Skip to main content

Simmons, Roscoe Conkling, 1881-1951

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1878 - 1951

Biographical note

Roscoe Conkling Simmons (born 1878 or 1881, died 1951) was an African-American orator, civic leader, journalist and politician. He graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1899. He served as head of the Colored Division of the Speakers' Bureau of the Republican National Committee in 1920, 1924, and 1928. He was an advisor to three American presidents. He worked for the Chicago Defender from 1916 through the mid-1930s, and for the Chicago Tribune from the late 1940's until his death in 1951.

Footnote on birth date

The date of his birth is uncertain. Obituaries state his age in 1951 as anywhere between Simmons' own assertion that he was sixty-three and his oldest friends' statements that place his age nearer to seventy-five. A birth date of June 20,1878 in Greenview Mississippi is listed in the earliest inventories of his papers produced by the Harvard University Archives. A passport appliction holds a 1918 certification of birth signed by his parents that state the year and place of his birth as 1881 in Macon, Mississippi. See Kaye, Andrew M. Roscoe Conkling Simmons and the Mechanics of Black Leaderhisp, 1899-1951 (Thesis, doctoral--University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2002), p. 23 for a full note on the evidence for various dates and places of birth.

Found in 88 Collections and/or Records:

Colonel Roscoe Colkins [sic] Simmons : America's foremost orator, 1930

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 9: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 1Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (492)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Mapping the campaign to win young colored voters for Governor Landon and Colonel Knox, 1936

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 7Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (42)
Description:

Publicity photograph and attached press release for the campaign to elect Kansas Governor Alf Landon, Republican Party nominee in the 1936 presidential election. Pictured, from left to right: Roscoe Simmons, Sidney Jones, Robert Kratky, Myrtle Stryker, and Cornelius R. Richardson.

Mapping the campaign to win young colored voters for Governor Landon and Colonel Knox, 1936

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 7Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (43)
Description:

Publicity photograph and attached press release for the campaign to elect Kansas Governor Alf Landon, Republican Party nominee in the 1936 presidential election. Pictured, from left to right: Roscoe Simmons, Sidney Jones, Robert Kratky, Myrtle Stryker, and Cornelius R. Richardson.

Publicity photograph of Roscoe Simmons holding a trowel, possibly at a cornerstone laying ceremony, 1940s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 6Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (38)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Conkling Simmons, 1915

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 3: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 2Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (190)
Description:

Studio portrait.

Roscoe Simmons (center) meeting in Los Angeles with Dr. J.T. Smith (left) of Lincoln Motion Picture Co. and J.B. Loving, probably 1919

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 8Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (45)
Description:

Inscribed on back: Compliments of Clarence Brooks, Secty of Lincoln Motion Picture Co., Los Angeles.

Roscoe Simmons (center) posing in front of a statue with four unidentified men, 1940s

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 9Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (54)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Simmons (center) standing with two unidentified men, 1930s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 11Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (66)
Description:

Inscribed on back: Recopyed [sic] by Patricia Cummings.

Roscoe Simmons (center) standing with two unidentified men, 1930s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 11Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (67)
Description:

Inscribed on back: Copyed [sic] by [Patricia] Cummings.

Roscoe Simmons (center) standing with two unidentified men and a boy dressed in uniform and possibly Clifton F. Richardson Sr., publisher of the Houston Defender, 1930s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 3: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 2Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (185)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Simmons (center) standing with two unidentified men and a boy dressed in uniform and possibly Clifton F. Richardson Sr., publisher of the Houston Defender, 1930s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 3: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 2Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (186)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Simmons (center) talking with two unidentified men, 1940

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 11Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (65)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Simmons (far left) standing with other members of the IBPOEW, 1930s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 8Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (48)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Simmons (front row, center) posing with six unidentified men, 1912

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 10Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (60)
Description:

Studio portrait.

Roscoe Simmons (front row, center) posing with six unidentified men, 1912

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 10Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (61)
Description:

Studio portrait.

Roscoe Simmons (front row, second from left) with Cornelius R. Richardson (front row, third from left) and members of the Republican National Committee, Colored Division, Young People's Department, 1936

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 7Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (39)
Description:

Publicity photograph and attached press release for the campaign to elect Kansas Governor Alf Landon, Republican Party nominee in the 1936 presidential election, with corresponding copy negative.

Roscoe Simmons (front row, second from left) with Cornelius R. Richardson (front row, third from left) and members of the Republican National Committee, Colored Division, Young People's Department, 1936

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 7Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (40)
Description:

Publicity photograph and attached press release for the campaign to elect Kansas Governor Alf Landon, Republican Party nominee in the 1936 presidential election.

Roscoe Simmons (front row, third from right) with Perry W. Howard (front row, far left), Walter L. Cohen (front row, second from left), and other unidentified men, 1925

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 10Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (59)
Description:

Unidentified men were possibly employees of People's Industrial Life Insurance Company of Louisiana or members of the Colored Order of the Knights of Pythias of Louisiana.

Roscoe Simmons, full-length portrait, sitting in wicker chair, facing left, 1915

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 3Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (22)
Description:

Studio portrait.

Roscoe Simmons, full-length portrait, sitting in wicker chair, turned to the left, 1915

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 1Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (1)
Description:

Studio portrait.

Roscoe Simmons, full-length portrait, sitting in wicker chair, turned to the right, 1915

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 1Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (2)
Description:

Studio portrait.

Roscoe Simmons, full-length portrait, standing with walking stick, 1920s?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 3Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (20)
Scope and Contents: Most of the identifiable photographs are signed or unsigned portraits of Simmons, his family, and political colleagues or other prominent Americans, especially members of the African-American community. There also numerous photographs of unidentified group events, such as graduations or funerals, as well as photographs of unidentified monuments and buildings. Simmons' apparent interest in United States foreign policy and military actions is evident in this series....

Roscoe Simmons, half-length portrait, facing right, wearing pince-nez, 1920?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 4Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (23)
Description:

Studio portrait. Inscribed on front: To Dr. & Mrs. J.J. Wendell, from their friend, Roscoe Simmons.

Roscoe Simmons, half-length portrait, facing right, wearing pince-nez, 1920?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 4Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (24)
Description:

Studio portrait. Inscribed on front: To my dear friend Mr. Gilchrist Stewart, Roscoe Simmons.

Roscoe Simmons, half-length portrait, facing right, wearing pince-nez, 1920?

photoDescriptionUnit — Box HUM 2.85 Box 1: Series HUM 2.85, Box: Folder 4Identifier: HUM 2, HUM 2.85, HUM 2.85 (25)
Description:

Studio portrait. Inscribed on front: This--In affectionate admiration to Mr. Wendell P. Dabney, Of mind elevated above his times, superior to his world! Roscoe!

Filtered By

  • Type: Archival Object X