Upon her death, Josephine Hall donated her entire estate to five different organizations that were important to her. Courtesy of USFSP
By Juliet Di Preta
A redesign plan for the first floor of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library is in the works after Josephine Hall, a longtime patron of the arts and USF St. Petersburg community member, left behind a generous $2 million donation.
Before dying at the age of 98, Hall shared a deep devotion to art, music and culture.
In addition to her apartment near Central Park in New York, she also owned a condo across the street from USF St. Petersburg, where she would frequently visit the library and attend campus events and lectures.
She had a strong relationship with the the campus for decades, including attending history, art and psychology classes as a senior citizen auditor for a few years, starting in 1983.
Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock announced Hall’s donation Oct. 25 at a campus board meeting. Hall allocated $1 million to the library specifically, and Tadlock decided the other million would go toward supporting the arts through a new visual arts program in honor of Hall.
“We are honored to receive this generous gift from Ms. Hall and truly appreciate her dedication to the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library and to USF St. Petersburg as an institution,” Tadlock said in a news release. “Her donation allows us to further enhance our incredible library and invest in the arts. This gift will impact the lives of our students far into the future.”
A campus-wide challenge has been issued by Tadlock for the university community to raise a matching $1 million of its own to go toward the library and the development of the new visual arts program.
“Josephine Hall is fondly remembered as someone who saw the library as a place that inspires lifelong learning and intellectual transformation,” said Catherine Cardwell, the dean of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, in the release.
“Her gift will directly support the student experience at USFSP as well as our commitment to the intellectual and cultural life of our community. Ms. Hall’s generosity will touch the intellectual lives of our students and community for years to come,” she said.
Some of the bigger renovation plans for the first floor of the library will include multiple entries, infrastructure upgrades in regards to power and technology, and optimization of outside views and daylighting.
Allowing 24/7 access to the library may also be part of the upgrades, a benefit that has been long-awaited by students.
Smaller changes can also be expected, like bigger tables, comfortable furnishings, student storage areas and more study spaces.
