- unitid
-
{"value"=>"25307", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 619", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b16489326x", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1972-2006", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1972/2006"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Ron Simmons papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"7 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6.42 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Ron Simmons, an early Black LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning) rights activist in the 1970s and 1980s. The Ron Simmons papers contain manuscripts for several of his writings, correspondence, research material, and material related to his professional work."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Simmons, Ron, 1950-", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Ron Simmons, an early Black LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning) rights activist in the 1970s and 1980s, was instrumental in building Us Helping Us, People into Living, Inc., an HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care services organization that specializes in services for Black gay and bisexual men. Simmons participated in a number of pioneering progressive Black LGBTQ organizations including the National Coalition of Black Gays and the DC Coalition of Black Lesbian and Gay Men, and his seminal essay, \"Some Thoughts on the Challenges Facing Black Gay Intellectuals\", was featured in the groundbreaking anthology, <span class=\"title\">Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men</span> (1991). He was also a cast member, photographer, and field producer for Marlon Riggs's <span class=\"title\">Tongues Untied</span> (1987), the first documentary to specifically deal with Black gay identity.</p> <p>Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Simmons's political sensibilities were roused while in college at the State University of New York at Albany(SUNY Albany), where he received his B.A. in Afro-American Studies (1972), M.A. in African History (1978), and M.S. in Educational Communications (1979). In 1972, Simmons served as the editor-in-chief of SUNY Albany's undergraduate yearbook, <span class=\"title\">Torch</span>, which, for its time, contained controversial issues and images dealing with homosexuality and the Vietnam War. In 1973, as a graduate student, he penned \"Faggotales,\" arguably the first column written specifically from a Black gay male perspective for the school newspaper. Simmons received his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Howard University (1987), and served as an assistant professor in mass communication, history and theory, radio and television production, still photography, and Black film and research methods from 1986-1992.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Ron Simmons papers contain manuscripts for several writings including \"Some Thoughts on the Challenges Facing Black Intellectuals\", \"Faggotales\", and other early writings dating to the 1970s; correspondence; a file for Simmons's editorial and layout work for <span class=\"title\">Blacklight</span> magazine; a copy of the \"Torch\" yearbook (1972); and clippings. Other items include a copy of writer Keith Boykin's dissertation \"Black Gay Manifesto\" (1992); correspondence with colleagues such as filmmaker Marlon Riggs and writers Essex Hemphill, Audre Lorde, and Max Smith; files for early Black gay organizations including National Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, DC Black Gay Men and Women's Community Conference, Gay Men of African Descent; periodicals such as <span class=\"title\">BGM</span>, <span class=\"title\">BLK</span>, and <span class=\"title\">MOJA</span>; material from the conference Black Nations/Queer Nations (1995); an interview with Sylvester (1992); and files of early mainstream gay publications.</p> <p>There are also subject files for homosexuality in Africa, Same Gender Loving, and Black LGBTQ artists; and general LGBTQ magazines, newsletters, flyers, and research files dating to the early 1970s.</p> <p>The collection also contains grant proposals written by Simmons for Us Helping Us (1994-2005), biographical statements, resumes, educational transcripts, and research papers.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Ron Simmons papers are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25307#c1598419'>Personal papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1972-2006</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25307#c1598438'>Writing</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1975-1992</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25307#c1598459'>Professional papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1972-2005</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25307#c1598564'>Research files</a></div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Arranged into four series: (1) Personal; (2) Writing; (3) Professional; and (4) ResearchSubject files.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Ron Simmons, 2006.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Transferred to the General Research and Reference Division: books</p> <p>Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Accessioned by Steven G. Fullwood, July 2006.</p>"}
- relatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>In the Life Archive (ITLA) miscellaneous collections, Sc MG 736, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture</p>"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark.", "date"=>"2020 October 15"}
- date_start
-
1972
- keydate
-
1972
- date_end
-
2006
- date_inclusive_start
-
1972
- date_inclusive_end
-
2006
- extent_statement
-
6.42 linear feet (7 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"[Item], Ron Simmons papers, Sc MG 619, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}