1 10 5 https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/Celebrating Simms Collection The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School/simms00023-1966-reunion.jpg e53d3ce69a0866bf886d34ea5e2d4497 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Celebrating Simms Collection: The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School Description An account of the resource The first series in the Celebrating Simms Collection consists of approximately 450 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2016 Celebrating Simms exhibit. The series consists primarily of photographs and some historical documents related to the Effinger St. School (1882–1938); the Lucy F. Simms School (1938-1966); the Simms Reunion Committee (1982–Present); private family photographs documenting life in the Northeast Neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Virginia (1882–1966); and official photographs documenting Harrisonburg’s R4 Urban Renewal Project (1955–1964). The Celebrating Simms Collection consists entirely of digitized materials. It is a post-custodial collection, meaning that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. The individuals who shared their private collections with this project for digitization include: Doris Harper Allen, Howard Curry, Dorothy Dickerson, Twyla French, Billo Harper, Greg Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Dale MacAllister, Edna Mitchell, Deanna Reed, Jennifer Vickers, and Betty Lou Winkey. Some items were also digitized for Celebrating Simms with permission from JMU Special Collections, the Massanutten Regional Library, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (now Rocktown History), and the Daily News-Record. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1867-2016 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Doris Allen Have First Reunion June 1966 Simms School Mrs. Dorothy Strother Simms School Reunion Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1966 Reunion Subject The topic of the resource Lucy F. Simms School School reunions Suits (Clothing) Description An account of the resource A photograph of a group of adults sitting around a table at the first reunion of the Lucy F. Simms School. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Twyla French Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Jun-66 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource black-and-white photographs Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context simms00023 Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Doris Harper Allen Dorothy Strother Lucy F. Simms School https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/Celebrating Simms Collection The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School/simms00414-trainers-and-girls-basketball-players.jpg c1e91b45f8564e378c75f601acaa425e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Celebrating Simms Collection: The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School Description An account of the resource The first series in the Celebrating Simms Collection consists of approximately 450 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2016 Celebrating Simms exhibit. The series consists primarily of photographs and some historical documents related to the Effinger St. School (1882–1938); the Lucy F. Simms School (1938-1966); the Simms Reunion Committee (1982–Present); private family photographs documenting life in the Northeast Neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Virginia (1882–1966); and official photographs documenting Harrisonburg’s R4 Urban Renewal Project (1955–1964). The Celebrating Simms Collection consists entirely of digitized materials. It is a post-custodial collection, meaning that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. The individuals who shared their private collections with this project for digitization include: Doris Harper Allen, Howard Curry, Dorothy Dickerson, Twyla French, Billo Harper, Greg Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Dale MacAllister, Edna Mitchell, Deanna Reed, Jennifer Vickers, and Betty Lou Winkey. Some items were also digitized for Celebrating Simms with permission from JMU Special Collections, the Massanutten Regional Library, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (now Rocktown History), and the Daily News-Record. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1867-2016 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Trainers and Girls' Basketball Players Subject The topic of the resource Basketball uniforms Young women Lucy F. Simms School Young men Description An account of the resource A photo of trainers "Timmie" Darnell Vickers and Edgar Johnson with players of the Simms girls' basketball team. From left to right: Doris Harper Allen, Mary Williams, Eddie Harris, Delores Davis, and Maxine Holley. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Billo Harper Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource black-and-white photographs Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context simms00414 Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Darnell Vickers Delores Davis Doris Harper Allen Eddie Harris Edgar Johnson Mary Williams Maxine Holley https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/Celebrating Simms Collection The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School/simms00342-local-history-comes-to-life.pdf 841c7c14cfc2c572fb06b52bad327a45 PDF Text Text Skip to Main Content NEWS ▼   TOPICS ▼   SOCIAL ▼   COLLEGE NEWS JMU IN THE COMMUNITY ▼   PUBLICATIONS ▼   STAFF Local history comes to life JMU students and community members partner to preserve African­American history BY ROBERT HAROLD TUCKER   (L to R) Doris Harper Allen, one of Simms' former students, with JMU students Deana Forbes, Brett Seekford and Hannah Jones at the opening of the exhibit in April. SUMMARY: "Celebrating Simms" is the first permanent exhibition dedicated to African­American history in the Shenandoah Valley. The exhibit, honoring the iconic Harrisonburg educator Lucy F. Simms, launched in April, culminating a yearlong project in which students worked in concert with community members to collect archival materials ▼ ARCHIVE �from libraries and families, then designed the exhibit, a companion website and printed booklet. A collaboration between a team of JMU students and the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project has reanimated history at the local Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center. Together, the partners created a permanent history display featuring 59 panels and more than 100 photos at the center, which honors the life and legacy of Harrisonburg’s iconic African­American educator and the school named in her honor. BACK TO TOP “Celebrating Simms” is the first permanent exhibition dedicated to African­American history in the Shenandoah Valley. “The value of the Celebrating Simms exhibition to the community is so great it defies description, “ said Robin Lyttle of the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project. “This exhibition will give everyone a better understanding about what black America went through to get an education.  We do not learn this history in school.  If we did, we would have a better understanding of one another.” �Simms was born enslaved in 1857, but eventually earned a degree from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and settled in Harrisonburg to teach nearly 2,000 students from three generations of families. The school was built as a memorial to her shortly after her death in 1934, and served African­ American students from 1938 to 1965. The exhibit launched in April, culminating a yearlong project of interdisciplinary students guided by English professor Mollie Godfrey and Sean McCarthy, professor of writing, rhetoric and technical communication. Students worked in concert with community members to collect archival materials from libraries and families. Students then designed the exhibit, a companion website and printed booklet. This was an excellent example of how the university and the community can come together with a great outcome. �outcome. — Robin Lyttle, Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project “My interactions with the community were the most memorable part of the experience,” said Brett Seekford (’17), an English major from New Market, Virginia.  “As an aspiring academic, I realized the importance of reflecting not only on national themes but also on the investigation of local history. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.” “This was an excellent example of how the university and the community can come together with a great outcome,” said Lyttle. “Many of the photos and ephemera came from the personal collections of the Simms students and their descendants. The JMU students took on a huge challenge and rose to the occasion, doing an amazing job in telling this history. This exhibition will be viewed for many, many years and I am proud to have been a part of it.” “The exhibit is important for the community because it recognizes the northeast neighborhood's contributions to the city of Harrisonburg,” said Seekford. “This history often goes unnoticed, but the �Seekford. “This history often goes unnoticed, but the increased attention it has received through this project informs current and future citizens about the influence of the African­American community on the city's development.” “What if other universities around the country did as JMU has done?” said Lyttle. “What if a Maryland university did a similar project in East Baltimore? Wouldn’t it be great to see a university or college group doing something similar in Ferguson [Missouri] or Oakland?  These projects help empower a neighborhood.“ Published: Monday, May 23, 2016 Last Updated: Monday, May 23, 2016 Related Articles JMU Debaters Help Refine Middle School TED­Ed Talks  Members of JMU"s Debate Team volunteered with the Explore More Discovery Museum to help local middle school students develop big ideas and present their findings in front of an audience. ... Motivating middle schoolers  Researchers, teachers team up to elicit students' best efforts ... Students and Alums roll up their sleeves for #JMUBigEvent  Nearly 500 JMU students and over 300 alumni participated in the 2016 Big Event, a day of service to impact the local community. ... READ MORE �A­Z INDEX  DIRECTORY  EXPENDITURES  PRIVACY MAPS  ACCESSIBILITY  SOCIAL MEDIA  COMMUNITY 800 SOUTH MAIN STREET     JOBS HARRISONBURG, VA 22807  CONTACT US Annual Security and Fire Safety Report   Title IX Policies Student Consumer Information © 2016 JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Celebrating Simms Collection: The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School Description An account of the resource The first series in the Celebrating Simms Collection consists of approximately 450 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2016 Celebrating Simms exhibit. The series consists primarily of photographs and some historical documents related to the Effinger St. School (1882–1938); the Lucy F. Simms School (1938-1966); the Simms Reunion Committee (1982–Present); private family photographs documenting life in the Northeast Neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Virginia (1882–1966); and official photographs documenting Harrisonburg’s R4 Urban Renewal Project (1955–1964). The Celebrating Simms Collection consists entirely of digitized materials. It is a post-custodial collection, meaning that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. The individuals who shared their private collections with this project for digitization include: Doris Harper Allen, Howard Curry, Dorothy Dickerson, Twyla French, Billo Harper, Greg Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Dale MacAllister, Edna Mitchell, Deanna Reed, Jennifer Vickers, and Betty Lou Winkey. Some items were also digitized for Celebrating Simms with permission from JMU Special Collections, the Massanutten Regional Library, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (now Rocktown History), and the Daily News-Record. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1867-2016 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Local History Comes to Life Subject The topic of the resource Lucy F. Simms Harrisonburg (Va.) Description An account of the resource An article discussing the Celebrating Simms project collaboration and exhibit launch. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Robert Harold Tucher Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Madison Magazine Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 16-May Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Madison Magazine Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource articles Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context simms00342 Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Brett Seekford Deana Forbes Doris Harper Allen Hannah Jones https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/files/original/Celebrating Simms Collection The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School/simms00341-ms-lucy-leaves-a-lasting-legacy.pdf 7e97252809d17c7a5cef08814cd42831 PDF Text Text Ms. Lucy leaves a lasting legacy • • • Sammy Criscitello | The Breeze Apr 13, 2016 Sam Taylor | The Breeze Students in JMU’s Documenting Black History class will open an exhibit chronicling the life and accomplishments of Ms. Lucy Simms. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed millions of enslaved African-Americans, including one of Harrisonburg’s first African-American educators — Lucy F. Simms. Known as “Ms. Lucy” to her 1,800 students, Simms’ commitment to helping AfricanAmericans discover their potential was unprecedented, as she missed just one half-day of teaching throughout the duration of her 56-year-long career. �While de facto segregation in the U.S. now only lives in history textbooks, Simms’ legacy is withstanding. After she died in 1934, the Lucy F. Simms School was built in honor of Ms. Lucy, and continued to educate African-Americans in Harrisonburg until integration caused all-black schools to close in 1966. The school is now called the Lucy F. Simms Center for Continuing Education, and on April 20, the center will open an exhibit created by students in JMU’s Documenting Black History class; a special-topics course taught by Mollie Godfrey and Sean McCarthy that strives to honor Simms. Even though 82 years have passed since Simms taught her final lesson, one of her former students still recalls Simms’ impact. “What she taught came deep from within, and you could feel it,” said Doris Allen, 88, a member of Simms’ final class. “She was such a powerful woman; she walked six miles to teach school.” The coming exhibit strives to display Simms’ impressive character to Harrisonburg residents of all ages. It also looks to inform JMU students about the Harrisonburg of days past, as it’ll be temporarily available for viewing on campus in Roop Hall. “That history is often forgotten, so our whole point of doing this is to give a voice to 200 years of students and a community who never really got the chance to talk,” said Emily Nava, a junior history and international affairs double major who wrote an undergraduate thesis on “Black Harrisonburg.” Simms was born into slavery around 1855, and decided to pursue a career in education after being freed in her mid-teens. She attended the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, from 1874 to 1877 alongside Booker T. Washington, with whom she shared the ideal of working to serve the African-American community by helping them discover their intellectual capabilities. After graduating, she returned to the Valley and taught for one year at the Athens “colored” school, which was later called Zenda. She next taught in the basement of �Harrisonburg’s Catholic church, where she notably faced opposition for educating African-Americans. In one documented incident, a member of the janitorial staff would frequently hide her teaching supplies before class in hopes of preventing her from teaching. For the final 52 years of her life, Simms would call the Effinger Street School, a newly established all-black school in Harrisonburg, home. “She started a legacy because you never really had black education — ever,” Nava said. “After the Emancipation Proclamation, when African-American kids could start going to school, black Harrisonburg was the place where they could go to school, so they all commuted here. We have maps of the bus routes, and people traveled two hours to come and be taught by her.” Simms primarily taught lower-level elementary students, and built a strong relationship with each student. She provided each pupil with a detailed report card that included specific comments, and even mentioned their weight and height. If she knew that any of her students had to walk to school, she would meet them on their way. “Her teaching style was that the students would show up, and she would get them ready for the day by fixing their clothes and brushing their hair and teaching them these manners that would help them move forward post-education,” Nava said. “It wasn’t about just the brain but rather the being, and believing that they were good enough to receive an education.” Simms’ impact on Harrisonburg extended outside of the classroom, as she was in the United War Work Campaign, which helped raise money for black troops in World War I. She was also a part of the Colored Teachers Association and was a Sunday school teacher. “One day she was talking to the principal and he was asking about a student in her class who had lighter skin,” Nava said. “He thought that student didn’t belong and she said, ‘How fortunate that student is to belong to a race with such varied skin tones.’ She was known to have said, ‘I am teaching and working for my race.’” �For Lindsey Campbell, another JMU student participating in this project, her sole focus is to satisfy the people who hold Simms’ legacy close to their hearts. “I don’t want to take ownership of it, I don’t want my name on it or anything — I just want the community to feel that we’ve represented their voices and their story well,” Campbell, a senior writing, rhetoric and technical communication major, said. Even though Simms didn’t live to see schools become integrated, many people in Harrisonburg will never forget her impact. In 2015, a mural of Simms was painted on the western wall of the Elizabeth Street parking deck in memory of the foundation she set for educating African-Americans. “Her legacy has lived on because parents have passed the word,” Allen said. “It just keeps on roaring about who she was and how she conducted herself.” Contact Sammy Criscitello at criscisj@dukes.jmu.edu. • � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Celebrating Simms Collection: The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School Description An account of the resource The first series in the Celebrating Simms Collection consists of approximately 450 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2016 Celebrating Simms exhibit. The series consists primarily of photographs and some historical documents related to the Effinger St. School (1882–1938); the Lucy F. Simms School (1938-1966); the Simms Reunion Committee (1982–Present); private family photographs documenting life in the Northeast Neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Virginia (1882–1966); and official photographs documenting Harrisonburg’s R4 Urban Renewal Project (1955–1964). The Celebrating Simms Collection consists entirely of digitized materials. It is a post-custodial collection, meaning that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. The individuals who shared their private collections with this project for digitization include: Doris Harper Allen, Howard Curry, Dorothy Dickerson, Twyla French, Billo Harper, Greg Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Dale MacAllister, Edna Mitchell, Deanna Reed, Jennifer Vickers, and Betty Lou Winkey. Some items were also digitized for Celebrating Simms with permission from JMU Special Collections, the Massanutten Regional Library, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (now Rocktown History), and the Daily News-Record. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1867-2016 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ms. Lucy Leaves a Lasting Legacy Subject The topic of the resource Lucy F. Simms Description An account of the resource An article remembering Lucy F. Simms and her legacy, and promoting the upcoming exhibit bearing her name. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sammy Criscitello Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Breeze Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available James Madison University Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 13-Apr-16 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource The Breeze Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource articles Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context simms00341 Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Harrisonburg (Va.) Doris Harper Allen Emily Nava Lucy F. Simms Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Celebrating Simms Collection: The Story of the Lucy F. Simms School Description An account of the resource The first series in the Celebrating Simms Collection consists of approximately 450 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2016 Celebrating Simms exhibit. The series consists primarily of photographs and some historical documents related to the Effinger St. School (1882–1938); the Lucy F. Simms School (1938-1966); the Simms Reunion Committee (1982–Present); private family photographs documenting life in the Northeast Neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Virginia (1882–1966); and official photographs documenting Harrisonburg’s R4 Urban Renewal Project (1955–1964). The Celebrating Simms Collection consists entirely of digitized materials. It is a post-custodial collection, meaning that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized. The individuals who shared their private collections with this project for digitization include: Doris Harper Allen, Howard Curry, Dorothy Dickerson, Twyla French, Billo Harper, Greg Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Dale MacAllister, Edna Mitchell, Deanna Reed, Jennifer Vickers, and Betty Lou Winkey. Some items were also digitized for Celebrating Simms with permission from JMU Special Collections, the Massanutten Regional Library, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (now Rocktown History), and the Daily News-Record. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Celebrating Simms Project Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available JMU Libraries Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1867-2016 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Trainers and Girls' Basketball Players Subject The topic of the resource Basketball uniforms Young women Lucy F. Simms School Young men Darnell Vickers Delores Davis Doris Harper Allen Eddie Harris Edgar Johnson Mary Williams Maxine Holley