Robert Kimball, Broadway Historian Who Unearthed Lost Gershwin Manuscripts, Dies at 86
Robert Kimball, a Broadway historian and archivist who discovered a vast cache of manuscripts by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers in a Secaucus, N.J., warehouse in 1982, has died at age 86. The New York Times reported his death on July 2, 2026. Kimball was known for his Indiana Jones-like pursuit of lost musical theater treasures, helping to preserve and document the history of American popular song.
Key facts
- Robert Kimball died at age 86.
- He discovered a treasure trove of manuscripts by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers in 1982.
- The manuscripts were found in a warehouse in Secaucus, N.J.
- The hoard dated back to the advent of sound pictures.
- His death was reported by The New York Times on July 2, 2026.
- Kimball was described as acting like an Indiana Jones of song.
Entities
Artists
- Robert Kimball
- George Gershwin
- Cole Porter
- Richard Rodgers
Institutions
- The New York Times
Locations
- Secaucus
- New Jersey
- United States