947-49

Tan, Yee Lin, The German Resistance to Hitler: a Historiographical Study

Tang, Swee Noi, The Kanpur Mosque and the Shahidganj Incidents: British Policy and Muslim Politics in India

Tay, Yie Shan, The Daoguang Reign and the Opium War, 1820-1839: a New Perspective

Teh, Chee Siong, The Late Qing Forward Policy in Tibet (1904-1911)

Tham, Chin Pang, Anglo-Russian Relations from Southeast Asian Perspective: 1905-1917

Wee, Seow Chin, Churchill and the Rearmament Debate

Wee, Shoo Soon, The Separation of Singapore from Malaysia: Approaches and Issues *

1996 / 1997

Ching, Su-Yin, History of Civil Aviation Security in Singapore *

Chong, Huay Jiuan Patrine, The Historical Development of the Provision Stores in Singapore: 1960s till the Present *

Chung, May Khuen, Shipping in the Straits of Malacca in the Nineteenth Century *

Goh, Boon Keng Steven, The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Historiographical Study

Goh, Wei Ling Christine, The Politics of Religion in the Time of King James VI/I: Approx. 1598-1625

Heng, Hiang Lik Eugene, Chinese Gold Prospectors in California, 1848-1870

Hia, Yen Ching Eileen, British Foreign Policy and the Berlin Blockade, 1948-49

Ho, Wei Hong Gerard, Admiral Ernest J. King and Allied Grand Strategy

Indira Balpanathan, The Historiography of the British Intervention in Malaya *

Kamaludin Bahadin, History of an English School: Gan Eng Seng School 1885-1996 *

Lam, Jenny, Popular Journalism in Singapore: the Shin Min Daily News, 1967-1997 *

Lim, Wui Lester, The Working Pelations between Chiang Kai-Shek and His Aides, 1926-1949

Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: the Presidential Years 1940-1946

Mun, Wai Kin, The Role of the Press in Sustaining the Development of Overseas Chinese Nationalism in Singapore, 1914-19 *

Noraslinda Md. Zuber, John A. Brazier and Trade Unionism in Malaya, 1945-1955 *

Ong, Lee Hua, Women in Late Imperial China: Reconstruction of Images

Ong, Sang Lim, The Concept of “Malaysia” before 1941: British Plans for a Southeast Asian Union of British Territories *

Pang, Tze Chiang Edgar, The Dispute over Navigation on the High Seas in the Early Modern Period

Poh, Geok Loo Sarah, The Corregidor Incident, 1968

See, Sin Yuan Constance, Russian Mercantile Maritime Trade to the Far East, 1880s-1917.

Sim, Wei Ling, A Prism of the Ten Year Storm: Perceptions of the Cultural Revolution as Expressed in Writings Relating Personal Experiences

Song, Jarrod, Lala Lajpat Rai: the Moderate Extremist

Soon, Bee Lan, Arai hakuseki (1657-1725) and the Problem of Loyalty

Tan, Andre Ai-Kok, Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel and the North African Campaign: A Historiographical Study

Thomas, Gabriel G., Fortress: A Military History of Blakang Mati Island *

Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Hugo Grotius & the Concept of Free Trade in Southeast Asia

Wee, Kek Koon, The White Lotus Rebellion, 1796-1804: Participants, Motives and Organisation

Wong, Liang-May Jasmine, The English-Speaking Brethren Assemblies in Singapore, 1864-1986 *

1995 / 1996

Bay, Siow Hon, Pearl Harbour and the Outbreak of War: a Historiographical Study

Charles, Priya Marie, Idealism Versus Reality: Wilson Goes to War

Chee, Ai Lian, English-language Writings on Japanese Colonialism in Korea: a Historiographical Enquiry

Chew, Hew Jeow, Culverin: the Operation that Never Was

Dorai, Andrew Matthew, Eisenhower and the Press in the Mediterranean Campaigns, 1942-1943

Emmanuel, Mark Visuvasum, Trading with the Enemy: Economic Warfare Against Germany in the Straits Settlements, 1914-1921

Ho, Wee Khoon Frederick, Red River Campaign of 1864

Hoe, Teck Wei, Anglo-French Relations, 1931-1934

Karamjit Singh, Bomba: a Social and Cultural History: the Singapore Fire Brigade *

Koh, Boon Piau, The British Pacific Fleet 1943-1945: the Conception and Evolution of British Naval Participation in the Pacific War

Leong, Huey Bin, Agricultural Management in Qianlong’s Shanxi (1736-1795)

Leong, Mei Lin Amy, Agricultural Development in Singapore *

Lim, Cheng Tju, Cartoons of Our Lives, Mirrors of Our Times: History of Political Cartoons in Singapore, 1959-1995 *

Lim, Lee, Education and Nation-Building: the British Perspective in Singapore, 1945-1956 *

Lim, Ming Chun Samuel, Christmas Island: Singapore’s Possession or Misconception? *

Loh, Kah Seng, The Use of History by Singapore’s Political Leaders Since Independence *

Long, Shi Ruey Joey, The US Involvement in Vietnam, 1954-56: the Question of Reunification Elections

Low, Mei Gek Cheryl-Ann, Uncovering Pulau Saigon *

Lum, Lai Meng, Mental Health in British Malaya *

Neeta Devi Dharam P. Singh, The life of Rajabali Jumabhoy: a Pioneer Kutchee Khoja Immigrant in Singapore *

Ng, Eng Ping, Li Xiucheng and the Westerners: the Perceptions of a Taiping Leader.

Ng, Ting Pei Paulina, History of Radio Broadcasting in Singapore: Its Formative Years *

Noor Aini Syed Mahmood, Sarifah, Sartono’s Perspective of Indonesian History

Ong, Suat Boon, The Response of the British Colonial Government in Malaya to the Communist Victory in China: 1948-1950 *

Suhaimi Mohamed Afandi, Post-War Singapore Under the Governorship of Sir Franklin Gimson (1946-1952)

Tan, Tai Loon Adrian, Prelude to the Vietnam War: the Collins Mission (1954-1955)

Tay, Ghim Chiew Stephen, Bishop Emeritus (Dr.) Theodore R. Doraisamy *

Tay, Soo Leng, The Russian Volunteer Fleet in Singapore, 1880-1915

Toh, Pang Theow Eugene, The British Public and the Blitz 1940-1941

Tow, Shen Han Jonathan, Alexander Hamilton as Military Thinker

1994 / 1995

Aswani, Nisha Jaikishin, The Sindhi Merchant: a Heritage of the Textile Trade

Baptist, Dominic John, Eden: a Study in Failure

Cheng, Seow Cheng, The Singapore Improvement Trust and Pre-War Housing *

Choy, Peng Yih Alexander, A Colonial Perspective of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 from the Straits Times *

Chua, Ching Poo Norman, Mountbatten’s Command Problems in South East Asia Command

Gilbert Niamvivatana, Football and Society

Hasim Hasan, Two Colonial Minds: a Study of Richard Winstedt’s Perceptions of the Malays and Victor Purcell’s Perceptions of the Chinese *

Heng, Su Lin Melissa, The Development of Public Communication in Singapore: from Colony to Independent Nation-State (1946-1965) *

How, Pow Aik James, The Battle of Huai-Hai: an Analytical Study on the Performance of the Guomindang Army

Khoo, Kay Yong, Responses to Restrictions: Maritime Commerce in Seventeenth Century Tonkin

Kwok, Siu Fun Stephanie, Extraordinary Lives: Catholic Missionaries During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore 1942-1945 *

Law, Kah Wei Redmund, Entertaining the Troops in Europe: the Special Services Section

Liew, Yean Sin David, Shifting Images: Women & Art in Singapore *

Lim, Hong Ling, The Use of Allied Airpower in the Battle of the Atlantic

Lim, Mui Ling Ivy Maria, Trade, Piracy and Core-Periphery Relations in Ming China: in Search of a Modus Operandi, 1549-1567

Looi, Wun-Kion Darryl, The Straits Settlements government: a study of the Straits Settlements Executive Council (1867-1941) *

Norhisham Hamjuri Samsuri, Food Shortage in Singapore 1945-50 *

Ong, Noel Tiong Puay, “A Bridge-Builder”: the Life of Dr Thio Chan Bee (1904-1978) *

Pillai, Nalini M., Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore 1943-1945 *

Rohan Harith Habib Hussain, The Role of American SALT I Negotiators: Heavy Weights or Just for Show?

Seow, Hwung Hwee Nicholas, An Important But Not Vital Outpost: the Defence of Hong Kong in the Inter-War Period, 1918-1941

Suresh Kumar, Singapore Indian Association, 1923-1941 *

Titi Murni Monir, The Control of Veneral Disease in Singapore, 1890-1940 *

Vijaya Rani Thulasy, Piracy in Southeast Asian Waters since the 1970s

Wong, Su-Lynn Shirleen, Chinese Marriage in Singapore: Customary Law and English Common Law in Conflict and Accommodation 1867-1942 *

Yeo, Hsuyin, Queenstown: a History of Singapore’s First New Town *

Yeo, Tze Chiang Lloyd Luc, Fighting for the Star Spangled Banner: the Civil War Experience of a Kansas Cavalryman

1993 / 1994

Ang, Siok Hui, Pioneer Female Mission Schools in Singapore, 1842-1942 *

Anthony, Andrew, Pridi’s Economic Plan and the Nature of Thai Politics, 1932-1934

Azahar Mohamed Noor, Malayan Borders: Colonial Innovation or Re-Affirmation *

Chan, Earn Meng, SHAEF, Logistics, and the Battle of the Bulge

Ho, Li Ching Selina, The Provincial Government during the Yongzheng Reign, 1723-1735: the Case of Guangdong

Kan, Kai Meng Linus, Lieutenant General Courtney H. Hodges and the United States First Army in the Northwest Europe Campaign

Koh, Thiam Hock, Punjab and the War: the Colonial State and War Mobilisation, 1939-1945

Lee, Hock Hin Barry, The Influence of Logistics on U.S. Command Decisions, June-September 1944

Lee, Li Cheng, Government Monopolies after the Abolition of the Revenue Farm System in British Malaya *

Lee, Yam Ming, Accord on the “Peaceful Liberation” on Peiping in 1949: Military and Political Disintegration

Leong, Wing Yew Ernest, Logistics and Allied Grand Strategy in World War II: the Burma Problem

Leow, Chee Yen, The Great Famine in North China, 1877-1878

Liew, Clement, The Roman Catholic Church of Singapore, 1819-1910: from Mission to Church *

Liew, Hui Chuan Anthea, British Attitudes and Policies Towards the Chinese and Turkish Consuls in Singapore, 1867-1914 *

Lim, Fong Yee Tammy, Educational Reform in Japan: 1945-1952

Lim, Seng Hock Darren, The Arms Trade in Southeast Asia: 1915-1917

Lim, Thau Ping Raymond, “Coal Imperialism” in the History of Labuan, 1849-1911 *

Lim, Yin Ling Pamela, Sulak Sivaraksa: the Thoughts and Writings of a Thai Buddhist Social Critic

Lye, Liang Fook, Zhou Fohai’s Dilemma as a Collaborator

Morier, Genevieve C., A Study of the Historiography of the Bounty Mutiny

Pang, Gek Choo, The Problem of Law and Order in the Punjab, 1946-48

Shafarina Sujak, Offshore: Britain and European Integration, 1949-1952

Shanmugaratnam T., Official American Views of the Strategic Security Situation in South Vietnam: 1954-1956

Shawal Hussin, British Naval Policy in Island South East Asia 1824-1867

Soh, Thiam Loon, Mao Zedong in Chongqing in 1945: Illusions of Peace

Suen-Oltmanns, Angela, A Historical Survey of the Keramat Phenomenon: With Special Reference to Singapore *

Sugumaran R., A case study of the Indian port workers in Tanjong Pagar, c.1920-1940 *

Tan, Kui Choon Clare, Church and Community: Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1853-1993 *

Tan, Ming Chong James, Lt. Gen. “Jesus Christ Himself” Lee & American Supply in the European Theater of Operations During World War II

Yap, Hong Hock Harry, British Reactions to Dutch Expansion on the East Coast of Sumatra, 1824-1871

Yeo, Eng Kwan, The Views of the British Commercial Mission Towards Developments in Post-Civil War Leninist Russia (1921-1924)

1992 / 1993

Aguss Hashim, Malay Perceptions of the Malacca Sultanate: a Historiography *

Bey, Mui Leng, British Consular Specialists’ Perspective of the Stalinist Political Dictatorship and Terror (1924-1939)

Chan, Wei Keh, Policing the Malayan Emergency (1948-1954) *

Chew, Hock Leong, The Straits Times and the Singapore General Elections: Accommodation and Adaptation to Constraints (1965-1992)*

Chew, Jin Chong Winston, Wilson: Political Stirrings in the Age of Reform (1896-1910)

Chia, Hwee Hwee Jeanette, A History of the Javanese and Boyanese in Singapore *

Chiang, Ming Shun, Military Defences and Threat Perceptions in Nineteenth Century Singapore, 1854-1891 *

Goh, Hui Hua, Woodrow Wilson and American Neutrality, 1914-1917: a Study of Executive Power in Foreign Policy Decision-Making

Lai, Lee Ling Janice, The Burden of Nation-Building: National Junior College (1969-1992) *

Loh, Tuck Wai, Woodrow Wilson: the Early Years, 1856-1885

Louis, Margaret, History of Boys’ Town *

Makesan M., The Rulers of the Unfederated Malay States: Changing Roles and British Policy*

Mastura Abd. Rahman, Colonial Singapore in Malay Fiction *

Pow, Lai Gim, The Whampoa Military Academy (1924-1927): a Political Analysis

Prem Kumar, Rhetoric and Reality: War Reporting and the Royal Navy, 1939-1941

Seto, Wei Soon, “Bomber” Harris and the Dresden Decision

Tan, Chee Peng Patsie, The Anti-Opium Campaign in the Pre-1942 Singapore *

Teo, Lai Cheng Judy, The May Fourth Movement in Shandong

Tharmalingam Nesamani, Gandhi’s “Sub-Contractors”: a Case Study of Rajendra Prasad in Bihar.

Tho, Meng Choo, More than Just a Voice: the Development of Oral History in Singapore *

Vasanda Kumari, Jawaharlal Nehru’s Letters to His Chief Ministers, 1947-1963

Yap, Ming Sing Jimmy, Changing Patterns of Sea Raiding in Malay Waters in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century *

Yeo, Kuan Hoong Raymond, Young Robert Hart: Apprenticeship in China Affairs, 1854-1863

1991 / 1992

Chew, Ing Lim, The Shanghai Crisis of 1932: an Examination of the Local Perspective

Chew, Ling Charlene, Colonial Development Activity in British Malaya from the 1920s to the 1950s *

Choo, Po Lin Grace, Allied Bombing: the French Question January to June 1944

Devadas, Emmanuel, Cosmology and Religion in Pre-Modern South-East Asia

Elinah Abdullah, Malay Political Activities in Singapore 1945-1959 *

Goh, Lye Hock, The New Fourth Army Incident of January 1941

Kang, Ling Ying Florence, British Consular Perspective of the Stalinist Revolution

Koh, Soo Min, The Restoration of the “Last Emperor”: a Political Analysis

Lim, Bee Tin Karen, The West that Never Was: Hollywood’s Frontier Images

Logason Sinnatamby, The Eastern Waves: Patterns of Maritime and Coastal Raiding in Northern Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago, 1770-1860 *

Loh, Wai Ling, The Hidden War: Guomindang Juntong’s Undercover Missions against the Japanese, 1937-45

Low, Aik Lim, Anglo-Chinese School 1886-1941: Case Study of a Mission School *

Maninderjit Kaur, Woodrow Wilson: President of Princeton University (1902-1910)

Saidah Said, History and Historians in West Malaysia *

Seah, Boon Kiat, Malcolm MacDonald as Commissioner-General 1948-1955 *

Seow, Hwee, The United States’ Policy towards Japan, 1945

Shahilla K. Balakrishnan, Political Attitudes of Indians in Post-War Malaya 1945-1955 *

Tan, Ban Huat, The Singapore Polytechnic in Singapore’s Development 1959-1990 *

Tan, Mui Cheng Jennifer Mildred, Churchill and the Americans: the Malta Meeting, 30 January-2 February 1945

Tan, Seng Huat, History of the Chinese High School 1919-1941 *

Teh, Chiew Guek, The China League for Civil Rights, 1932-1933

Van Dijk, Dina Ling, Gladstone: the Inner Conflict 1855-1868

Vanaja Dharmalingam, The Politics of Food: Punjab and the British Raj, 1939-1945

Wee, Yang Teck Jansen Paul, British Intelligence Operations for Sicily, 1943

Wong, Wei Kong, The Two-Edged Sword: Churchill’s Wartime Oratory, 1940-41

Yap, Pheng Hui, Chinese Communist Historiography: the Debate on the Origin of capitalism in China

1990 / 1991

Arasumani Retnasamy, “Red and White”: Indonesian Influences in Malaya through the Malay Nationalist Party 1945-1948 *

Chia, Siang Pio, Protestant Missionaries and Modern Education in China: 1890-1911

Goh, Hwee Lian, Marshall in China: Mission Unappreciated

Jaya Ratnam, Empire and Enterprise: a History of Oil Exploration in British Borneo until the End of the First World War *

La’brooy, David Peter, A History of Saint Andrew’s School in Singapore, 1862-1990 *

Lau, Sze Yuin Agatha, The English School Teacher in Singapore, 1900-1978: a Study of Perception, Status and Performance *

Lee, Yew Koon Tonnine, History of the Singapore General Hospital: 1819-67 *

Leong, Thiam Fook Kelvin, Ali Sadikin and the Development of Jakarta 1966-1977

Lim, Bee Khim, Tan Cheng Lock, Tan Siew Sin and the MCA (1949-1974) *

Lim, Bee Ting, British Interests in the Scramble for Concessions in China 1897-1899

Loke, Tuck Whye, The Control of Contagious Diseases in Colonial Singapore, 1867-1959 *

Low, Mun Kit, The Colonial Administration and British Business Interests in Malaya: 1920-1941 *

Mohamed Ghazali Saad, A History of the Singapore General Hospital 1945-1975 *

Nor-Afidah Abd. Rahman, Colonial Administration in Malaya and the Promotion of British Business Interests 1874-1919 *

Phan, Ming Yen, Tan Cheng Lock: a Study in Personality and History *

Rasheada Begam Kaim Khan, Sir Hugh Low’s Carreer in Labuan 1848-1876 *

Selvamanogari, G. D. Florence, History through Autobiographies: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on Indian Politics and Social 1920-1947.

Sity Norsimah Mohamed Darus, Health of the South Indian Labourers on Rubber Plantations in British Malaya 1895-1941 *

Sum, Wai Fun Adeline, History-Writing in Singapore *

Yang, Sook Chin, The Making of a Revolutionary: Zhou Enlai before 1924

Yeo, Lawrence Siew Boo, The Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute: from a Pioneering to a Premier Military Institute, 1965-1990 *

Zubaidah Mohsen, The Deterrence to Reform: the Punishment of Serious Offenses in British Malaya *

Continuing Studying Ancient Chinese History in Singapore (Part One)…

4) Libraries at the National University of Singapore (NUS)

The Central Library at NUS has a fairly good collection of English-language academic books on Chinese history, and frequently purchases newly-published works. If you make a request for them to buy a new book, they are likely to get it within two weeks.

The Chinese Library has a huge and constantly growing collection of books on Chinese history, although many of the older ones are in Closed Stacks (including books from the old Nanyang University library) and have to be requested online or at the loans desk. Ordering new books through the Chinese Library does not work well, however, because they don’t have an effective system for ordering books from China at present.

Another good thing about the NUS libraries: both have a large number of academic journals (in English and Chinese) that deal with Asian and Chinese history, and also subscribe to online electronic databases of journals (also in English and Chinese). Many journal articles fill in important gaps that are not covered by books, but get too little attention from non-academics because they are much harder to find outside a university.

If you are not currently an NUS student, a NUS library membership may not cheap but could prove to be a worthwhile investment, as there are centralised resources in the libraries which you may not find anywhere else in Singapore.

5) Attending Talks and Exhibitions

Attending talks and exhibitions also allows interested historians to learn more about their fields of research. For instance, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is currently showcasing an exhibition of archaeological artifacts from Sanxingdui in Sichuan. Throughout the exhibition period, ACM invited several speakers from China and the US to give talks on topics related to Sanxingdui. The museum’s coverage of Chinese history and archaeology is also likely to increase as it builds more links with Chinese museums and archaeologists, so now is a good time to subscribe to their mailing list.

As a side note, the importance of archaeology’s in supplementing textual sources on ancient Chinese history has been steadily increasing since the early twentieth century; to the point where few historians can afford to leave archaeological evidence out of their research entirely. In the case of Sanxingdui, archaeology is the main source of knowledge and information about a civilisation that is barely traceable in texts and documents.

6) Banding Together: The China History Forum (CHF)

Singaporeans with an interest in ancient Chinese history may get the depressing illusion that they are the only member of their species in the world. I certainly did in the past, and have met others who thought the same. But we are not alone!

The China History Forum (www.chinahistoryforum.com) has probably done more than anything else to change that perception and to bring fellow historians of China together. Founded in 2004 by a Taiwan-born Singapore Permanent Resident, it is now the largest and most important online community dedicated to the discussion of Chinese history in the English language. CHF has a surprisingly large number of Singaporean members interested in Chinese history, and holds occasional gatherings for members (sometimes to attend ACM talks). The membership is also international in out-look and includes active members from New Zealand, Russia, Western Europe, India, the Americas, and of course China.

CHF thus compensates for the small number of Chinese history enthusiasts in most of its members’ countries by connecting them with enthusiasts around the world. Naturally, members from different countries will occasionally get into quarrels each other (particularly on issues relating to Taiwan and Japan!). But the forum’s governing philosophy of political neutrality, inclusiveness, and non-nationalistic objectivity usually serves to keep propagandistic and polemical content at a minimum.

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The above pointers are of course derived from my personal journey studying Chinese history. They have been most useful and will continue to help me in my pursuit of historical knowledge on Ancient China. I do hope they can also help fellow historians of China in similar ways.

The author graduates in August 2007 with a Masters (Arts) in History, from the Department of History, National University of Singapore. He will be studying for his Ph.D in UC Berkeley come August 2007.