Periodicals

Overview of the Singapore Literature Bibliographies (1950 – 2015)

The National Library has compiled a set of bibliographies on Singapore Literature that covers works published in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. These provide a comprehensive listing of literary works by Singapore writers and Singapore literature from more than 50 years ago. The bibliographies have been updated from the original print versions to include works published from 2008 to 2015. The full listing of works including titles of newspapers and literary periodicals in the four languages can be easily accessed through the Resource Guides platform. More information about the specific language bibliographies including scope and coverage can be found in the respective Singapore Literature Resource Guides.

Singapore Literature in English

Singapore Literature in English forms an indispensable part of our culture and identity. Whether writing on public or private themes, the stories, poems and plays give expression to the nation’s and individual’s consciousness, imagination and experience. They enrich our lives by engaging and challenging us with the issues that they present, and by delighting and stirring us with the power and beauty of language and expressions.

• Novels

• Periodicals

• Poetry

• Short Stories

• Drama

• Anthologies

• Electronic Journals

• Miscellaneous

Periodicals

The entries include magazines or journals published in Singapore and abroad from the time when it was part of the Straits Settlements to the present – from the earliest The Straits Chinese Magazine (1897) which also published fiction in English to the latest literary magazine to appear to date.

Library Codes

NL: National Library (Lee Kong Chian Reference Library)
PL: Public Libraries, National Library Board
RU: Repository Used Collection, National Library Board
NUS: National University of Singapore
ISEAS: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

National Library Collection Codes

RSING Adult Reference Singapore
RDET Adult Reference Edwin Thumboo
RCLOS Adult Reference Closed Access
RRARE Adult Reference Rare
YRSING Young Adult Reference Singapore
RAC Junior Reference Asian Children
RART Adult Reference Art

1890-1990

[1897 – 1907] The Straits Chinese magazine: a quarterly journal of oriental and occidental culture.
Singapore: Koh Yew Hean Press. Library Holdings: NL has vol. 1 (1897) – vol. 11 (1907) in print and on microfilm.
Call No.: RRARE 959.5 STR Microfilm No.: NL267 (vol. 1, 1897–vol. 9, 1905); NL268 (vol. 10, 1906 – vol. 11, 1907)

[19–] Montage: a literary publication of Nanyang Girls’ High.
Singapore: Nanyang Girls’ High School.
Library Holdings: NL has 2002-2003, 2006-2007.
Call No.: RSING 820.995957 MON

[19–] Our budding writers: collection of poems & stories.
Singapore: Greenview Secondary School.
Library Holdings: NL has issue 2006.
Call No.: YRSING S820.809283 OBW 2006

The grad: monthly bulletin of the Stamford Club, Singapore.
Singapore: Stamford Club.
Library Holdings: The NUS Central Library has 1948-1949 in print and on microfilm.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

1930-1939

[1931-41] Raffles College magazine.
Singapore: Magazine Committee of Raffles College Union.
Library Holdings: The NUS Central Library has vol. 2, no. 2 (1931) – vol. 10(1941) in print and on microfilm.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

1940-1949

[1946-1958] Raffles College Union magazine. Singapore: [Raffles College Union Managing Committee].
Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have vol. 1 (1946) – vol. 3 (1948).
Microfilm copies are available in the NUS Central Library as well.
Call No.: RSING 378.5957 RCUM

[1948] The Malayan undergrad: organ of the University of Malaya Students’ Union.
Singapore: University of Malaya Students’ Union.
Library Holdings: The NUS Central Library has vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov 1948) – vol. 15, no. 4 (Sep 1966) in print and on microform. NL has the publication on microfilm.
Call No.: A00550953E (1948-1949), A00550938H (1950-1966)

[1949] The cauldron.
Singapore: Medical College Union, Literary and Debating Society.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

[1949-1953] Youth. Singapore: Combined Secondary Schools of Singapore.
Library Holdings: The NUS Central Library has vols. 1-4.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

1950-1959

[195-] Magazine of the University of Malaya Students’ Union.
Singapore: University of Malaya. Students’ Union.
Library Holdings: NL has 1949-50, 1954-56 and 1959-60. The NUS Central Library has 1949/50 – 1959/60.
Call No.: RCLOS/RDTYS 378.5951 UMSUM
Microfilm No.: NL12104 (1954-1956, 1959/60)

Suloh nantah = Nan da huo ju: journal of the English Society.
Singapore: English Society, Nanyang University, 1957-1964.
Library Holdings: NL has no. 5 (Nov 1957) – no. 8 (Sep 1958), no. 10 (May 1959) – no. 24 (Nov 1964). The NUS Central Library has no. 5 (1957) – no. 24 (1964).
Call No.: RCLOS 378.5957 SN

[1957-58] Write. [Singapore: s.n.].
Library Holdings: The NUS Central Library has 1957-58 in print and on microfilm.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

Kesusasteraan Nanyang. [1959] Singapore: Liaw Yock Fang,
Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have no. 1 (Nov 1959)- no. 3 (Oct 1960).
Call No.: RCLOS 808.8 KN
Microfilm No.: NL10196

1960-1969

[196-] Varsity.
Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Student’s Union.
Library Holdings: The NUS Central Library has 1961-63, 1965-66, 1968-71. NL has 1968. Call No.: RCLOS 378.595 V

[1960-] The phoenix.
Singapore: Raffles Hall, University of Singapore.
Library Holdings: NL has 1960-1973/74, 1976.77-1985/86 and 1990/91- 1991/92. The NUS Central Library has 1961–1996/97.
Call No.: RCLOS/RSING 78.5957 P
Microfilm No.: NL12680

[1961] Focus.
Singapore: Literary Society, Department of English, University of Malaya in Singapore. 1961-1996. .
Library Holdings: NL has 1961-1976, 1979, 1981-1989, 1993 and 1995. The NUS Central Library has 1961 – 1966, 1967, 1972-1996
Call number: RSING/RCLOS 828.995957 F

[1961] The new cauldron: the official organ of the Raffles Society, University of Malaya. Singapore: Raffles Society, University of Malaya.
Library Holdings: NL has 1949/50 – 1959. The NUS Central Library has 1949/50 – Aug 1960.
Call No.: RCLOS/RDET 052 NC
Microfilm No.: NL9554
Microfiche No.: NL0010/160

W. Lim Siew Wai. [1961] Monsoon.
Singapore: G.H. Kiat & Co., 1961-62.
Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct- Dec 1961) and vol. 1, no. 2 (Mar 1962).
Call No.: RDET/RCLOS 052 MON
Microfilm No.: NL9520 (vol. 1, no. 1-2)
Microfiche No.: NL0068/140 (vol. 1, no. 1)

[1962] The grad.
Singapore: University of Singapore Society.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

[1962-79] Focus.
Singapore: University of Singapore.
Library Holdings: NL has 1961-1976, 1979, 1981-1989, 1993 and 1995. The NUS Central Library has 1961 – 1966, 1967, 1972-1996.
Call number: RSING/RCLOS 828.995957 F

Goh, P.S. [1964-] Tumasek.
Singapore: Tumasek Trust, 1964-.Notes: Intended to be a quarterly.
Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have issues 1-3.
Call No.: RCLOS 805 T
Microfilm No.: NL12114

Dudley de Souza & Yeo, Robert C.C. [1965] Impression; quarterly magazine of the University of Singapore Society.
Singapore: L.M. Creative Publicity. Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have vol. 1, no. 1 (May 1965).
Call No.: RCLOS 805 I
Microfilm No.: NL12114

K.Srinivas [1966] Poet: an international monthly.
Call No.: No holdings in NL and NUS Central Library. (Available in the University of Malaya Library.)
[1967-] Singapore undergrad.
Singapore: University of Singapore Students’ Union.
Library Holdings: NL holdings are uneven and range from vol. 2 (1968) – vol. 19 (1985). The NUS Central Library has vol. 1 (1967) – vol. 19 (1985).
Call No.: RSING/RCLOS 378.5951 SU
Microfilm No.: NL12211 (1967 – 1979)

[1967] Tenggara: journal of Southeast Asian literature. Kuala Lumpur: Dept. of English, University of Malaya.
Library Holdings: NL’s holdings are uneven. They cover the period: no. 1 (1967) – no. 40 (1998). The NUS Central Library has 1967–1973; 1975-2001.
Call No.: RSEA/RDET/RCLOS/RU 805 T

[1968] Commentary.
Singapore: University of Singapore Society.
Call No.: RSING/RDET/RCLOS/RU 300.5 C

Edwin Thumboo, [1968] Poetry Singapore. Singapore: Department of English, University of Singapore.
Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have no. 1 (Aug 1968) and no. 2 (Dec 1968).
Call No.: RCLOS 828.99 PS
Microfilm No.: NL11434

[1968] Literary miscellany.
Singapore: Dept. of Modern Languages and Literature, Nanyang University.
Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have Feb 1968.
Call No.: RCLOS 828.99 LM

[1968-] Reflection.
Singapore: Society of Singapore Writers, 1968.
Library Holdings: NL has 1981-1985, Jun 1989, Nov 1989, Feb 1990, and Sep 1990. The NUS Central Library has 1989-1990.
Call No.: RSING q808.8995957 R

Marie Bong et al. [1969-1978] Saya.
Singapore: Printed by Sen Wah Press. Library Holdings: NL and the NUS Central Library have May 1969 – Apr 1978.
Call No.: RCLOS 828.99 S

[1969] Prospect.
Singapore: Educational Publications Bureau, Ministry of Education.
Library Holdings: NL vol. 1 (1969) – vol. 6 (1974), Vol. 8 (1976), vol. 10-12 (1978 – May/Jun 1980). The NUS Central Library has vol. 1 (1969-1970), vol. 6 (1974) – 12 (May/Jun 1980).
Call No.: RCLOS/RSING 052 P

1970-1979

[1971] Westerly: special issue on Malaysia and Singapore, No. 3. Nedlands,
Australia: University of Western Australia Press.
Call No.: No holdings in NL. (Available in NUS Central Library.)

[1973-1978] New directions.
Singapore: Times Periodicals Pte. Ltd.
Library Holdings: NL has 1973-1978.
Call No.: RSING/RCLOS 300.5 ND

[1978-1980] Surge.
Singapore : Temasek Junior College Literary, Debating & Dramatic Society.
Call No: 808.8995957 S (v1-3)

Baratham, G. et al. [1979] Pacific Moana Quarterly: an international review of arts and ideas.
New Zealand: Outrigger Publishers
Call No.: RSING S823 SIN

[1979-] Students’ literature.
Singapore: Educational Publications Bureau.
Library Holdings: NL has no. 1 (1979) – no. 25 (1981).
Call No.: RSING 808.8995957 SL

1980-1989

[1980] Poetry recital = Deklamasi sajak.
Singapore : s.n.
Call No.: RSING/RDET S821 POE

Koh, B.S., Lam, C.T, Heng S.T, Yeo, M. [1987] Time off for poetry: readings by an innovative group of young poets, Koh Buck Song, Lam Chih Tsung, Heng Siok Tian, Mark Yeo.
Singapore: Public Affairs Dept., Shell Companies in Singapore.
Call No.: RDET S821 TIM

2000-2015

[200?] Wallfowers.
https://www.facebook.com/wallflowersmag (Accessed 20 May 2016)

[2013] Ellipsis.
https://twitter.com/ellipsisjournal (Accessed 25 May 2016)

[2016] MOBILISE zine.
https://www.facebook.com/mobilisesg/timeline (6 May 2016)

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All featured books and periodicals are located at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library.

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The information in this resource guide is valid as at Feb 2017 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

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