Richard James Cox

Richard James Cox

February 09, 1950 - July 11, 2026

Richard James Cox

Born in Baltimore, Maryland on February 9, 1950, Richard died peacefully on July 11 in hospice care at Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community in Cranberry Township.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley Aikens and Richard Theodore Cox, his stepfather Charles Brown Jr. and stepmother Betty Lee Cox. He is survived by his wife Lynn, daughter Emma (Tiffini Gorman), siblings Richard T. Cox (Stefanie), Anne-Marie Race, John Cox (Beth), and Charles Brown III, nieces Clara and Rebecca Cox and nephew Samuel Cox.

A love of history instilled by his father and great-uncle Leroy Schneider became the gateway to Richard’s life work: first as an historian, then archivist, writer, teacher and mentor to a new generation of archivists and academics. He regarded that work as a vocation, the way he was to live his Christian faith for the benefit of others.

Richard earned his BA from Towson State University, his MA from the University of Maryland and his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. His professional career began as manuscripts curator at the Maryland Historical Society. Subsequently he served as Baltimore City archivist and records manager; head of archives and records at the Alabama Department of Archives & History; associate archivist at the New York State Archives & Records Administration; and professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing & Information, where he designed the school’s first graduate program in archival studies. Richard was a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists. He retired from the profession in 2017 after a 45-year career.

An avid reader from childhood, Richard’s writing, teaching and professional engagement were shaped by his habit of reading widely and advising students and colleagues to do likewise. He authored and edited 18 books and numerous articles, output that documented, informed and challenged archival theory, practice, ethics and accountability. His colleagues honored him with a festschrift in 2020.

Richard could be persistent and outspoken about his convictions, and he never shied from debate. Those who loved him knew he was also a painter, movie buff, baseball fan and golfer with a keen sense of humor, a loving husband and father, a loyal and generous friend and mentor.

Family and friends will gather for a memorial service at 2:00pm on August 8 in the auditorium of Sherwood Oaks. Burial will be private at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the charity of your choice or to the Sherwood Oaks employee scholarship fund are encouraged. Checks for the fund should be made out to “Sherwood Oaks Fund” with “Scholarships-Cox” in the memo line and mailed to Sherwood Oaks, 100 Norman Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.