Jane Denker Graves
Jane Denker Graves, who helped shape Scribner Library’s visual resources collections and arts holdings during more than three decades of service to Skidmore, died April 4, 2026. She was 85.
Jane, whose wide-ranging interests extended from the arts to ornithology, joined Skidmore in 1969 as an art librarian and served the College until her retirement in late 2005. Over the course of her career, she played a central role in developing the library’s visual resources collections and supporting teaching and research across the humanities. As a librarian for fine and performing arts and visual resources, she helped digitize the library’s holdings and worked closely with faculty and students in many disciplines, including art, art history, Asian studies, dance, environmental studies, music, and theater. She twice served as acting college librarian.
Associate Professor Emerita of Art History Lisa Aronson remembered Jane as “such a
multifaceted person.”
“At Skidmore, she was masterful both at organizing and expanding the slide room and
at building the library’s art and music holdings,” Lisa said. “When not on campus,
she was an accomplished pianist and gardener and an avid birdwatcher.”
Born Jan. 24, 1941, Jane earned a bachelor’s degree in French literature from the University of Kansas and later completed a master’s degree in library and information science at the State University of New York at Albany. She also pursued studies in art history, piano, and music theory.
Her interdisciplinary interests also shaped her work with students and faculty beyond the humanities. She co-taught Biology 351: Ornithology with Associate Professor Emeritus of Biology Bill Brown and supervised environmental studies capstone projects related to ornithology. She also volunteered with organizations including the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.