Never before published photos of Singapore from the early days of nationhood by an American diplomat based here from 1965-1970. The collection commemorates SG50 and offers a startling contrast to the modern metropolis that is Singapore today.
John Wiley & Sons Singapore Pte Ltd is delighted to commemorate
Singapore’s Golden Jubilee with the publication of Singapore
Sixties: An Age of Discovery, a collection of never-before
published photographs of Singapore from the early days of nationhood by
an American diplomat.
George W. Porter was Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in
Singapore from 1965 to 1970. A former journalist and amateur
photographer, Porter captured thousands of images during his five-year
diplomatic tour in Singapore.
“Through his camera’s lens, we see Singapore in its infancy: a nation
still unsure of its identity, unaware of the heights it would achieve.
The street scenes depicting store signs in English, Chinese, and Malay
display the vibrant ethnic diversity of Singapore that is still
celebrated today,” said Kirk Wagar, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore in the
book’s Foreword.
“The energy and promise on display is due in no small part to one man:
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first and founding Prime Minister. His
philosophy of transparent and pragmatic governance transformed a tiny
city-state without natural resources into one of the great
nation-building success stories in history,” he wrote.
The photographs, most in black and white, feature Singaporeans young and
old, street scenes of a bygone era and a strong maritime theme, when the
Singapore River was the country’s main trade artery.
For the Porter family, this book has been a labor of love. “George was
and is a student of humanity,” the Porters said in the book’s
acknowledgment. “It was the people of Singapore, with all their vibrancy
and cultural diversity that he strived to capture through his lens.
Fifty years ago, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and the citizens of Singapore took the
first steps to transform a tiny new country into a model city-state and
global economic powerhouse. Their energy and passion sparked George’s
creative desire to document their first steps into independence.”
According to Eric Chin, Director of the National Archives of Singapore,
“A newly found National Day Rally speech from 1968 in the Archives shows
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew speaking in glowing terms during that period: ‘It’s
been a splendid year. The figures sparkle and speak for themselves. But
even more important than the economic and material progress, is the
blossoming, the burgeoning of our younger generation, as we see our
plans being matched in the performance and the promise of the generation
to come.'”
Prescient words and 50 years on, a promise fulfilled.
“A lot can happen in 50 years,” said Ambassador Wagar. “These photos
inspire us to wonder what we should expect from Singapore on its 100th
anniversary. As we have learned from its history, when talking about
Singapore, the future possibilities are limitless.”
“This collection offers a startling contrast to the bustling modern
metropolis that is Singapore today,” said Erik Thrasher, Wiley's General
Manager, Knowledge Services, Asia. “It captures an emerging nation on
the cusp of its promise and on its way to realizing the remarkable
vision of its founding father, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.”
Limited copies of Singapore Sixties: An Age of Discovery (August
2015; ISBN: 978-1-119-186830; 152 pages; Hardcover; S$29.91 with
GST) will be for sale at all major bookstores from September
2015. Pre-ordering is available from John
Wiley & Sons Singapore Pte. Ltd. Email: csd_order@wiley.com or
call +65 6643-8333.
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Contact the publicists:
Sharifah Sharomsah
Publicist
skbsharoms@wiley.com
+65 6643-8099
or
CJ Hwu
Senior Editor
chwu@wiley.com
+65 6643-8000