William Scheide

William H. Scheide (1914–2014) — a century-long life devoted to Bach, scholarship, and Princeton. A trained musicologist, Scheide was one of the foremost Bach scholars of his era and the owner of one of the greatest private manuscript collections in the world — including the earliest known manuscript of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. He donated the Scheide Library to Princeton University, a gift of incalculable value. He was, as Elliot puts it, "the preeminent philanthropist of Princeton, N.J., for a generation."

Cross-Connections

• William Bowen — Scheide's philanthropic relationship with Princeton ran through the Bowen presidency and well beyond
• Elizabeth "Betty" Johnson — fellow preeminent Princeton philanthropist