2004-10-30/2019-10-02 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). — Born May 14, 1922 in Omaha, Nebraska; librarian in Independence, Missouri; attended several universities studying music, librarian science, and religious education; with Reuter Organ Co. of Lawrence, Kansas, 1949-1950, service and installation; died February 1, 1985 in Independence, Missouri. Source: The Tracker 29:1 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1985), 11.
2015-10-23/2019-10-02 - From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, October 2, 2019. — Full text of his obituary in The Tracker: James C. Suttie, Jr., 62, of Independence, Missouri, died within moments of a sudden physical collapse on February 1 [1985]. An avid organ researcher, he leaves a magnificent legacy in his collection of organabilia and especially his famous lists compiling all organs, past and present, even electronic, by city and state, and by builder, for the entire United States and some of Canada. His work in this life-long project began in 1947, and paralleled and continued that of his friend, Eugene M. Nye, after Nye's death in 1976. He collaborated for years with other organophiles, particularly Eugene McCracken and F. R. Webber on organ sources in the early years of OHS. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 14, 1922, and had resided in Independence, Missouri for 20 years, working as a librarian for the St. Paul's School of Theology. After a tour of duty in the Army Airborne Division 1943-1946, he studied organ with Berenice Mozingo and other subjects at DePauw University, receiving an undergraduate degree in Economics in 1947. He attended the University of Oregon, Eugene, for 1½ years as a music major, and then was employed in the installation and service department of the Reuter Organ Co. 1949-50. He received an M.A. Degree in Christian Education after attending Garrett Theological Seminary and Northwestern University 1950-53. In 1964, he received an M.S. Degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he had moved in 1960 to serve Bethany Methodist Church as Director of Christian Education. He had held similar posts at Grace Methodist, Waterloo, Iowa, 1953-1955; Lake Harriet Methodist, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1955-1958; and First Methodist, Downers Grove, Illinois., 1958-1960. As a student of Dr. Austin Lovelace, he was organist in the Garrett Seminary Chapel, where he met his wife, the former Mary Jo Beimer, who was also a Chapel organist. They married in 1953. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, several Masonic organizations, and was organist of Belton United Methodist Church in Kansas City. He is survived by his wife, three sons, James C., Mark S., and Stephen C., his mother, a brother, and a sister. Mr. Suttie had recently made several contributions to the OHS Archives Collection, and had made arrangements to send more, pending his retirement this summer and the family's planned move to Minnesota. Mrs. Suttie has donated his entire collection to the Archives, where it will join the collection of Eugene Nye. The Tracker 29:1 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1985), 11.
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