Open any archivally based cinema book published in the past four decades, and on the acknowledgements page you will likely find a thank you to both the USC Cinematic Arts Library and Ned Comstock for his research assistance. Ned began his career in the library as an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California and took on a full-time role as a librarian and archivist upon graduating in the fall of 1977. Over the decades, he mastered a deep understanding of the library’s holdings, including the MGM archives, the Constance McCormick clipping files, and hundreds of individual donor holdings, which included the papers of notable composers from Dimitri Tiomkin to Elmer Bernstein. Ned, along with the library staff, was also involved in expanding the various archival collections to include original scripts, memorandums, personal correspondences, publicity stills, and production material from countless Hollywood films and television programs. Ned’s acumen for all things cinematic was often hidden by his low-key demeanor, but his excitement about the research work was uncontainable. Even after the briefest of conversations, like a good detective, he could quickly identify what a researcher might be looking for (even if they weren’t so sure themselves), and within days (sometime hours), Ned would follow up with a handwritten list of items he’d found, pulled, and set aside in the Cinema Library reading room. Sifting through the thousands of archival boxes at East Library, Ned would often uncover some hidden bit of cinema history that would eventually make its way into the literature of the field and cinematic history. Ned’s research abilities and influence extended to his support of music restoration and production as he provided access to music scores and composer sketches that were slated to be re-recorded by various record labels. Ned even makes a brief appearance in the music documentary Music for the Movies -- The Hollywood Sound (Dir. Joshua Waletsky), where he can be seen showing the scores and composer’s notes for a title set for re-recording by Conductor John Mauceri. Ned’s influence also included archival research contributions to museums and special events in the L.A. area. Ned identified and pulled archival material for the Steven Ross Memorial (longtime Chairman of Time Warner and member of the USC Board of Trustees), The Sinatra Hall exhibit in Norris Theater, and exhibits at the Hollywood Bowl and the Warner Bros. Museum. These efforts remind us that archiving is not simply a matter of the holdings of historical material, but a means of providing access and context for what remains of the past. Ned’s life’s work affirms this understanding. His dedication to film research and scholarship will not be forgotten. Ned Comstock retired from USC in June of 2020. In 2015, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and underwent treatment multiple times in the intervening years. He passed away in March of 2024. He is survived by his brother Samuel Comstock (USC School of Cinema Class of 1975); sister Margaret C. Durrett (USC Class of 1980); one niece, three nephews and two grandnieces. Predeceased family include his parents Ann and Joseph Comstock (USC Class of 1942) and sister Jane Comstock. Ned will be greatly missed. -Tribute by Prof. Bill Whittington, USC School of Cinematic Arts Additional remembrances of Ned by film scholars who consulted with him over the years are available in a memory book created by his colleagues at the USC Cinematic Arts Library.