Stories from Medan, Volume 1
- Unveils Medan’s history in English, a narrative largely untold in international historical literature
- Blends extensive archival research with personal interviews, offering a vivid, personal perspective on Medan’s past
- Highlights the significant contributions of the Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, and European communities
This book offers a comprehensive exploration of Medan’s development, blending rigorous research with narrative flair to recreate the historical ambience of the city and its people. Divided into three sections, the book delves into the evolution of Medan and its strategic role in the plantation economy, examines the lives and contributions of its prominent Chinese community, and follows the rise and fall of European and Chinese enterprises.
The book draws upon multiple historical archives from the Netherlands, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Switzerland, and many more, combined with images and interviews. Together, these resources provide a compelling backdrop to the narratives of influential figures and also everyday people. By situating local developments within the broader context of global events—such as economic and political shifts in Asia—the book provides a thorough understanding of Medan’s role as a truly cosmopolitan city in the Dutch Indies. The book is designed to invite readers into a unique past, using language and place names of the era to enhance authenticity.
“What a lovely book, enhanced as it is by so many rare photographs. The authors should be congratulated. They have produced a fitting tribute to a fine city and its cosmopolitan inhabitants both old and new. Filled with the historical detail that will interest scholars, Stories from Medan should also appeal to a broad, general, readership. I look forward to the next two volumes.” —Dr Michael R. Godley, author of The Mandarin-Capitalists
from Nanyang, Australia
“Budiman Minasny and Dirk Aedsge Buiskool take the highly readable approach of presenting Medan through stories of its inhabitants and visitors… The book will be of interest to both specialists in Indonesian or urban Southeast Asian history, and general audiences who wish to expand their understanding of Indonesia. It will also be of interest to Chinese-background audiences in Southeast Asia, and to those teaching and researching in the field of the Nanyang or ‘Overseas Chinese.” —Professor Adrian Vickers, The University of Sydney, author of A History of Modern Indonesia, Australia
For Australia and New Zealand. Postage to other countries may incur additional charges.
Chinese Figures of Medan and East Sumatra 1880-1960 Book
Just Published!
This book tells the story of more than one hundred Chinese individuals who helped shape Medan and the East Coast of Sumatra between 1880 and 1960. Drawn from archival sources, historical publications, and interviews, it traces the lives of merchants, educators, journalists, community leaders, philanthropists, artists, and independence fighters whose contributions left a lasting mark on the region. More than a biographical collection, this book is a social history of migration, identity, and belonging in one of Southeast Asia’s most important urban centres.
“The biographies presented in this volume are not only an important research and database tool for those with an interest in the Chinese in Indonesia, and particularly Sumatra at that time, but they also present a fascinating introduction to the social history of Chinese communities in the region during the 19th and 20th Centuries. ” David S G Goodman, The University of Sydney.
ISBN: 78-1-7646955-0-3
258 pages, soft cover
For Australia and New Zealand postage. Postage to other countries may incur additional charges.
