Forum: NLB’s digitisation of newspaper archives provides a precious link to the past

I recently turned to the National Library Board’s (NLB) newspaper archive while trying to learn more about my family history. What began as a simple search for information about my ancestors unexpectedly became a deeply personal and moving experience.

I came across article after article about my late paternal grandfather and his younger days as an athlete. I had never known that these records existed. To see his name appearing in newspapers from decades ago – to read about his sporting achievements and catch a glimpse of the young man he once was – was an incredibly special feeling.

There is something quite extraordinary about discovering a part of someone’s life that you never had the chance to know. My grandfather has since passed away and, naturally, there are many questions about his younger years that I can no longer ask him. Yet, through these old newspaper clippings, I felt as though I had been given a small window into his life. It gave me a connection to a chapter of his life that had otherwise been lost to time.

This experience made me appreciate just how valuable NLB’s digitisation efforts are. These archives are not merely collections of old news. They preserve fragments of people’s lives – their achievements, their milestones and their stories. For families trying to piece together their history, these records can be priceless.

I am incredibly grateful that these newspapers were preserved and made accessible to the public. Thank you to everyone at NLB who has played a part in preserving Singapore’s past.

K.B. Ryan Joshua Mahindapala