The C J Koh Collection was set up thanks to the generosity of the late Mr Koh Choon Joo, who donated $500,000 towards the NTU Endowment Fund on his 96th birthday on 1 January 1997, plus an additional donation of $30,000 for the initial purchase of books/library materials. Established in memory of Mr Koh's late wife, Pradap Kow, who was a teacher at the old CHIJ in Victoria Street, the C J Koh Collection will focus on teachers, teacher education/training and teaching methods.

Browse the collection via the Virtual Gallery here.

About Mr C J Koh

Born in Indonesia, Mr Koh was sent to North Wales by his father at the age of six. He stayed with a Welsh family and did his early studies at a grammar school in Llarwst, Betwsy-Coed. He read law at the Middle Temple in London. He was called to the bar upon his return to Singapore and joined Sir Ong Siang Song's law firm. Later he set up his own practice - C J Koh & Co. At the age of fifty, Mr Koh attained the level of Juvenile Court Magistrate.

Mr Koh enjoyed writing poetry and fiction, and reading the works of philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle. He was also an enthusiastic artist and art collector. A self-taught artist, he had done about 400 oil paintings since his retirement.

In 1988, Mr Koh suffered a stroke and became bedridden. He stayed with his trustee, Mr Ong Tiong Tat, who was like a son to him, till he passed away on 6 September 1997. Mr Ong Tiong Tat and his wife Irene continued Mr Koh's philanthropic mission until Mr Ong's death in 2013 at age 74 and Mrs Ong's death at age 73 in 2016.