William Gilmore Simms Society / History

The William Gilmore Simms Society

eSimms

The Mission of the Society and Its History

	Purpose The William Gilmore Simms Society was organized to offer scholars and other interested persons an opportunity to share in the study and appreciation of the life and works of William Gilmore Simms, one of the most significant literary figures in nineteenth-century America. A nonprofit educational organization, the Society-- through its meetings, special symposiums, scholarly journal, and website-- provides a means of communication among Simms scholars and expands the possibilities for Simms studies.
	History John C. Guilds, Distinguished Professor in Humanities at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, invited other scholars to consider founding a scholarly society to foster the study of the life and writings of William Gilmore Simms. Under the leadership of Rayburn Moore, Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia, and others, a constitution was drafted and submitted for consideration at the first biennial symposium of Simms scholars at the University of Arkansas in April 1993. At that time the constitution was approved and officers and board members elected. The Society's first president was John C. Guilds.
	Constitution and Bylaws (PDF Format) WGSS Constitution WGSS Bylaws
	Symposia and Conferences Symposia and conferences (typically held every other year) are organized by the society to provide a forum for literary scholars, historians, and others to present new scholarship on Simms, learn about the Simms's life and writings, and to plan and conduct business related to the society and its operations. Conferences have been held at following locations: 1993, The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 1995, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 1996, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 1997, New Orleans, LA (in conjunction with the William Faulkner Society) 2000, Charleston, SC 2002, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 2004, Furman University, Greenville, SC 2006, Bicentennial Celebrations/Symposia, commemorating the 200th anniversary of Simms's birth, were held in the following locations: The Caroliniana Library, The University of South Carolina, Columbia SC The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Barnwell Museum and Historical Society, Barnwell, SC 2008, Cobb House, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 2010, The Caroliniana Library, The University of South Carolina, Columbia SC 2012, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (September 27-29, 2012)

WGSS