People
Featuring resources on a selection of prominent personalities in Singapore's history
Last updated 12 August 2026
Most of the guides in this section were developed for the Singapore Biographical Database (SBDB), a collaborative project by the National University of Singapore, the National Library Board of Singapore and the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations. This Project featured prominent Singapore Chinese personalities to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the founding of modern Singapore in 2019.
Names are listed in alphabetical order.
A to K
Aw Boon Haw (胡文虎)
Discover the life and legacy of Aw Boon Haw, the Tiger Balm King, through a curated list of books, articles, and newspaper resources.
Cheang Hong Lim (章芳琳)
Discover the life of Cheang Hong Lim, a 19th-century Singapore businessman and philanthropist whose legacy lives on in places like Hong Lim Park.
Chen Jen Hao (陈人浩)
Explore resources on Chen Jen Hao, a pioneer artist and educator known for Chinese calligraphy and western painting, including books, articles, and oral history interviews.
Chew Joo Chiat (周如切)
Discover the life of Chew Joo Chiat, the "King of Katong", through books, articles, and oral history interviews held in the National Library's collection.
Chia Ann Siang (谢安祥)
Discover the life of Chia Ann Siang, a 19th-century merchant who gave his name to Ann Siang Hill. Explore books, articles, and newspaper sources about his legacy.
Chou Sing Chu (周星衢)
Discover the life of Chou Sing Chu, founder of Popular Bookstore and a key figure in Chinese publishing in Southeast Asia. Explore selected books and newspaper articles about his legacy.
Chua Ek Kay
Explore a curated collection of resources on Chua Ek Kay, Singapore's celebrated ink painter and 1999 Cultural Medallion recipient.
Chua Mia Tee
Explore the life and works of Chua Mia Tee, one of Singapore's leading realist painters and a Cultural Medallion recipient.
Chuang Chu Lin (庄竹林)
Explore curated resources on Chuang Chu Lin, a key figure in Singapore's Chinese education who led Chung Cheng High School and Nanyang University.
Goh Siew Tin (吴寿珍)
Explore the life of Goh Siew Tin, a pioneering Singapore Chinese community leader. Find books and newspaper articles about his legacy.
Georgette Chen
Explore the life and legacy of Georgette Chen, one of Singapore's most celebrated artists, through books, articles, and audio-visual resources curated by the National Library.
Han Wai Toon (韩槐准)
Explore a curated guide on Han Wai Toon, a self-taught expert in Chinese ceramics and Singapore history, including books, articles, and websites.
Huang Man Shi (黄曼士)
Discover the life of Huang Man Shi, a prominent art collector and community leader in Singapore, through books, newspaper articles, and oral history interviews.
Joanna Wong
Explore resources on Joanna Wong, a Cultural Medallion recipient who helped revive Cantonese opera in Singapore.
Koh Soh Goh (许甦吾)
Explore the life of Koh Soh Goh, a Chinese educator and publisher who shaped Singapore's publishing scene. Access curated books, articles, and oral history interviews about him.
L to S
Law Wai Lun (罗伟伦)
Explore resources on Law Wai Lun, a Cultural Medallion recipient who shaped the Nanyang Style in Chinese orchestral music.
Lee Choon Seng (李俊承)
Explore resources on Lee Choon Seng, a key Hokkien community leader, businessman, and philanthropist who helped shape banking and civic life in Singapore.
Lee Dai Sor (李大傻)
Explore books, articles, and oral history interviews about Lee Dai Sor, one of Singapore's most beloved Cantonese storytellers, whose career spanned over four decades.
Lee Kuan Yew
Explore recommended reading resources on Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil.
Lee Siow Mong (李绍茂)
Explore the life of Tan Sri Lee Siow Mong, a distinguished civil servant who served Singapore and Malaysia, through books, articles, and oral history interviews.
Leong Yoon Pin
Explore resources on Leong Yoon Pin, Singapore's pioneering composer and Cultural Medallion recipient, through books, recordings, scores, and more available at the National Library and partner institutions.
Lew Poo Chan
Explore this resource guide on Lew Poo Chan (Dan Ying), a celebrated Chinese poet and Cultural Medallion recipient whose work has been translated into multiple languages.
Lien Shih Sheng (连士升)
Explore a curated guide on Lien Shih Sheng, a key literary figure in 1950s–60s Malaya, covering his books, newspaper articles, oral history interviews, and published works.
Lien Ying Chow (连瀛洲)
Discover the remarkable life of Lien Ying Chow, pioneering banker and philanthropist who shaped modern Singapore.
Lim Fei Shen
Explore resources on Lim Fei Shen, a Cultural Medallion recipient and pioneer of modern dance in Singapore.
Lim Loh (林路)
Discover the life of Lim Loh, a pioneer builder behind landmarks like Victoria Memorial Hall. Explore selected books and newspaper articles about his legacy.
Lim Tze Peng
Explore a comprehensive guide to Lim Tze Peng, one of Singapore's most celebrated visual artists, known for his Chinese ink works and calligraphy. Discover books, articles, and other resources on his life and art.
Lin Hengnan (林衡南)
Explore the life of Lin Hengnan, a pioneering Chinese printer in Singapore. Find books and newspaper articles about his press, Koh Yew Hean, and its role in early Chinese publishing.
Low Ing Sing (刘仁心)
Explore the life and legacy of Low Ing Sing, a pioneer of Mandarin theatre in Singapore who won the Cultural Medallion in 1985.
Neo Tiew (梁宙)
Explore the life of Neo Tiew, a pioneering community leader who helped develop Lim Chu Kang. Find books, newspaper articles, and oral history interviews about his legacy.
Pan Shou (潘受)
Discover the life and legacy of Pan Shou, Singapore's celebrated Chinese calligrapher and poet, through a curated list of books, articles, and videos.
Sarkasi Said
Discover the life and legacy of Sarkasi Said, Singapore's celebrated batik painter known for his bold colours and record-breaking work.
Seah Song Seah (佘松城)
Explore books, newspaper articles, and photographs tracing the life of Seah Song Seah, a prominent 19th-century Teochew merchant in Singapore.
See Ewe Lay (薛有礼)
Explore the life of See Ewe Lay, founder of Singapore's first major Chinese newspaper. Browse a curated list of books, articles, and newspaper pieces on his legacy.
See Hiang To (施香沱)
Explore the life and legacy of See Hiang To, a pioneering Chinese painter, calligrapher and seal-carver who shaped Singapore's arts scene for over four decades.
See Hoot Kee (薛佛记)
Explore the life of See Hoot Kee, a key Hokkien pioneer in early Singapore known for his philanthropy. Find selected books, articles, and newspaper pieces on his legacy.
Seow Poh Leng (萧保龄)
Explore the life of Seow Poh Leng, a banker and co-founder of Ho Hong Bank, which later became OCBC Bank.
T to Z
Tan Boo Liat (陈武烈)
Explore the life of Tan Boo Liat, a prominent Hokkien leader and community figure in early Singapore, through books, newspaper articles, and oral history interviews.
Tan Chay Yan (陈齐贤)
Explore the life of Tan Chay Yan, pioneer of large-scale rubber planting in Malaya, through a curated list of books, articles, and oral history interviews.
Tan Chor Lam (陈楚楠)
Discover the life of Tan Chor Lam, a key supporter of the 1911 Chinese revolution and co-founder of Nanyang Girls' School, through selected books, articles, and his own works.
Tan Kheam Hock (陈谦福)
Explore the life of Tan Kheam Hock, a prominent Straits Chinese figure in early Singapore, with curated books, newspaper articles, and his own translated works.
Tan Kim Ching (陈金钟)
Discover the life of Tan Kim Ching, a prominent 19th-century community leader. Explore books, newspaper articles, and oral history interviews about his legacy.
Tan Siak Kew (陈锡九)
Explore the life of Tan Siak Kew, a key businessman, diplomat, and philanthropist in Singapore's history, through selected books, articles, and photographs.
Tan Yeok Seong (陈育崧)
Explore books, articles, and newspaper pieces about Tan Yeok Seong, a historian and collector who donated his private book collection to the National Library of Singapore in 1964.
Tay Koh Yat (郑古悦)
Discover the life of Tay Koh Yat, a pioneering businessman and community leader in Singapore. Explore selected books and newspaper articles about his legacy.
Tchang Ju Chi (张汝器)
Explore the life and legacy of Tchang Ju Chi, one of Singapore's earliest artists, through books and newspaper articles available at the National Library.
Teng Mah Seng (丁马成)
Explore the life and legacy of Teng Mah Seng, the Cultural Medallion recipient credited with reviving nanyin music in Singapore.
Teo Eng Hock (张永福)
Explore the life of Teo Eng Hock, a key supporter of Sun Yat Sen's revolution, through books, articles, and oral history interviews.
Tso Ping Lung (左秉隆)
Explore a curated list of books, articles, and newspaper reports on Tso Ping Lung, Singapore's first officially appointed Chinese consul under the Qing empire.
Wee Bin (黄敏)
Discover the life of Wee Bin, a 19th-century Hokkien merchant who built one of Singapore's biggest shipping firms. Find key facts and recommended reading here.
Wong Lin Ken (黄麟根)
Discover the life and legacy of Wong Lin Ken, historian, diplomat, and Singapore's first ambassador to the United States.
Wong Nai Siong (黄乃裳)
Discover the life of Wong Nai Siong, a Chinese reformer and revolutionary who shaped early Singapore and Sibu. Explore selected books and newspaper articles on his remarkable story.
Wong Yoon Wah
Explore the life and works of Wong Yoon Wah, an award-winning Singapore poet, critic, and scholar known for his contributions to Chinese and comparative literature.
Wu Lien Teh (伍连徳)
Explore the life and legacy of Wu Lien Teh, the Penang-born doctor who fought deadly plague outbreaks in China and shaped modern public health.
Yeh Chih Yun (叶季允)
Explore books, articles, and newspaper pieces on Yeh Chih Yun, a celebrated editor and poet who shaped Singapore's Chinese community over four decades.
Yin Suat Chuan (殷雪村)
Discover the life of Yin Suat Chuan, a pioneering doctor and community leader in early Singapore. Explore selected books and newspaper articles about his legacy.
Zhang Liqian (张礼千)
Explore the life and works of Zhang Liqian, a Chinese scholar and educator in pre-war Singapore and Malaya, with a curated list of books about him and his key writings on Southeast Asian history.