Herbert Boswell Nanney was born in Whittier, California. He received his A.B. in Music from Whittier College in 1940, an Artist's Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1947, and an M.A. from Stanford in 1951. Nanney first came to Stanford shortly after receiving his A.B., serving as assistant to university organist William D. Allen. He left Stanford to attend the Curtis Institute of Music in 1941. In August 1942 he was inducted into the Army. While stationed in Paris from 1944-1945, Nanney studied organ with Marcel Dupré at the Paris Conservatory of Music and was organist at the American Cathedral. After he returned from Europe, Nanney served as organist and choir director for churches in southern California and Philadelphia before returning to Stanford in 1947 as University Organist and a member of the music faculty. He traveled regularly to lecture and perform, and was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Fisk-Nanney organ in Memorial Church, dedicated in 1984. After retiring in 1985, Nanney remained in the Bay Area until his death in 1996.
From the description of Herbert Nanney papers, 1924-2005. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 465021563
