James Coover

A Music and Copyright scholar passes on ...

Anthony

I am sorry to bring you the sad news that Jim Coover passed away last Friday, May 28, 2004. Condolences can be sent to Mrs. Coover at 735 Renaissance Drive, Apt. 105, Williamsville, NY 14221-8041.

-Nancy Nuzzo

James Burrell Coover
June 3, 1925 - May 28, 2004

In an era of increasing specialization, the career of James Coover stands out for the breadth of his contributions to the fields of music bibliography and librarianship. Over the course of his forty-eight year career as music educator, librarian, and administrator, Mr. Coover produced more than thirty published articles, numerous book and record reviews, and ten books on subjects that include music lexicography, music bibliography, music publishing and printing, antiquarian catalogues, discographies of jazz and medieval music, musical instrument collections, music theory, and collection development.

James Coover earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in music theory at the University of Northern Colorado and an M.A. degree in library science from the University of Denver. While working on his library science degree, Mr. Coover also worked as the Assistant Director of the Bibliographical Center for Research, Rocky Mountain Region in Denver.

Upon the completion of his degree in 1953, Mr. Coover accepted the job as Director of the George Sherman Dickinson Music Library at Vassar College. While at Vassar Mr. Coover also taught in the music department, including courses in music bibliography and jazz history. Mr. Coover's strong interest in contemporary music led him to found Vassar's Faculty Study Group on Avant-Garde Music in 1965. Mr. Coover also continued to work as a performing musician, playing percussion with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Society from 1959 to 1967 while serving as the personnel and special concerts manager of the organization.

In 1967 Mr. Coover moved to Buffalo to become the Director of the Music Library at the University at Buffalo. He and the Associate Director of the Music Library, Carol June Bradley, effectively built from scratch a music library capable of supporting graduate programs in music. They also established a dual degree program in music librarianship and music history that has been very successful at training qualified music librarians. Mr. Coover's contributions to the university community were recognized on several occasions: he was named the Birge-Cary Professor from 1974 to 1976, and 1978 to 1981; he served as the Ziegele Professor from 1981 until his retirement in 1999, and was named a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in 1992.

James Coover also demonstrated a commitment to service in the wider community of music librarianship and music education. He served as President of the Music Library Association from 1959 to 1960 and on several MLA committees as well, including the Board of Directors (1987-1990), the Publications Committee (1956-1958, 1966-1969, 1975-1978), and the Finance Committee (1967-1969, 1976-1980). The Music Library Association honored his distinguished service to the organization in 1990 by awarding him the MLA Citation. Received on Tue Jun 01 2004 - 23:30:40 GMT