Anatol Josepho

Anatol M. Josepho (March 31, 1894 - December 1980), born Anatol Josephewitz, was a socialist Siberian immigrant to the United States of America, who in 1925 invented and patented the photo booth. In 1927, he was paid one million dollars for the invention, half of which he gave to charity.

He married an actress named Ganna and had two sons and seven grandchildren.After selling the patent rights for the photobooth, he moved to Los Angeles where he patented several other inventions including the one-knob shower handle. He also bought and developed real estate in California.Philanthropic activities included the Boy Scouts of America (Camp Josepho) and the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa.

"Camp Josepho was given to the Crescent Bay District, BSA, in 1941 by Anatol and Ganna Josepho as an expression of gratitude to his adopted land. Since that time Camp Josepho has been used by scouts and scouters, schools, and religious and community organizations for day, weekend and weeklong retreats. Well over 1 million scouts have stayed at Camp Josepho. " When the donation of 110 acres of land (near Brentwood and Santa Monica) was made, it was valued at 55 million dollars, making it the largest single donation in Boy Scout history.

In 1980 he was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Technology by the Technion which also named a building in his honor.

He died from complications of a stroke in late 1980.

References

* U.S. Social Security Death Index
* The Photo Booth: A Portrait Studio of One's Own [http://www.photobooth.net/in_print/newspapers.php?newspaperID=22] (photobooth.net)
* [http://www.bsa-la.org/camping/josepho/josepho.html Camp Josepho]