Guide to the Christina Simmons papers, 1973—2011

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2024

Collection Overview

Title:	Christina Simmons papers
Date range:	1973—2011
Creator:	Simmons, Christina, 1948 -
Extent:	0.75 linear feet (1 file box and 1 half-file box)
Abstract:	This collection contains the professional papers of Christina Simmons, Professor Emerita of History and Women & Gender Studies at University of Windsor, Canada. Her scholarship concentrates on feminist historical studies; marriage; American civilization; and gender, race, and sexuality. She received her MA in American Civilization from Brown University in 1975 and her PhD in American Civilization from Brown in 1982. Materials document Simmons' academic career, involvement in Marxist Feminist Group 2, and writings. Materials include correspondence, syllabi, handwritten notes, research materials, draft writings, and conference presentations. The collection dates from 1973—2011.
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	MS.2024.022

Scope & content

This collection contains the professional papers of Christina Simmons, Professor Emerita of History and Women & Gender Studies at University of Windsor, Canada. Her scholarship concentrates on feminist historical studies; marriage; American civilization; and gender, race, and sexuality. She received her MA in American Civilization from Brown University in 1975 and her PhD in American Civilization from Brown in 1982. Materials document Simmons' academic career, involvement in Marxist Feminist Group 2, and writings. Materials include correspondence, syllabi, handwritten notes, research materials, draft writings, and conference presentations. The collection dates from 1973—2011 and is arranged into 2 series.

Series 1, BROWN UNIVERSITY, 1974-1979, contains materials from Simmon's time in Brown's American Civilization graduate program. Files contain correspondence related to the women studies program at Brown, notes from the 1979 Simone de Beauvoir Second Sex conference, research on women's history, and syllabi and course materials courses Simmons facilitated or in which she participated. Course titles include "Women in the Contemporary World" and "Society Writes Biology.". This series is arranged alphabetically by title of course, group, or event.

Series 2, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, 1979-2011 documents Simmons' tenure at the University of Michigan and the University of Windsor. Files include graduate and undergraduate syllabi on women's history and history of marriage, correspondence with historian Jonathan Katz, correspondence with the head of the University of Windsor History Department on women's history courses, correspondence related to a proposed panel on African-American history of marriage, and notes on the Planned Parenthood 1988 Sexual Literacy Symposium in which Simmons presented a paper. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women.
• Feminist Theory Archive.

Subject Topics

• American -- History -- 20th century
• Brown University--Alumni and alumnae
• Gender and politics
• Gender and Sexuality.
• Gender and society
• Sexuality Studies.
• Women and Gender at Brown University

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 2 series.

• Series 1. Brown University
• Series 2. Career Development

Biographical/Historical Note

Christina Simmons is Professor Emerita of History and Women's Studies at the University of Windsor. Her scholarship concentrates on American women's history, American religious history, African American history, sexual politics, Protestant theology, and literature. She taught at Mount St. Vincent University from 1982-83, University of Cincinnati, Raymond Walters College from 1983-88, University of Michigan in 1990, and University of Windsor from 1990-2014. She received her MA in American Civilization from Brown University in 1975 and her PhD in American Civilization from Brown in 1982.

Simmons published Making Marriage Modern: Women's Sexuality from the Progressive Era to World War II in 2009. Simmons has also written numerous articles on companionate marriage, marriage for African American women, sex education, American dating and courtship rituals, and sexuality and Victorianism. Simmons has presented, as well as chaired, panels on women's studies and history.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. Advance notice is required to view any audiovisual media or born-digital records that may exist in this collection. Audiovisual media and born-digital records in this collection may not have been reformatted yet. Researchers may request access to copies by contacting the John Hay Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. Access to original physical audiovisual or born-digital media is restricted.
Use of the materials:	All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the John Hay Library are requested to complete a Notice of Intent to Publish, prior to reproducing, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Christina Simmons papers, MS.2024.022, Box [#], Folder [#], Pembroke Center Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Christina Simmons in 2024.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Alissa Simon, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-10-21.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Curatorial work provided by Mary O. Murphy, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Inventory

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