Obituary of George K. Huber

Swarthmore College’s first performing arts librarian, who retired in 2005 after 40 years at theCollege, died on June 29 at Plush Mills Senior Living in Wallingford. He was 85.

Born in Washington D.C., George earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.L.S. from Drexel University. He joined the college’s libraries in 1964 as an assistant in the circulation department the year before McCabe Library was built. Ten years later, he became head of the newly constructed Daniel Underhill Music and Dance Library in Lang Music Building.

“George was Underhill’s first librarian, and he created a jewel,” says Professor of Music Jon Kochavi, who relied on George’s guidance on Underhill’s resources for years before he joined the faculty in 2003. “It’s simply an outstanding collection, both in breadth and depth — far beyond what one might expect to find in a small liberal arts college. I am so grateful for the diligence, thoughtfulness,
and joy he brought to his work. It is labor that is still paying dividends.”

As the performing arts librarian, George was also devoted to helping students, who often needed assistance using the music catalog because there are often many editions of the same piece. As he once noted: “We have 83 Haydn quartets, with more than one edition of a lot of them — then there are all the different recordings. Music is the only subject that has this problem.”

At Swarthmore, George was a proud founding member of the College’s Sager Committee, formed in 1988 to provide programs of interest to the gay and lesbian community that helped to overcome homophobia and related discrimination. During his more than 10 years on the committee, he helped plan an annual symposium and produce an alumni newsletter. George also served as treasurer and archivist, and his files are now in Friends Historical Library.

George was also active in Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community, including as a longtime volunteer at Giovanni’s Room, the country’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore. He memorably served as a marshal at the city’s 1989 gay pride parade.

George is remembered for his remarkable knowledge and meticulous curation of Underhill’s collection as well as his own of kaleidoscopes, original paintings, and his handmade, marbled paper. He built musical instruments, including a clavichord and a hurdy-gurdy, created his own vests, and was known for his distinctive hats. George also made and sent out handcrafted pop-up cards to friends every year during the holidays that featured his signature paper and sometimes erupted with a glittery surprise. After he retired, he stayed in Swarthmore and remained a presence on campus, often returning for films, lectures, and to use the library.

George is survived by members of his chosen family, including recent caregivers Stephen Demos and Roger Latham, Rose Valley; Dorothy S. and Jeremiah Reilly, Basel, Switzerland; Lisa “Hershey” Hirschkop, South Berwick, ME; Cornelia Punj, Swarthmore; Swarthmore College Professor Emerita of Art History T. Kaori Kitao, New York City; Glenn Lash and Mark Paugh, Rehoboth Beach, DE; Bob Weir and Carina Ahren, Havertown; and lifelong friend Beverly Argenbright with Pat Coffee, Naples, FL.

A private celebration of George’s life will be organized for later this year. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to GLAAD or Lambda Legal.