The Libraries are pleased to announce a gift from Nors and Waltraut Josephson to establish the Nors S. Josephson and Waltraut Abstein-Josephson Library Endowed Fund in support of the research collections in Langson Library.

"The Josephsons' generous gift is a significant investment in enhancing the excellence of our collections and sustaining the quality of faculty research and student academic achievement across the campus," said University Librarian Gerry Munoff. "Their recognition of the essential role the collections play in the intellectual life of our faculty and students is extremely gratifying."

The Libraries' relationship with Nors Josephson began when he was a Music Professor at CSU Fullerton from 1975-1992, and would often take the bus to UCI and spend the day doing research in the music collections at the Langson Library (the former Main Library). "I used the Libraries' collections extensively while a professor and they had a great impact on my teaching and research," said Josephson, "so it gives me a lot of satisfaction to strengthen them for future generations of students and faculty."

Nors Josephson was born in Palo Alto, CA, and was trained to become a concert pianist, studying at the Mannheimer Musikhochschule in Germany during the late 1950s. Subsequently, he received his B.A. in Music from UC Riverside in 1965, and his M.A. and Ph.D from Berkeley with a specialization in music of the Catholic Church. His teaching assignments took him to Smith College and then Cal State Fullerton where, as Professor of Music, he developed new music curricula, including innovative courses in rock and roll and in world-wide ethnic music.

Following his retirement in 1992, Josephson and his wife, Waltraut, resettled in Deidesheim, Germany. The Libraries have continued to support Dr. Josephson's extensive research and ongoing pursuits since that time. In May of 2006, Josephson returned to UCI to give an impressive piano concert and lecture in Smith Hall.

For further information about this gift or the Libraries' Building Collections of Excellence initiative, please contact Julie Sully at 949.824.4658 or jsully@uci.edu.