Collective Biography of the Singapore Chinese Community (1922–1972): The Digitization and Analysis of the Bukit Brown Burial Records in the National Archives

This project offers an in-depth analytical study of the Bukit Brown Burial Records found in the National Archives of Singapore. The Bukit Brown cemetery was open from 1922 until 1972, during which time over 72,000 tombs were established in the cemetery. The Burial Records are written in English, with names transcribed from various Chinese dialects. The tombstones have names in Chinese, places of origin, dates of death (as opposed to dates of burials), names of descendants, and other information (titles, epitaphs, poetry, geomantic verses, sculpture, tiles decorations, paintings). The research team has digitized almost 2/3 of the burial record and have developed a database that will facilitate research on tombstone inscriptions. This database will enable researchers to develop a “collective biography” across two to three generations of Chinese Singaporeans. It will help shed light on the history, demographics and genealogy of the 19th and early 20th century Singapore Chinese community. The project links tangible heritage (cemetery and archival records) with identity (demographics) and will help facilitate the relation of research findings to a more systematic data collection on Chinese Singaporean history.

PI & Co-PI(s): Kenneth Dean, Ong Chang Woei, Koh Khee Heong & Hue Guan Thye

Funding Agency: National Heritage Board Heritage Research Grant
Project Duration: 1 January 2017 – 30 September 2018