During the past several months, The Mills Music Library has been the fortunate recipient of many generous gifts to the collection.
After his sudden death in August 1996, the family of James R. McKinty donated to the library his extensive personal collection of sound recordings, books, scores, and journals. McKinty, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematics at the UW-Madison, was an enthusiastic music lover, an avid folk dancer, and a determined record collector whose tastes encompassed all genres from Irish folk to classical. His record collection, which comprises a total of 929 CDs and 1951 LPs, is especially strong in music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque. The recordings will be cataloged as part of the regular Music Library collection but will be designated by a special note in the catalog record. They can be easily searched in Madcat by entering the keyword "McKinty."
Ruth Pilger Andrews, a distinguished Madison organist who passed away in July 1996, bequeathed to us her library of books, scores, and recordings. Mrs. Andrews held a master's degree in French from the UW-Madison, where she also studied organ with Professor Irene Eastman. During the 1930s and early 1940s, she travelled to Chicago to study with the composer Leo Sowerby, whose annotations are to be found in many of her scores. She was principal organist at Luther Memorial Church for ten years and at the Unitarian Gathering House from 1950 to 1970. The donation comprises 61 books and scores, including the complete organ works of J.S. Bach, a large collection of sheet music, and approximately 750 LPs. Special thanks are extended to Ann Garofalo, who was instrumental in helping to bring the collection to the UW according to Mrs. Andrews' wishes.
Margaret Peat Fink Wilber, a long-time Madison resident, has donated a collection of 1700 books, scores, and papers belonging to her mother, Annie Peat Fink, and her father, Albert Fink. Annie Peat Fink (1877-1917) was a celebrated organist and teacher or organ, piano, and voice. In 1903, she gave a "command performance" organ recital on the Mormon Tabernacle Organ in Salt Lake City. She was head of the organ and piano departments at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Downer College, and the State Teachers' College. Her husband, Albert Fink (1867-1950) was a well-known violinist who headed the violin departments at Marquette University, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Downer College, and the State Teachers' College. He played first violin with the Chicago Symphony and the Walter Damrosch Orchestra and was a member of the Wille Jaffee String Quartet. Included in the collection are also autographed copies of compositions by Albert Fink's sister, Emma C. Fink (1872-1956), a Milwaukee pianist, organist, and well-known composer of piano and organ music.
Madison composer and UW Professor Emeritus Robert Crane recently donated 206 books and scores from his personal library. This one of several generous gifts Dr. Crane has made to the Music Library over the years. Faculty members Susan Cook and Mimmi Fulmer have also made substantial contributions to the library's collection in recent months.
Other Articles in This Issue
Library Bids on Dennis Brain Horn Collection | Volunteers Make a Difference | Ragas on Sax and Much More by Matt Appleby | "Not for Pianists" by Mark Rosa | Imprint: Recent Faculty and Student Publications | Workshops on Music Library Resources | Top 10 Things to Do from the Library Homepage | Spring 1997 Calender
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