National Library Talk 19 May 2012 Finding my family roots: Upline Tan Tock Seng & Lim Boon Keng & Seow Poh Leng

1. Bridging your past
with the present:
Tracing your family history
Saturday, 19 May, 5.00 pm – 6.30 pm
Possibility Room, Level 5, National Library
Building

2. SERENDIPITY:
the faculty or
phenomenon of finding
valuable or agreeable
things not sought for;

3. • From as early as I can
remember (circa 1950)
my mother used to refer
to “Bukit Brown”
• But she never said what
was there, nor did she
ever bring us there

4. • 1979 The Rafflesian
Roots Contest
• Spans more than 120
years
• Covers 4 generations
• Includes 45 Rafflesians

5. 1979 EMBRYONIC FAMILY TREE
2012 FAMILY TREE 2,200 NAMES

6. • 2002, 2005, 2008 (+ BKK), 2011(+XIAMEN)
TTS REUNIONS

7. • 2003
TAN KIM CHING

8. TAN KIM CHING, CHANGI, CIRCA 1892

9. • 2009
TAN BOO LIAT

10. • OCTOBER 2011 LAWRENCE TAN, RAYMOND GOH

11. • LIM TRIO

12. • ACCIDENTAL
TEA MASTER

13. • GGM MRS SEOW CHYE WATT,
MDM YEO BUAY NEO

16. • Ode to my Great Great Great Grand Father
My Great Great Great Grand Father's Tomb!
I stand before him, silent, in respect and awe.
His genes embedded in every cell of mine,
We are bonded though the course of time.
My Great Great Great Grand Father's Tomb!
I sit beside him, sunlight streaming through the trees.
I sense inner warmth and joy sublime:
Habitat Heritage History entwine.
My Great Great Great Grand Father's Tomb!
The white stakes declare a restless future:
His eyeless sockets shedding copious tears-
That eight lane highway: unspoken fears!
My Great Great Great Grand Father's Tomb!
"Could you not beg them to let us rest in peace?"
His silenced tongue in eloquence loudly says :
His bony hands grasp me in one last fond embrace.