Joe Shoong's great-granddaughter (right), who now resides in the UK, returned to her hometown in March this year. [Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily]

Joe Shoong, also known as Zhou Song, an overseas Chinese of Zhongshan, was born in Longtouhuan Village in Shaxi Town. After years of arduous pioneering, he become a well-known Chinese businessman and philanthropist in the United States. Joe Shoong devoted his whole life to education and made countless donations to the benefit of Chinese people at home and abroad. He left a considerable material and spiritual heritage to the world and especially his hometown.

Moved by Joe Shoong's outstanding contribution, He Haidi, an associate research librarian of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan Institute, started his research on Joe Shoong's course of struggle years ago, hoping to fully present Joe Shoong's business experience and social contribution as well as to carry forward his valuable patriotic and hometown-loving spirit.

Born in 1879, Joe Shoong emigrated to the United States to do business at the age of 19. He founded the China Toggery store in 1903 and changed the name to the National Dollar Stores in 1928.

In 1938, Time Magazine reported Joe Shoong's story, saying that he was the "richest, best-known Chinese businessman and philanthropist in the United States".

According to Annuals of Zhongshan Overseas Chinese Affairs, "China Toggery closed in 1997, but the century-old brand has created a brilliant history for the department store industry in the United States."

Compared with the Big Four Department Stores and their founders, there are few historical materials and photos of Joe Shoong in China, He Haidi said. Therefore, a few years ago, he turned his eyes to foreign research materials. "I found the genealogy website created by Joe Shoong's descendants, and luckily I have established contact with several of his family members.”

Joe Shoong donated school, landscape work in his hometown and supported Longtouhuan Village to become a model township in Zhongshan during the period of Republic of China. Besides, his charitable donation in the United States covered a wide range of areas in particular the field of education. 

More honorably, Joe Shoong's children inherited his father's philanthropic spirit. In October 2011, University of Nevada, Las Vegas received the largest ever donation of 15 million dollar from Joe Shoong's daughter and her family.

As narrated by Joe Shoong's daughter Doris, her father's engagement in education is firstly due to the influence by the Chinese traditional culture, which appeals people to repay their hometown after getting rich. Secondly, he believed improved education could guarantee the status of overseas Chinese.

In order to advance and enrich Joe Shoong's patriotic and hometown-loving spirit, his descendants intend to donate some historical materials to Zhongshan. The proposal is now under consultation.