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Brooks Simpson

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Barrett Downtown
Interim Associate Dean
University Staff, DTPHX Campus, Mailcode 1612
MLF Teachers College
Professor
Faculty, DTPHX Campus, Mailcode 7120
Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication
Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1612
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Professor
Faculty, DTPHX Campus, Mailcode 3251
Barrett Honors College
Honors Faculty Fellow
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1612
Biography

Brooks D. Simpson is ASU Foundation Professor of History at Arizona State University, where he is a member of the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts faculty as well as Honors Faculty at Barrett, The Honors College. During the spring 2017 semester he will be the associate dean (interim) at Barrett's Downtown campus. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1979 with a BA in History and International Relations and earned his MA (1982) and PhD (1989) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Research Interests

As a historian of the United States, Dr. Simpson studies American political and military history as well as the American presidency, specializing in the era of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Publications
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Civil War in the East, 1861-1865. (2013).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Civil War: The Third Year Told By Those Who Lived It. (2013).
  • C-SPAN. Abraham Lincoln's War Policies in 1863. (2013).
  • C-SPAN. Generalship at Gettysburg. (2013).
  • C-SPAN. The Chattanooga Campaign. (2013).
  • Fox News. Gettysburg Sesquicentennial. (2013).
  • History (The History Channel). The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents. (2013).
  • History (The History Channel). The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents (1). (2013).
  • History (The History Channel). The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents (2). (2013).
  • History (The History Channel). The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents (4). (2013).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. "Hit Him Again!": The Caning of Charles Sumner. Congress and the Crisis of the 1850s (2012).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. "What Happened on Orchard Knob?". Chattanooga (2012).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. Revisiting Republican Reconstruction Policy. A Political Nation: New Directions in Mid-Nineteenth Century American Political History (2012).
  • Loren Farr, interviewer; Brooks Simpson, interviewee. Interview. (2012).
  • Albert Castel with Brooks D. Simpson. Victors in Blue. (2011).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Civil War in the East, 1861-1865. (2011).
  • Brooks D. Simpson, Stephen W. Sears, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean. The Civil War: The First Year Told By Those Who Lived It. (2011).
  • . . Review of: Bluecoats and Tar Heels: Soldiers and Civilians in Reconstruction North Carolina (2010).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Milestone Documents of African American History (2010).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. US v. Cruikshank. Milestone Documents of African American History (2010).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Grant, Ulysses S. The Yale Biographical Dictionary of American Law (2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Reconstruction Presidents. (2009).
  • David W. Blight and Brooks D. Simpson. Union and Emancipation: Essays on Politics and Race in the Civil War Era. (2009).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. After Shiloh: Grant, Sherman, and Survival. Shiloh (2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Daniel Webster. Milestone Documents of American Leaders (2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. James Buchanan. Milestone Documents of American Leaders (2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Robert E. Lee. Milestone Documents of American Leaders (2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Robert F. Kennedy. Milestone Documents of American Leaders (2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Ulysses S. Grant. Milestone Documents of American Leaders (2009).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. Battles, Leaders, Stories. The Ambrose Bierce Journal (2008).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. Earvin "Magic" Johnson. African American Icons of Sport (2008).
  • Brooks D. Simpson with Rebecca A. Simpson. Derek Jeter. African American Icons of Sport (2008).
  • . . Review of: Vicksburg: The Campaign That Opened the Mississippi (2006).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Bobby Orr. Encyclopedia of New England (2005).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Boston Bruins. Encyclopedia of New England (2005).
  • . . Review of: For Free Press and Equal Rights (2005).
  • . . Review of: Frederickburg! Frwedericksburg! (2005).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . Ex parte Milligan (1866). The Public Debate over Controversial Supreme Court Decisions (2005).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . The Doom of Slavery: Ulysses S. Grant, War Aims, and Emancipation, 1861-1863. Annual Editions/American History: Volume 1 (2005).
  • . . Review of: In the Presence of Mine Enemies (2004).
  • . . Review of: Ulysses S. Grant: An Album (2004).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . Reconstruction. The American Congress (2004).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . Election of 1868. American Presidential Campaigns and Elections (2003).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . Election of 1872. American Presidential Campaigns and Elections (2003).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . Ulysses S. Grant. Buckeye Presidents: Ohioans in the White House (2003).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . The Reforging of a Republican Majority. The Birth of the Grand Old Party: The Republicans' First Generation (2002).
  • Simpson, Brooks D, Grimsley, Mark. The Collapse of the Confederacy. (2001).
  • Grimsley, Mark, Simpson, Brooks D. The Collapse of the Confederacy. (2001).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph over Adversity, 1822-1865. (2000).
  • . . Campaigning With Grant (2000).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . Continuous Hammering and Mere Attrition: Lost Cause Critics and the Military Reputation of Ulysses S. Grant. The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History (2000).
  • Simpson, Brooks D (Author) . How a New Yorker Came to Love the Penguins. Pittsburgh Sports: Stories from the Steel City (2000).
Research Activity
Summer 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
HST 495Methods of Historical Inquiry
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 272The Human Event
HON 492Honors Directed Study
HON 493Honors Thesis
HON 498Pro-Seminar
HON 499Individualized Instruction
HST 792Research
HST 799Dissertation
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 171The Human Event
HST 315Political History of the U. S.
HON 370History of Ideas
HST 799Dissertation
Summer 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
HST 495Methods of Historical Inquiry
Spring 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 272The Human Event
HST 408Civil War & Reconstruction
HST 799Dissertation
Fall 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 370History of Ideas
HON 394Special Topics
HST 799Dissertation
Spring 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 272The Human Event
HST 495Methods of Historical Inquiry
HST 792Research
HST 799Dissertation
Fall 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 370History of Ideas
HST 792Research
HST 799Dissertation
Summer 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
HST 599Thesis
Spring 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 394Special Topics
HST 493Honors Thesis
HON 494Special Topics
HST 499Individualized Instruction
HST 599Thesis
HST 790Reading and Conference
HST 799Dissertation
Fall 2013
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 394Special Topics
HST 408Civil War & Reconstruction
HST 492Honors Directed Study
HST 493Honors Thesis
HST 499Individualized Instruction
HST 592Research
HST 599Thesis
HST 790Reading and Conference
HST 799Dissertation
Spring 2013
Course NumberCourse Title
HON 394Special Topics
HON 494Special Topics
Fall 2012
Course NumberCourse Title
HST 204Historical Themes in the US
HST 591Seminar
HST 790Reading and Conference
Presentations
  • Simpson, Brooks D. "The Rise of Ulysses. S. Grant". Liberty University Civil War Conference (Sep 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The US Army and the Road to Emancipation. Sacred Trust Presentations @ Gettysburg NMP (Jul 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Rise of Ulysses S. Grant, 1862. 2012 Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College (Jun 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Civil War Blogging. 2012 Civil War Institute (Jun 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Mark Grimsley's The Hard Hand of War. 2012 Civil War Institute (Jun 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D., and Grimsley, Mark. Antietam Battlefield Tour. 2012 Civil War Institute (Jun 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Lincoln, Grant, Congress, and the Lieutenant General Act. United States Capitol Historical Society (May 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Civil War and Its Aftermath. United States Capitol Historical Society (May 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Civil War Generalship. Society of Military Historians Annual Meeting (May 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. The Road to Emancipation. Tulsa CC Series on the American Civil War (Apr 2012).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. Barack Obama: Promise and Reality. Barack Obama and American Democracy Conference, Tufts Univ (Mar 2012).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. The Fruits of Victory: Ulysses S. Grant and the Legacy of the Civil War. Great Lakes History Conference (Oct 2011).
  • Brooks D. Simpson. Origins of the Department of Justice. OAH Convention (Apr 2011).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. "Union War Planning in 1861". US Capitol Historical Society (May 2010).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. "Nationalism in the Civil War Era". Southern Historical Association Annual Meeting (Nov 2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. "Lincoln, Congress, and the Management of Military Affairs". US Capitol Historical Society (May 2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. "Lincoln and His Contemporaries". Lincoln Bicentennial: ALPLM (Feb 2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks D. "Lincoln and the Civil War". Lincoln Bicentennial: ALPLM (Feb 2009).
  • Simpson, Brooks. NEW APPROACHES TO CIVIL WAR MILITARY HISTORY. Southern Historical Association (Nov 2006).
  • Simpson, Brooks. Abraham Lincoln: Flawed Warlord. The Art of Command in the Civil War Conference (Oct 2005).
  • Simpson, Brooks. Homefront and Battlefront in the Civil War. Grand Valley State University/Great Lakes History Conference (Oct 2005).
  • Simpson, Brooks. The Grant/Lincoln Relationship. The Art of Command in the Civil War (Oct 2005).
  • Simpson, Brooks. Ulysses S. Grant. The Ohio Eight: Ohio in Presidential Politics (Oct 2004).
  • Simpson, Brooks. Ulysses S. Grant and the 1864 Overland Campaign. Central Virginia Battlefield Trust (May 2004).
  • Simpson, Brooks. Declaration of Independence Presentation/Naturalization Ceremony
  • Simpson, Brooks. Home Front and Battle Front. Massachusetts School of Law Civil War Symposium
  • Simpson, Brooks. The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
  • Simpson, Brooks. The Politics of Command. Massachusetts School of Law Civil War Symposium
  • Simpson, Brooks. The Road to Gettysburg. Blue and Gray Education Society
  • Simpson, Brooks. PFF and Graduate Training. American Historical Association
  • Simpson, Brooks. The Education of Historians in the 21st Century. American Historical Association Meeting
  • Simpson, Brooks. George B. McClellan. History America Tours, United States Military Academy
  • Simpson, Brooks. Searching for Ulysses. Illinois History Symposium
  • Simpson, Brooks. Explaining Victory. Southern Historical Association
  • Simpson, Brooks. Grant at Shiloh. Civil War Institute
  • Simpson, Brooks. Working to Define the Meaning of Victory: U. S. Grant and the Memory of the Civil War. Southern Historical Association
  • Simpson, Brooks. Combating Catastrophe: Ulysses S. Grant from Cold Harbor to the Crater. Deep Delta Civil War Symposium
  • Simpson, Brooks. Grant and the Wilderness Campaign. Mosby heritage Association
  • Simpson, Brooks. How Did Freedom Come?: A Reappraisal of the Emancipation Debate. Abraham Lincoln Symposium
  • Simpson, Brooks. The American Sphinx?. Conference on Presidential Rhetoric, Bush Presidential Library
  • Simpson, Brooks. The Midwest and the Civil War. Massachusetts School of Law Civil War Symposium
  • Simpson, Brooks. Ulysses S. Grant and the Rhetoric of Reconstruction. Texas A&M Conference of Nineteenth Century Presidential Rhetoric
Service
  • Barrett, The Honors College, Honors Faculty Advisory Council (2013 - Present)
  • Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Associate Director (2011 - Present)
  • Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Associate Director (2011 - Present)
  • University Press of Kansas, Manuscript Reviewer (2010 - Present)
  • University Press of Kansas, Manuscript Reviewer (2010 - Present)
  • Civil War History, Editorial Board (2010 - Present)
  • Civil War History, Editorial Board (2010 - Present)
  • Civil War History, Editorial Board (2010 - Present)
  • Civil War History, Editorial Board (2010 - Present)
  • The Johns Hopkins University Press, Manuscxript Referee (2010 - Present)
  • University Press of Florida, Manuscript Referee (2010 - Present)
  • ABC-CLIO African American Academic Solutions, Editorial Board member (2010 - Present)
  • ABC-CLIO African American Academic Solutions, Editorial Board member (2010 - Present)
  • Barrett, The Honors College, Adviser (2009 - Present)
  • Barrett, The Honors College, Adviser (2009 - Present)
  • Barrett, The Honors College, Adviser (2009 - Present)
  • Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, Member (2008 - Present)
  • Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, Member (2008 - Present)
  • Civic Literacy Board, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Member (2003 - Present)
  • Civic Literacy Board, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Member (2003 - Present)
  • Civic Literacy Board, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Member (2003 - Present)
  • Harlan Davidson, Inc, Advisory Editor (2003 - Present)
  • Harlan Davidson, Inc, Advisory Editor (2003 - Present)
  • Harlan Davidson, Inc, Advisory Editor (2003 - Present)
  • Harlan Davidson, Inc, Advisory Editor (2003 - Present)
  • Harlan Davidson, Inc, Advisory Editor (2003 - Present)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Great Campaigns of the Civil War, Co-editor (1994 - Present)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Great Campaigns of the Civil War, Co-editor (1994 - Present)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Great Campaigns of the Civil War, Co-editor (1994 - Present)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Great Campaigns of the Civil War, Co-editor (1994 - Present)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Great Campaigns of the Civil War, Co-editor (1994 - Present)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Great Campaigns of the Civil War, Co-editor (1994 - Present)
  • Organization of American Historians, OAH Distinguished Lecturer (2010 - 2016)
  • Abraham Lincoln Association, Board of Directors (1996 - 2015)
  • Melikian Center, Speaker/PI for CSRD (2012 - 2014)
  • Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, Chair (2008 - 2014)
  • PIP/ASU, Faculty Mentor (2013 - 2014)
  • Arizona Humanities Council, Speaker (2013 - 2013)
  • Organization of American Historians, OAH Distinguished Lecturer (2010 - 2013)
  • ASU Downtown: Evaluator for Promotion, Evaluator (2013 - 2013)
  • ASU NEH Summer Stipends Internal Evaluator, Evaluator (2013 - 2013)
  • Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Associate Director (2011 - 2013)
  • Rio Verde Community Center, Speaker (2013 - 2013)
  • Peter Seaborg Award Jury, Juror (2012 - 2012)
  • Abraham Lincoln Association, Board of Directors (1996 - 2012)
  • FinnFest, Tucson, AZ, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • Arizona Humanities Council/Phoenix Public Library/Making Sense of the Civil War, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • Arizona Humanities Council/Scottsdale Civic Center, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • MindQuest of Scottsdale, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • Melikian Center, Speaker/PI for CSRD (2012 - 2012)
  • APS Back to School, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • Arizona Humanities Council/Yuma Public Library/Making Sense of the Civil War, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • National Air Filtration Association, Keynote Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • Arizona Humanities Council/Safford Public Library/Making Sense of the Civil War, Speaker (2012 - 2012)
  • SHPRS Transition Committee, Member (2001 - 2012)
  • Huntington Library Conference "Civil War Lives", Speaker (2011 - 2011)
  • NEH TAH "Ohio Goes to War," Cleveland, Ohio, Speaker/Workshop Organizer (2011 - 2011)
  • Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, Member (2008 - 2011)
  • PCEP, Speaker (2011 - 2011)
  • Rio Verde Community Center, Speaker (2011 - 2011)
  • Arizona Humanities Council/Monet Vista Village College, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Bell County Historical Society, Belton, TX, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • FCF Holland Center, Scottsdale, AZ/MindQuest series, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Rocky Mountain Civil War Round Table, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Spirit of the Senses, Phoenix, AZ, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Siena Research Institute, Particpant (2010 - 2010)
  • NEH Landmarks/Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • NEH Landmarks/Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Search Committee, Goldwater Chair, Member (2009 - 2010)
  • Rio Verde Community Center, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Arizona Humanities Council/Granite Reef Senior Center, Speaker (2010 - 2010)
  • Scottsdale Civil War Round Table, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Humanities Council: Mesa Community College, Main Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Lake Havasu City Freedom Bridge project, Adviser (2008 - 2009)
  • NEH Landmarks/Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Humanities Council: Pima County Superior Court, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • NEH Landmarks/Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • US State Department, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Humanities Council: Maricopa Library, Sun Lakes, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Humanities Council: Sedona Public Library, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Humantities Council: Sons of the American Revolution, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Associated Press, Interviewee (2009 - 2009)
  • Associated Press, Interviewee (2009 - 2009)
  • CNN, Interviewee (2009 - 2009)
  • US State Department, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • AZ13 McMahon Show, Panelist (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Humanities Council: Basha High School, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • Arizona Republic, Interviewee (2009 - 2009)
  • KAET: Horizon, Panelist (2009 - 2009)
  • KPNX 12 News, Interviewee (2009 - 2009)
  • Rio Verde Community Center, Speaker (2009 - 2009)
  • St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Interviewee (2009 - 2009)
  • Spirit of the Senses, speaker (2007)
  • Ann Arbor Civil War Round table, Speaker (2007 - 2007)
  • KTAR, interviewee (2007)
  • Rio Verde Community Center, Speaker (2007)
  • Oxford University Press, Referee (2006 - 2006)
  • American Council of Learned Societies, Referee (2006 - 2006)
  • Promotion and Tenure Committee, Chair (2005 - 2006)
  • Probationary Faculty Review Committee, Department of History, Member (2006 - 2006)
  • Promotion and tenure of Richard McCaslin, Department of History, University of North Texas, External reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • Promotion of Glenn M. Linden, Department of History, Southern Methodist University, External Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • Civil War History, Referee (2006 - 2006)
  • Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate, Chair (2003 - 2006)
  • Journal of American History, Referee (2006 - 2006)
  • Department of History Graduate Program, Interim DGS de facto for the NA field (2006 - 2006)
  • US Field, Chair (2002 - 2005)
  • Department Job Search, Scholarly Publishing, Chair (2005 - 2005)
  • ASU/PCEP: Adventures in Learning, Instructor (2005 - 2005)
  • Graduate Admissions, Member (2004 - 2005)
  • US Job Search/History Education, Chair (2004 - 2005)
  • University of Kentucky Press Civil War Series, Advisory Board (2002 - 2004)
  • University of Nebraska Press/Major Issues of the Civil War Era, Co-editor (1998 - 2004)
  • Abraham Lincoln Association, Board of Directors (1996 - 2004)
  • Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Research Fellow (2004)
  • University of Nebraska Press, War in History series, Board of editors (2004)
  • Department of History/AHC, Organizer (2004 - 2004)
  • Department of History, Speaker (2004 - 2004)
  • Department of History/AHC, Speaker (2004 - 2004)
  • KAET Channel 8 Horizon, Guest (2004 - 2004)
  • Promotion and Tenure Committee, Member (2004 - 2004)
  • AZTV 13, Guest (2004 - 2004)
  • KTAR McMahon Group, Interviewee/Participant (2004 - 2004)
  • US Job Search/International Security, Chair (2004 - 2004)
  • Blue and Gray Education Society, Board of Directors (1999 - 2003)
  • University of Nebraska Press/This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil War Battlefields, Co-editor (1995 - 2003)
  • ASU/PCEP: Adventures in Learning, Instructor (2003)
  • Bowling Green University, Speaker/Instructor (2003)
  • Oasis: Adult Learning, Instructor (2003)
  • Organization of American Historians/National Park Service, Evaluator (2003)
  • Preparing Future Faculty (History), Co-Chair (2003)
  • Steering Committee, Preparing Future Faculty, Member (2003)
  • WGBH-TV (Boston), The American Experience, Advisor (1999 - 2002)
  • Arizona Academic Decathlon, Lead Speaker/Onsite Organizer (Present)
  • Arizona Humanities Council, Speaker (Present)