Title: George E. Simpson Papers, 1940-1985

ID: RG 30/064

Extent: 2.8 Linear Feet

George Eaton Simpson was born to Lawrence E. and Grace M. Simpson in Knoxville, Iowa on October 4, 1904. He received his B.S. degree from Coe College in 1926, M.A. degree from the University of Missouri in 1927, and Ph. D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1934. He taught at Temple University and at Pennsylvania State University before coming to Oberlin College as a Professor of Sociology and Anthropology.

From 1947-71, Mr. Simpson became a legendary member of the Oberlin faculty, becoming an active leader of the faculty and serving many times on all major committees, including the Advancement Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on Oberlin College African American Studies. For most of his time in the department of Sociology and Anthropology, he served as department chair. He was known as a strong guardian of the faculty governance system.

Mr. Simpson was a gifted and dedicated teacher and his many students acknowledge their lasting gratitude. He authored over 60 books and articles, including Black Religion in the New World (1978) and Jamaican Revivalist Cults (booklet, 1956). In his writings, he brought a profound knowledge and balanced judgment to the study of race relations and to the origin and character of black religions in the New World. See the Oberlin On-line Catalogue for more titles.

He received numerous honors and awards for his work. Among these were the Wellcome Medal for Anthropological Research; the 1958 Anisfield-Wolf Award in Race Relations (with J. Milton Yinger); and Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Oberlin College (1976) and Coe College (1980).

Simpson was active in professional organizations, and he served the Oberlin Community in various capacities. He was president of the Philadelphia Anthropological Society and Vice President of the American Folklore Society (1963).

He met his wife of 61 years, Eleanor Brown, at the University of Missouri where both were graduate students. They had four children, Jon E., A. Louise; Nancy B.; and G Curtis.

George and Eleanor Simspon moved to Friendship Village, a retirement community in 1986. He was soon asked to serve on several committees, including the Memorial Fund Committee and the Health Center Committee.

Eleanor Simpson died in June of 1991 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. George Simpson died Dec. 13, 1998 at Friendship Village in Columbus, Ohio.

Sources Consulted: Letter to the Oberlin College Community by Oberlin College President Nancy Dye, 14 December 1998; Oberlin News Tribune Dec. 22, 1998; and, The faculty file of George E. Simspon (RG 28/3).

Author: Prue Richards, Rebecca Johnson, Kenneth Grossi

Forms of Material (links to similar genres)

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Administrative Information

Scope and Contents:

The papers of George Eaton Simpson primarily document Simpson’s research and writing in the area of Sociology, his correspondence with individuals concerning his research, minority issues, and Oberlin College, and Simpson’s service to Oberlin College and the community through committee work and projects. The collection illustrates the type of sociological research and writings associated with minority issues during the period of U.S. history that included race riots, the Vietnam War, and assassinations of key figures in politics. The Biographical Series contains detailed curriculum vitae of Simpson, including lists of his publications. The Correspondence Series (incoming and outgoing) contains letters between Simpson and individuals such as Ralph J. Bunche, Melville J. Herskovits, Eduardo C. Mondlane (OC’ 1953), and Erwin N. Griswold (OC' 1925). One folder contains correspondence to and from various individuals, including Dr. Eric Williams of Howard University, Hugh Foot of King’s House, Jamaica, and President John F. Kennedy (outgoing). These letters include discussions of Simpson’s research on cultures of foreign countries, his work concerning minorities, and the activities and operation of Oberlin College. Of particular interest is the correspondence with Mondlane, in which Mondlane seeks assistance on research concerning social attitudes, and discusses his work in the United Nations. The folder concerning Mondlane also includes biographical information, and materials related to Mondlane’s death.

The collection provides little documentation concerning Simpson’s teaching at Oberlin College, and his personal life.

The collection is organized into nine series: 1. Biographical; 2: Clippings; 3. Correspondence; 4. Files related to service to college and community; 5. Financial Records; 6. Lectures; 7. Writings; 8. Photographs; 9. Videotapes

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series 1. Biographical, 1922-95 (span), n.d. (5 folders)

Contains applications, biographical and autobiographical statements about Simpson, curriculum vitae of George Eaton Simpson, a news release, lists of Simpson’s publications, and grade transcripts (restricted).

Series 2. Clippings, 1901, 1920-64, 1981-93, n.d. (4 folders)

Newspaper articles concerning Simpson’s life and accomplishments, the Simpson family, debate teams, and Oberlin and Oberlin College.

Series 3. Correspondence, 1929-96, n.d. (21 folders)

Incoming and outgoing correspondence of George E. Simpson arranged in three subseries. Subseries 1. Correspondence regarding Publications concerns Simpson’s writings Black Religions in the New World and Religious Cults of the Caribbean, requests for reprints, and thank you notes. Subseries 2. Correspondence regarding Institutions/Organizations contains letters concerning the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Oberlin, Oberlin College contributions, and Coe College Contributions. Subseries 3. Individual Correspondence contains letters to and from various individuals. Nine folders contain incoming and outgoing correspondence (arranged chronologically within each folder) with Ken Bilby, Ralph J. Bunche, Harold Courlander, Emil Danenberg, Erwin N. Griswold, Melville J. Herskovits, John Homiak, Eduardo C. Mondlane, and J. Milton Yinger. The Mondlane folder also contains a tribute by Simpson (1978), a resolution by Simpson concerning the death of Mondlane (1969), copy of the “Last Rites for Dr. Eduardo C. Mondlane” by Nicholas J. Maro (1969), and an article concerning the assassination of Mondlane (Presbyterian Life, May 15, 1969). Two folders contain correspondence with various individuals (see the inventory for the index of names for each folder). One folder contains letters of unidentified correspondents.

Series 4. Files related to service to college and community, 1950s-70s, n.d. (9 Folders)

This series contains files related to Oberlin College committee work and projects of George E. Simspon; including the Advancement Committee (1968-70, n.d.), Early Retirement Plan (1972-74), an Ad-Hoc Committee on African American Life and Culture (1969, 1971, n.d.), Special Education Opportunities Program grant proposal (1968), and the Fisk University Exchange Program (1950-51). Also included is a restricted file containing materials related to issues discussed in Oberlin College General Faculty Council meetings (1950s -1970s); for example, African American students, proposal concerning the Mudd Center construction, and diversity on the Oberlin College campus. Simpson also served on the Committee on Open Housing for Oberlin, Ohio (one folder, 1961) and the Lorain County Economic Opportunity Committee (one folder, 1969).

Series 5. Financial Records, 1930, 1953-97 (4 folders)

Consists of financial records concerning the publication of Simpson’s writings Black Religions in the New World and Racial and Cultural Minorities. Also included is a folder concerning a royalty contract for a workbook.

Series 6. Lectures, 1923-94 (span), n.d. (4 folders)

Lectures of George E. Simpson covering topics such as “Cultural Relativism” (c. 1960s), “Black Relgions in the New World” (1976), “The Vodun Cult in Haiti” (1976). Other lectures concern individuals such as Ben Lewis (n.d.) and Robert Merton (c. 1958). Two lectures were delivered by other individuals: “John W. Kurtz” by J.R. Reichard (1984), and “Lessons Learned and not Learned at Oberlin” by Johnetta Cole (1994).

Series 7. Writings, 1926-94, n.d. (18 Folders)

Writings of Simpson and others divided into three subseries. Subseries 1. Contains published and unpublished book reviews of Simspon’s works, and Simpson’s reviews of the writings of other authors. Subseries 2. Includes the published and unpublished writings of George Simpson, including reprints of journal articles written by Simpson, Simpson and Joseph G. Moore, and Simpson and J. Milton Yinger. Simpson’s articles include pieces on culture, religion, and medicine in Haiti, Trinidad, Nigeria, Latin America, and Jamaica (1931-56, 1961-85, n.d.). Simpson and Joseph G. Moore wrote an article titled “A Comparative Study of Acculturation in Morant Bay and West Kingston, Jamaica (1957, 2 copies), and Simpson and J. Milton Yinger wrote articles concerning race relations in the U.S. (1953), segregation in an industrial society (1958), and the integration of Americans of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Oriental, and Indian descent (1956-57). Subseries 3. Writings by Other Authors consists of works collected by Simpson such as The Centennial Elm (1935) by Laurence Simpson, and The Emperor wore Clothes (1989) by Harold Courlander.

Series 8. Photographs, 1962-71, n.d. (1 Folder)

This series consists of photographs of George Simpson and colleagues at graduation ceremonies and the Conference on Social Stratification in Rio de Janeiro (1962). Also included are photographs of Simpson receiving an Alumni Award of Merit at the 1967 Alumni Banquet, his residence in Oberlin, and Jean Baptiste Cinéas.

Series 9. Audio and Video Recorings, 1937 (1 Folder, 1 record)

This series consists of a videotape (a 1985 copy) entitled ‘George Eaton Simpson Film Study of Plaisance, Haiti,’ 1937, and a phonograph record, Jamaican Cult Music, recorded by George E. Simpson and pressed in Oberlin, 1955. Access copies of the sound recording (on the Folkways label) are held in the Conservatory Library.

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