The Archive
This section is dedicated to my findings and notes on archival images, documents, and artifacts I come across.
I was inspired in part to dive into my family’s heritage because of some old slides my grandfather showed me. Most of then were of parties, events, and the Serani community - a community that was strong and close to one another. I had never felt this way personally towards this side of the family and it was something I tried to experience through these images.
Grandmothers Photo album
Notes:
Grandmother’s album was also shared by her sister. Images date back to when she was in Primary school, and possibly older.
Family lived in a very rural area, traditional kampung house and dirt roads.
Several studio portraits of family members included.
One image has a handwritten exerpt of poem by William Wordsworth:
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass,
of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
Grandfathers Slides
Notes:
Many slides are damaged due to improper storage and humidity. At one point in time my Grandparents house was flooded, which may have caused some of the damage.
Personally I like the damage and obstruction of some images. It adds to the idea that this era in Serani culture is more distant and faded. The “golden age” as many of the older generation remember it is past.
Penang House of Music Archive
From a book on Euraisna heritage:
This is a page listing some loanwords and simmilarities between the portuguese language and Malay. This is no doubt evidence to promote the Eurasian connection and how the portuguese influenced Malay culture, strengthening the case for Bumiputera privelages.