The Archives of the Initial Dasheng Spinning Factory (1896-1907). [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Archives of the Initial Dasheng Spinning Factory (1896-1907), compiled by Nantong Municipal Archives, has been published by Tongji University Press.

Founded in 1895 in Nantong, Jiangsu province, Dasheng Spinning Factory rose to become a leading enterprise in the burgeoning cotton industry of China and East Asia. Its founder, Zhang Jian (1853-1926), was a pioneer in embracing corporate social responsibility, forging a development path where businesses not only pursued profit but also aimed to improve social conditions.

"The true value of these archives lies in their documentation of Zhang Jian's entrepreneurial spirit, which harmonizes practical innovation with social responsibility. It transcends mere business history, becoming a significant spiritual legacy," said Zhu Jiang, the chief editor of the publication and a researcher at the Nantong Municipal Archives.

"In compiling this collection, our goal was not just to list documents but to illuminate Zhang's dedication to society through them," Zhu added.

The compilation, completed over a year and a half, is presented in both Chinese and English. It features high-quality reproductions of archival materials accompanied by concise captions. The editors selected over 220 representative documents from Dasheng's extensive early archives, organizing them into two main sections: "From Corporate Assets to Human Memory" and "Business with a Confucian Approach".

The book explores 12 key aspects, including Zhang Jian's archival awareness and management systems, the formation of the archives themselves, the path to global recognition, funding, management practices, industrial expansion, and social responsibility initiatives.

The Nantong Municipal Archives houses 205 volumes of the early Dasheng Spinning Factory archives. These documents form the core body of material related to Zhang Jian and Dasheng, chronicling the factory's rise.

In 2022, this invaluable collection passed the UNESCO review and was successfully included in the Memory of the World Regional Register for Asia-Pacific. This distinction marked the 14th entry from China and the second from Jiangsu province to be included in the register.