| In Memoriam, Charles Cummings, 1937-2005.
For the past few decades, everyone who researched Newark began and ended with Charles Cummings. Whether helping students, politicians, internet people like me, or great writers like Phillip Roth, Mr. Cummings was always there with a genial demeanor and a staggering depth of knowledge.
I met Charles Cummings once at the South Orange Public Library, where he came to give a talk on the Newark Public Library's database of the Newark Evening News. After his talk, I showed Mr. Cummings this website. He said he didn't do computers, but gave Newarkology his blessing. A tornado of enthusiasm, when I showed him some of the buildings I had photographed Mr. Cummings said how exciting it would be to take photographs from the top of the exterior elevator attached to the Lefcourt Building. When I showed Mr. Cummings my feature on Franklin Murphy, he said that Monsignor Doane and his statue deserved attention (done, December 2006). When he invited my phone call I said I was amazed that a VIP like Mr. Cummings would have time for me, but he laughed when I gave him that title.
In his talk about the Newark Public Library, Charles Cummings admitted that the library needed more money for its archive operations. The Robert Treat Endowment at the Newark Public Library contributes to the work of Newark history that Mr. Cummings loved.
Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Cummings' name to:
The Robert Treat Endowment
c/o The Development Department
The Newark Public Library
PO Box 630
Newark, NJ 07101
(Please make checks payable to
The Newark Public Library - Robert Treat Endowment)
This endowment, established by Mr. Cummings, funds New Jersey Information Center collections.
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