Chinese Special Collections

   Wei Tingsheng（1890－1977）, who styled himself as "Shenfu", "Chengfu" and "Jingye",  was a native of Zaoyang, Hubei Province. He was famous as a Min Kuo economist and historian.

• In 1906, he went to Japan and received his education at Taisei Middle School. In 1911, he went to the United States to further his studies. He attended Michigan State University and Harvard University, and received master's degrees in business administration and literature. He was proficient in six languages including Chinese, English, French, German, Russian and Japanese.
• In 1920, after returning to his home country, he started to teach at Nanjing Higher Normal School, participated in organizing National Southeast University. In 1921, he went to Beijing, and served at the Economic Discussion Center run by an American. Later he worked as Secretary of the Bank of China, Head Office, and meanwhile, he taught at Yenching University, Chaoyang Institute and Salt Trade School.
• In 1927, after Nanjing National Government was established, Wei Tingsheng served as Customs Tax Department Chief. He was also a professor of economics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
• In 1928, he joined the Legislative Council of the Nanjing National Government and was involved in the design of the Financial Management Act, drafted Bond Law, Budget Law, Statistics Law, Accounting Law, Accounts Act, Government Law and other financial regulations.
• In 1934, he initiated the establishment of Chinese Accounting Society with Eric Pan, Xu Yongzuo, and he served as Director.
• In 1938, he was appointed member of the Hubei Provincial Government, and soon left off his post, but he continued working as a full-time legislator, and acted as Chairman of Legal Committee and the vice chairman of Tobacco Monopoly Bureau. He was also Head of the Department of Economics, Fudan University, and a professor of the Institute of Central Political Studies. He presided over the drafting of the Company Law, and was involved in the drafting and amendment of Land Law, Constitution.
• In 1943, he drafted Local Tax Regulations.
• In 1944, as advisor of Chinese financial delegation, he attended the Conference of International Association of Stabilization Fund, which was held in the United States. China was elected permanent member of the International Association of Stabilization Fund. It thus became one of the top four among international financial organizations and maintained its status for a long period of time.
• In 1948, he went to Hong Kong, and gave lectures in Sha Tin Overseas Business School, Hong Kong College, New Asia College, and Zhuhai Academies.
• In the autumn of 1949, he went to Taiwan and taught in National Taiwan University.
• In 1953, he transferred to University of the Philippines and taught there as a professor.
• In 1956, he returned to Harvard University and engaged in the study of botany.
• In May 1977, he passed away in California.

卫挺生（1890－1977），字申父、琛甫，号经野。湖北省枣阳县人，民国经济学家、历史学家。