Lee donation creates fund for history, government books at UWM library

Mordecai Lee, UWM professor emeritus, has made a generous donation to the UWM Libraries to create a named fund to acquire books on the subjects of U.S. history, American government, public administration and Jewish studies.

Lee made the gift not only to extend the libraries’ collection funds, but also to inspire others to consider the libraries in their financial plans. After dedicating his latest book to the Golda Meir Library, he decided that wasn’t enough.

Mordecai Lee

“I wanted to do something concrete to demonstrate what the library meant to me,” Lee said. “I was happy to learn that the library offered donors the opportunity to establish funds around their areas of interest… The library had an option for a named endowment that was much more within reach of people like me, beginning at $50,000. I was so happy to sign up.”

Michael Doylen, assistant vice provost and director of the Libraries, said that gifts like Lee’s are important.

“We are deeply appreciative of Mordecai’s gift,” says Doylen said. “We hope that his example may help stimulate other library supporters to consider similar actions… Endowed funds go a long way to assuring that the library’s collection will continue to meet the needs of generations of future students and faculty.”

Lee joined UWM’s faculty in 1997 as an assistant professor of governmental affairs in the School of Continuing Education and retired in 2018 as professor of urban planning in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning. In 2002, he received the Libraries’ Fromkin Grant and Lecture award.

While at UWM, Lee authored 11 books and more than 70 articles in scholarly journals with extensive assistance from the Libraries.

Top Stories