Otto Kinkeldey
Encyclopedia
Otto Kinkeldey was an American
music librarian and musicologist. He was the first president of the American Musicological Society
and held the first chair in musicology at any American university.
Kinkeldey was born in New York on November 27, 1878. He received his B.A. in 1898 from City College of New York
and his M.A. from New York University
in 1900. In a somewhat unusual step for an American at the time, he studied for his doctorate at a German university, the Royal Academic Institute for Church Music in Berlin
, where he received his Ph.D. in 1909. Returning to New York, he served in the United States Army
during World War I
. He became head of the New York Public Library
's music division, serving in that capacity from 1915 to 1923.
In 1923, he moved to Cornell University
, becoming a professor of musicology and in 1930 the fourth librarian of the Cornell University Library
. Following his retirement in 1946, he continued to teach classes at Cornell and other universities. He was elected the first president of the American Musicological Society
in 1935, which honored him posthumously in creating the Otto Kinkeldey Award. The award is given each year to recognize the most distinguished book in musicology published during the previous year.
Kinkeldey was a visiting distinguished professor at the University of North Texas College of Music
from 1951 to 1952, seven years after its rapid growth as a large, comprehensive school of music. While at North Texas, Kinkeldey profoundly influenced Anna Harriet Heyer (1909–2002), another pioneer music librarian. Heyer built the North Texas music library into one of the largest academic music collections in the United States. In 2010, the UNT College of Music housed over 300,000 volumes of books, periodicals, scores, dissertations, and reference works, as well as 900,000 sound recordings. In 1957, Heyer achieved profession-wide recognition with her publication of a groundbreaking bibliography, Historical Sets, Collected Editions, and Monuments of Music: A Guide to their Contents.
Kinkeldey died in South Orange, New Jersey
, September 19, 1966.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music librarian and musicologist. He was the first president of the American Musicological Society
American Musicological Society
The American Musicological Society is a membership-based musicological organization founded in 1934 to advance scholarly research in the various fields of music as a branch of learning and scholarship; it grew out of a small contingent of the Music Teachers National Association and, more directly,...
and held the first chair in musicology at any American university.
Kinkeldey was born in New York on November 27, 1878. He received his B.A. in 1898 from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
and his M.A. from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1900. In a somewhat unusual step for an American at the time, he studied for his doctorate at a German university, the Royal Academic Institute for Church Music in Berlin
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
, where he received his Ph.D. in 1909. Returning to New York, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He became head of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
's music division, serving in that capacity from 1915 to 1923.
In 1923, he moved to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, becoming a professor of musicology and in 1930 the fourth librarian of the Cornell University Library
Cornell University Library
The Cornell University Library is the library system of Cornell University. In 2010 it held 8 million printed volumes in open stacks, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, more than of manuscripts, and close to 500,000 other materials, including motion pictures, DVDs, sound recordings, and...
. Following his retirement in 1946, he continued to teach classes at Cornell and other universities. He was elected the first president of the American Musicological Society
American Musicological Society
The American Musicological Society is a membership-based musicological organization founded in 1934 to advance scholarly research in the various fields of music as a branch of learning and scholarship; it grew out of a small contingent of the Music Teachers National Association and, more directly,...
in 1935, which honored him posthumously in creating the Otto Kinkeldey Award. The award is given each year to recognize the most distinguished book in musicology published during the previous year.
Kinkeldey was a visiting distinguished professor at the University of North Texas College of Music
University of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...
from 1951 to 1952, seven years after its rapid growth as a large, comprehensive school of music. While at North Texas, Kinkeldey profoundly influenced Anna Harriet Heyer (1909–2002), another pioneer music librarian. Heyer built the North Texas music library into one of the largest academic music collections in the United States. In 2010, the UNT College of Music housed over 300,000 volumes of books, periodicals, scores, dissertations, and reference works, as well as 900,000 sound recordings. In 1957, Heyer achieved profession-wide recognition with her publication of a groundbreaking bibliography, Historical Sets, Collected Editions, and Monuments of Music: A Guide to their Contents.
Kinkeldey died in South Orange, New Jersey
South Orange, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,964 people, 5,522 households, and 3,766 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,945.3 people per square mile . There were 5,671 housing units at an average density of 1,987.5 per square mile...
, September 19, 1966.