On November 24, 2025, a team from the Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Library visited the Kunshan Archives for a professional exchange and tour. University Librarian Mengjie Zou, Data and Visualization Librarian Siti Lei, and Archives and Special Collections Librarian Ryder Kouba were warmly received by Ms. Su Ye, Deputy Director of the Kunshan Archives. During the visit, the Archives generously donated a set of Kunshan Local Gazettes to the DKU Library, contributing valuable resources to the university’s growing archives and special collections.
From left to right: Siti Lei, Su Ye, Mengjie Zou, Ryder Kouba with gift of Kunshan Local Gazetteers
The visit included a guided tour of an exhibition of the history of Kunshan from around 5,000 BC to current day. The exhibition features an extensive collection of documents, photographs, and artifacts that illustrate the city’s rich historical and cultural legacy.
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Highlights included the Kunshan’s military struggles of the Taiping Rebellion and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to the daily lives of local citizens documented through community-collected materials. The last exhibit featured the economic growth of Kunshan and its international connections, including a gift from Duke's Fuqua School of Business.
Gift from Duke Fuqua School of Business to Kunshan
"The Archives staff were lovely and very accommodating of our questions," said Ryder Kouba. "We're excited about the resources there available for faculty, staff, and students as well as the potential for collaboration in the future."
Su Ye showing Kunshan Gazetteers
The preservation of historically valuable documents and images is made possible not by chance, but through the dedicated efforts of individuals who maintain their records and the archivists and librarians who safeguard them. As the DKU Archives continues to develop after only 18 months, the visit serves as a timely reminder of the ongoing work required to preserve institutional and community history for future generations.
Kunshan Archives Bureau
The Kunshan Archives reading room is open to the public, while visits to the exhibition require an appointment made in advance.
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Content: Ryder Kouba, Cai Yan
Photo: Ryder Kouba, Mengjie Zou, Siti Lei
