Edward N. (Ed) Coffman (1942 – July 24, 2014) was an American

accounting Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "languag ...

scholar and Professor of accounting at

Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia in 1854. In 1968, the Virgini ...

. Coffman was especially known for his work on accounting history: its definition, relevance, and methodology.Carnegie, Garry D., and Christopher J. Napier. "Critical and interpretive histories: insights into accounting's present and future through its past." ''Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal'' 9.3 (1996): 7-39.

Biography

Coffman was born and raised in

West Point, Virginia West Point (formerly Delaware) is an incorporated town in King William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,306 at the 2010 census. Geography West Point is located at (37.543733, −76.805366). The York River is formed at West ...

, where his father worked at the local

paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt, ...

. After high school Coffman initially started working there as well. He returned to college in 1962, to the

, where he obtained his BA in 1965 and his MA in 1967. In 1970 he obtained his PhD from

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

. Coffman started his academic career at the Virginia Commonwealth University from 1966 to 1968. After his Ph.D. graduation he returned and taught accounting at its

VCU School of Business The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business is the business school of Virginia Commonwealth University, a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. History The Beginning The School of Business opened its doors on September ...

, for 44 years. He was Visiting Professor at many universities, and the Virginia Society of CPAs awarded him the Outstanding Accounting Educator Award.

Selected publications

* Daniel L. Jensen, Edward N. Coffman, Thomas Junior Burns. ''Advanced accounting and the rule-making agencies,'' 1980. * Jensen, Daniel L., and Edward N. Coffman. ''Accounting for changing prices.'' Reston Publishing Co., 1984. * Coffman, Edward N., Rasoul H. Tondkar, and

Gary John Previts Gary John Previts (born 1942) is an American accountant, a Distinguished University Professor at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio USA) and Professor of Accountancy in the Weatherhead School of Management. He is known for his work on ...

. ''Historical perspectives of selected financial accounting topics.'' Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1993. Articles, a selection: * * Previts, Gary John, Lee D. Parker, and Edward N. Coffman. "An accounting historiography: subject matter and methodology." ''Abacus'' 26.2 (1990): 136-158. * Chase, Bruce W., and Edward N. Coffman. "Choice of accounting method by not-for-profit institutions accounting for investments by colleges and universities." ''Journal of Accounting and Economics'' 18.2 (1994): 233-243. * Previts, Gary John, Lee D. Parker, and Edward N. Coffman. "Accounting history: definition and relevance." ''Abacus'' 26.1 (1990): 1-16.

References

External links

In memoriam: Edward Coffman, Ph.D.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coffman, Edward N. 1942 births 2014 deaths American accountants American business theorists Accounting academics Virginia Commonwealth University alumni Virginia Commonwealth University faculty People from West Point, Virginia