By Sim Chuin Peng, Marcus Wong, Shelley Wu, Nur Diyana & Chow Chai Khim

 

We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of private papers belonging to philanthropist Yeap Chor Ee (1867-1952), the legendary “Grand Old Man of Penang” who founded Penang’s first local bank, Ban Hin Lee, in 1918. This invaluable collection features documents related to the Ban Hin Lee Bank as well as other materials that shed light on Yeap Chor Ee’s extraordinary life and accomplishments. The papers have been added to NUS Libraries’ special collections, which also hosts private papers from notable individuals such as the late actor Bai Yan, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo, the fifth Earl of Cranbrook, and Dr Koh Kim Yam.

Similar to these private papers, Yeap Chor Ee’s private papers has been digitised and made accessible to students, researchers and the public through Digital Gems, NUS Libraries’ gateway to rare, historical, and primary source materials in digital format. Visit https://digitalgems.nus.edu.sg/browse/collection/82544 to access the Yeap Chor Ee private papers digitally.

Highlights of Yeap Chor Ee’s private papers include:

1. Yeap Family Genealogical Records (叶氏族谱), 5 Volumes
   In 2004, Yeap Leong Huat, grandson of Yeap Chor Ee, funded a research team of historians and translators to trace the Yeap family genealogy. They documented close to 3,000 names from 117 generations, dating back 2,500 years to the first progenitor.

2. Republic of China Passport of Yik Tsoo Yee (Yeap Chor Ee / 叶祖意), Issued on 21 August 1924
   The passport (Merchant no. 7773) issued by the Director of the Emigration Bureau for Kiangsu, Shanghai, includes a translation stating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China requests all civil and military authorities of foreign states to allow Mr Yik Tsoo Yee pass freely while travelling to Singapore.

3. Ban Hin Lee Bank Directors’ Minute Book 23 October 1935 to 24 June 1968
   This record book served as the bank’s Company Minutes from 1935 until 1968. The Minutes reveal some interesting facts, such as pre-war banking products offered, including current account facilities and overdrafts. The average loan size approved back in 1935 was $10,000, with the highest at $30,000.

4. Acknowledgement Letters on Yeap Chor Ee’s Donations to the University of Malaya Endowment Fund
   Between 1949 and 1950, Yeap Chor Ee generously donated a total of $250,000 to the University of Malaya to establish a Chinese Section in the Library, and to purchase Chinese books. His first donation of $100,000 in August 1949 marked the largest individual contribution to the university at the time. In March 1950, he donated an additional $50,000, followed by another $100,000 in July 1950. These letters of acknowledgment highlight the profound impact of his donations on the establishment of the university.

NUS University Librarian Associate Professor Natalie Pang, expressed her gratitude for this significant contribution, saying, “We are honoured to house Yeap Chor Ee’s private papers at NUS Libraries. This collection will undoubtedly enrich our archives and provide an unparalleled resource for those studying the history and development of Southeast Asia. We are committed to preserving and making these documents accessible to the academic community and the public.“

The collection illuminates the life and legacy of Yeap Chor Ee, offering insights into broader context of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia. This donation will serve as a precious resource for scholars, researchers, and future generations. Assistant Professor Dr Seng Guo Quan from the NUS Department of History, who specialises in Chinese societies in Southeast Asia, looks forward to the collection. He remarked, “Unlike government files, which are archived by law, private papers from prominent individuals in Singapore often lack a proper repository. This donation marks a promising start. Hopefully it will encourage more families to donate their business archives to libraries and research institutes.”

The Yeap family ceremoniously handed over their private papers at a special event hosted by NUS Libraries on 29 July 2024.
 

The occasion included a display of selected documents from the collection, along with a digital exhibition that illuminates the legacy of Yeap Chor Ee, offering attendees a glimpse into his life and the rich regional context surrounding his legacy.

Ms Daryl Yeap, the great-granddaughter of Yeap Chor Ee, shared insights from her extensive research and the process for writing her latest books: King’s Chinese: From Barber to Banker, the Story of Yeap Chor Ee and the Straits Chinese and As Equals: the Oei Women of Java. Both works delve into her family’s rich history, with the former drawing upon Yeap Chor Ee’s private papers as primary references. “I spent over a decade collecting these papers. They include rare materials such as my great-grandfather’s 1927 passport, Ban Hin Lee Bank’s minutes from the 1930s, and a ‘secret’ letter between (Tun) Tan Cheng Lock and my great-grandmother, Lee Cheng Kin. Not only are we confident that NUS Libraries will have the resources to preserve the papers and make them accessible to future generations, but my family is also leaving behind a part of my great-grandfather’s legacy in the institution he helped establish,” she said. Yeap Chor Ee donated $250,000 to the then University of Malaya to help set up the Chinese Section in the Library between 1949 and 1950.

 

A panel discussion, led by esteemed scholars, delved into the broader context of the Straits Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia. Through this interdisciplinary lens, we aimed to deepen our appreciation of the diverse experiences of diasporic communities and their invaluable contributions to the vibrant cultural landscape of Southeast Asia.

 

A painting of Oei Tiong Ham was also presented during the ceremony. “Oei Tiong Ham and Yeap Chor Ee were not only business partners and in-laws; they were also pioneering benefactors of education in British Malaya,” said Nunthinee Tanner, granddaughter in-law of Oei Tiong Ham. “My grandfather never had the opportunity to see the Oei Tiong Ham building which he donated towards, so I thought it would be meaningful to present his portrait that has been part of our family collection, to NUS in his memory,” she added. The painting of Oei Tiong Ham will be displayed at the Oei Tiong Ham Building at NUS’ Bukit Timah campus.