Roscoe Conkling Simmons papers, 1919-1950, undated
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Summary
- Creator:
- Simmons, Roscoe Conkling
- Abstract:
- Roscoe Conkling Simmons was an African American orator, journalist, and community leader who strongly supported the Republican party in the early twentieth century. This collection consists of pamphlets, speeches, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera documenting his public life and service to the Republican party.
- Extent:
- 2.5 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English
- Research Center:
- John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
- Collection ID:
- RL.11016
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists largely of printed materials, particularly pamphlets, flyers, and newspapers, documenting Simmons' public life as a Republican party organizer and orator. A small number of printed speeches and a file with portraits of Simmons are also included. Materials are loosely arranged by format. Several newspaper clippings include articles and essays by Simmons.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Roscoe Conkling (sometimes spelled Conklin) Simmons was born in Greenview, Mississippi, in 1878, and was a nephew of Booker T. Washington' third wife. Simmons graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1899. He became a prominant journalist for newspapers like the Chicago Defender, the Washington Times-Herald, and the Chicago Tribune. He was also a lifelong Republican. He was a popular orator in the African American community and served as a director of the Republican National Committee's Colored Speakers Bureau for presidential campaigns between 1924 and 1936. Simmons died in April 1951.
- Acquisition information:
- The Roscoe Conking Simmons Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in April 2015.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by: Zoe Willingham, Meghan Lyon, April 2015
Accessions described in this finding aid: 2015-0043
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Roscoe Conkling Simmons Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m19d3b