William j simmons biography
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William Joseph Simmons
Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan (–)
For the president of Simmons College of Kentucky, see William J. Simmons (teacher).
William namn Simmons (May 7, – May 18, ) was an American preacher and fraternal en person eller ett verktyg som arrangerar eller strukturerar saker who founded and led the second Ku Klux Klan from Thanksgiving evening until being ousted in by Hiram Wesley Evans.[1]
Early life
[edit]Simmons was born in Harpersville, Alabama, to Calvin Henry Simmons, a physician, and his wife Lavonia Simmons née Davis, daughter of Thomas C. Davis.[2] In his younger years, he attempted to study medicine at Johns Hopkins University, but unable to afford it, opted to serve in the Spanish–American War instead. After receiving an honorable discharge, he became a teacher for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, but was suspended by the church in for inefficiency.
Simmons later joined two churches and twelve different fraternal organizations, which flourished in the early twentieth ce
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Civil Rights Digital Library
- Authoritative Name:
- Simmons, William J.,
- Biography:
- Simmons was born in in Utica, Mississippi. He attended Millsaps College and Mississippi College, graduating from the latter in After serving in World War II, Simmons returned to Jackson, Mississippi and became active in organizing the Jackson Citizens' Council. He devoted his full-time service to the Citizens' Council movement. Simmons functioned as editor and publisher of The Citizen, Administrator of Citizens' Councils of America, and President of Citizens' Council Forum. As a Citizens' Council representative, he appeared on local and network television and spoke before audiences throughout the United States. Simmons published "Race in America: The Conservative Stand" in The Search For America.
- Associated Subjects:
- Simmons, William J.,
Simmons, William J., --Interviews - Archival Collections And Reference Resources:
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Reverend William J. Simmons
Reverend William J. Simmons
William J. Simmons was born enslaved in Charleston, South Carolina, to Edward and Esther Simmons. While Simmons was young, his mother fled slavery with her three children, him and his two sisters.
Simmons worked his way from enslavement to President of the State University of Kentucky, now known as Simmons College of Kentucky. In , the Kentucky Normal Theological Institute in Louisville opened its doors under its first President, Rev. Elijah P. Marrs. Simmons succeeded Rev. Marrs.
Under the leadership of Simmons, the school would begin to flourish in such a way that it would eventually be renamed &#;Simmons University&#; in appreciation for his contributions. By the school had students, and by it was offering professional degrees in nursing and law in cooperation with the University of Louisville.
During his year tenure (–), the school became a full university and expanded its offerings to include liberal arts, college p