UBC Archives has received the Norman Epstein fonds, an archival collection that captures the life and career of Dr. Norman Epstein (1923-2023), a pioneering figure in chemical and biological engineering and political activist.
Born in Montreal, Dr. Epstein earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from McGill University before completing his doctorate at New York University. He joined UBC in 1951 as an instructor of chemical engineering and served as a full professor from 1965 until his retirement in 1988. At UBC, he rapidly established himself as a leading expert in the field of chemical engineering and taught in UBC’s Arts One program, an interdisciplinary course designed to foster critical thinking among first-year students. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Epstein is best known for his definitive work on spouted beds, a key area of research in chemical engineering.
Photo: A copy of Spouted Beds, translated into Russian.
From the biographic sketch in UBC Archive’s inventory, Dr. Epstein was a celebrated academic and a passionate advocate for social and political causes, making his archives a treasure trove for researchers across disciplines. The fonds include personal papers, published works, and correspondence, which offer a deep dive into both his professional achievements and his personal convictions.
Photo: Handwritten notes on index cards, written by Dr. Epstein.
One of the most striking aspects of the collection is the breadth of Dr. Epstein’s interests: “Outside of his professional activities, he was involved in the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Amnesty International and Engineers for Nuclear Disarmament,” says Erwin Wodarczak, Interim Head of UBC Archives. “He spoke on various social and political topics, such as socialism, anarchism, anti-Semitism, Arab-Israeli relations, and the Cold War, and corresponded regularly with prominent social critic Noam Chomsky.”
Dr. Epstein’s activism is well-documented in the fonds, which include speeches, handwritten notes and even index cards from talks he gave on topics such as political radicalism and anti-Semitism. “Dr. Epstein did not shy away from controversial topics,” Wodarczak notes.
Photo: A copy of a speech given by Dr. Epstein, written in pen on lined sheets, next to a program for a presentation by Noam Chomsky.
For researchers, the Norman Epstein archives offer a multifaceted resource, covering a range of topics, from chemical engineering to social activism and the history of UBC. “This collection is a valuable starting point for anyone interested in the recent history of the university, as well as the social and political issues that Dr. Epstein championed,” says Wodarczak.
A complete inventory of the archive is available to view on the library website