WHAT RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS DATABASE?

This database contains mainly photographs transferred to the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) from public offices such as the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), Singapore Tourism Board and the Istana. These photographs capture official and other events relating to Singapore over the years.

Apart from these official photographs, the database also has photographs donated to the NAS by private individuals and organisations. One example is the collection of photographs donated by Mr P S Teo, one of Singapore's most accomplished photographers, which portray the people of Singapore over a good part of the 20th century. Such photographs are thus invaluable records of the cultural and social history of Singapore.

NAS may not have photographs of certain time periods or subject matters as these were not transferred or donated to us. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, you may wish to refer to other photograph databases such as National Library Board's PictureSg and Singapore Tourism Board's digital library.

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HOW DO I VIEW RECORDS?

Both the metadata and low resolution copies of photographs are made available on the database. For selected photographs featuring important personalities, only thumbnails are made available on the database.

We do not provide the original records for viewing as these are kept in a controlled and secured environment for long-term preservation and it is necessary to minimise handling and movements of these records.

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HOW DO I REQUEST FOR COPIES OF RECORDS?

Should you wish to request for copies of certain records, please refer to the Ordering section.

Please note copyright matters and access conditions. National Archives of Singapore may in most cases, but not always, be able to give you details of the copyright owner.

Unauthorised use or reproduction of any record from Archives Online constitutes copyright violation.

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HOW DO I GIVE COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK?

You can leave a comment or feedback via the Contact Us section. Alternatively, you can also drop us an email at nas@nlb.gov.sg and we will respond within 5 working days. If more time is needed to respond to you, we will let you know.

If you would like to comment on a particular record while viewing the record on Archives Online, please click on the "do you have more information on this record" link. We will review all comments and respond to your feedback.

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