Martha Novak Clinkscale (1933-2010) was a musicologist and professor of piano performance. She was trained at the University of Louisville, Yale University, and completed a PhD in Musicology from the University of Minnesota. She taught at the University of California, Riverside (1979-96) and at Southern Methodist University (1998-2004).
  She is best known for her important work creating and continuously building “Early Pianos 1720-1860: A Computerized Relational Database.” Her two books, Makers of the Piano 1700-1820 and Makers of the Piano 1820-1860 were published by Oxford University Press in 1993 and 1999 respectively.
  Martha is also remembered for her capable editorship of the Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society (1993-96) and her service on the AMIS Board of Governors. She also served the Southeast Historical Keyboard Society as treasurer (2004-8).
  Martha Clinkscale's legacy continues with the website EarlyPianos.org, where the piano database she started remains active as an online resource.

— John R. Watson