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Mr Koh Choon
Joo
The NUS Law Library entered
a major chapter in its history on 1 January 2001,
when it was renamed the C J Koh Law Library. All this was made possible with the generous donation from
the late philanthropist and lawyer, Mr Koh Choon Joo, fondly known as Mr C J
Koh. The late Mr Koh's pledge of $5 million in 1997 made it possible
for the law library to embark on an extensive renovation and
extension project in July 2000 at Kent Ridge. This culminated in the
official opening of the C J Koh Law Library under its new name on 27
February 2002.The late Mr Koh’s generous nature can be seen
in his many donations to various educational institutions. NUS has
benefited greatly from Mr C J Koh’s donation of more than 7
million, which includes a $5 million pledge for the Law Library
building, $2 million to set up the C J Koh Professorship in Law
(launched in October 1996), $200,000 for two law scholarships, a donation of $500,000 to the NUS
Endowment Fund to initiate acquisition of law books for the C J Koh
Collection at the Law Library and $30,000 to kick-start this
collection.
Mr C J Koh was born in Indonesia in 1901, the
second son of Mr Koh Ijin Keng. His father, a merchant from Tegal,
Java, Dutch East Indies, sent him to England at the tender age of
six for his early education. He stayed with a Welsh family and did
his early studies in North Wales. He later proceeded to London,
where he was admitted to the Middle Temple on 17 March 1925. Our
research shows that Mr C J Koh was called to the Bar at the Middle
Temple on 26 January 1928. He was described in the Middle Temple
records as being 28 years old, a headmaster holding a B.A. (Wales)
and being resident at 5 Talgarth Road, West Kensington, W14. Upon
being called, Mr Koh came to Singapore and joined Sir Ong Siang Song
in his law firm and practised law till he set up his own practice.
Mr Koh is remembered as a quiet and reserved
individual. He enjoyed writing poetry and fiction. He read the works
of great philosophers, like Socrates and Aristotle and even kept a
scrap book with his thoughts on these philosophical works and his
own observations on life. He was an enthusiastic artist and avid art
collector. In his retirement years, he completed some 400 oil
paintings, several of which are now displayed in the C J Koh Art Gallery
in the Law Library. A
self-taught artist, Mr Koh only stopped painting when he was too
feeble to do so. As a lawyer, he inspired great loyalty among his
clients, so much so they always insisted that he was their lawyer
when they needed legal advice. He also served as a magistrate in the
Juvenile Court in Singapore in an honorary capacity at the age of
50. This remarkable and unassuming gentleman passed away peacefully
on 6 September 1997, at the ripe old age of 96.
NUS will always remember the generosity and
vision of this remarkable man. The C J Koh Law Library, in
particular, wishes to express its sincere gratitude and thanks to
the late Mr Koh. His invaluable donation has helped the Law Library
take its place among the premier law libraries of the world. We
would also like to express our gratitude to his Trustee, Mr Ong
Tiong Tat for his sincerity and enthusiasm in perpetuating Mr C J
Koh’s name and vision.
Written by Mrs
Thavamani Kumar
1 January 2001
(Revised 15 September 2006)
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