In Memoriam

In Memoriam John Insley Coddington (1902-1991) W ITH deep regret the Society reports the death of John Insley Coddington on 10 May 1991 at his home in Bordentown, New Jersey. He would have been 89 years of age on 30 June and had been a resident of Bordentown since 1959. John Insley Coddington was born in Nice, France, the son of American parents, Andrew Comstock and Elizabeth (Magevney) Coddington. He received an A.B. ( 1924) and an A.M. (1929) from Harvard University and was an instructor in history at that university from 1930 to 1938. Coddington also taught at Olivet College ( professor of history, 1938-1942), Swarthmore College (lecturer in history, 1955-1958), and at Haverford College (lecturer in history, 19581960). During World War II he served as a research analyst with the U.S. Army Signal Corps Intelligence ( 1942-1944) and the Q.S.S. (1944-1945). From 1946 to 1953 he was Chief, Division of Biographic Information, in the Department of State. Often referred to as the "Dean of American Genealogy," John Coddington was Honorary President and the last surviving founder of the American Society of Genealogists. He was a member of numerous genealogical and historical societies and was elected a Life Member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania in 1941. Coddington was a Fellow of several societies, including the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, the National Genealogical Society, the Texas State Genealogical Society, and the Society of Genealogists, London, and was Honorary Trustee, New England Historic Genealogical Society. He was the first recipient of NEHGS's Award of Merit Medal and the Honorary Editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. He was the author of over 200 articles appearing in genealogical journals and for years was one of the most popular and best-known lecturers on genealogy. 78 In Memoriam 79 John Coddington was the subject of A Tribute to John Insley Coddington on the Occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary of The American Society of Genealogists, published in 1980 and edited by Neil D. Thompson and Robert Charles Anderson. That publication contains a detailed outline of John Coddington's life written by his long-time friend Milton Rubincam. John Insley Coddington is survived by a nephew, Andrew Coddington; two great-nephews, Stewart G. and Clifford V. W. Codington; and two great-nieces, Mrs. Robert Dolan and Mrs. Wray E. Landon, III. A Memorial Mass was said on 19 May at St. Mary's Church, Bordentown, and a memorial service was held on 30 June at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston. Interment was in Harwich Port, Massachusetts.