He taught courses on the history of the Middle East and its relationship with the West at Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1961 to 1988.
Pennsylvania missionary Calvin Staudt founded the school with his wife Ida.
Joseph arrived in 1946, received his degree from F&M in 1950, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University.
In his long teaching career at F&M, he inspired many students, including business executive Andrew Schindler, class of 1972, who contributed the leading sum for the construction of the "John Joseph International Center" at F&M, dedicated to the study of the world's languages, culture, history and politics.
Following his retirement from full-time teaching, Joseph has held the title of Lewis Audenreid Professor Emeritus of History.