Vogt, Resnick & Sherak, LLP Coordinates Generous Gift of the Personal Papers of Wang Jingwei, the Leader of China under Japanese Occupation, to Stanford University’s Hoover Institution
During a typical estate planning meeting, Barnet Resnick, the founding partner of Vogt, Resnick & Sherak, LLP (“VRS”), asked a basic question: “Well, what’s in the chest?” This question led to an unexpected journey through Chinese history, beginning during the Qing dynasty, proceeding through Japan’s WWII occupation of China, and ending with a generous gift of historical writings and artwork to Stanford University.
VRS’s long-term client, a granddaughter of Wang Jingwei, possessed a chest previously owned by her grandfather. The chest held many of her grandfather’s writings and artwork. On the surface, this is nothing extraordinary. Many clients of VRS own antiques which have been passed down through the generations. Those antiques are often stuffed with family photos, diaries, and other items. But Wang Jingwei was indeed extraordinary.
Wang Jingwei was an important political figure in twentieth century China. He was a jailed revolutionary, a rival of, and collaborator with, Chiang Kai-shek in pre-WWII China, and chairman of the Japanese-sanctioned Chinese government during the WWII occupation. Wang Jingwei’s writings and artwork provide an incredible look into Chinese history from 1900 to 1944.
VRS worked with our client and her family to arrange for the papers and artwork to be reviewed, catalogued, and appraised. VRS also assisted the client’s family in a search for a permanent home for these documents and helped negotiate the family’s gift to Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
More about Wang Jingwei and the gift of his personal papers and artwork can be learned about here: https://www.hoover.org/news/hoover-acquires-personal-papers-wang-jingwei-top-leader-chinese-nationalist-party-and-prominent