Modjeska Monteith Simkins

Modjeska Monteith Simkins (December 5, 1899 – April 5, 1992) was a prominent African American civil rights activist in South Carolina. Her work on behalf of African Americans and the civil rights movement included efforts in the areas of education, healthcare, voting rights, and historical preservation.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Modjeska Monteith was born in Columbia, South Carolina, the youngest of eight children. Her parents, Henry Clarence Monteith and Rachel Evelyn Hall Monteith, were both educators. She attended Benedict College and then transferred to South Carolina State College where she earned a degree in education.

Career[edit | edit source]

Simkins worked as a teacher and then as a public health worker. She became involved in civil rights activism in the 1930s, joining the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She served as the secretary for the South Carolina NAACP and played a key role in the Briggs v. Elliott case, which was a precursor to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Later life and legacy[edit | edit source]

Simkins continued her activism into her later years, focusing on preserving African American history and culture. She passed away in 1992. Her home in Columbia, South Carolina, is now a historic landmark and museum.

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Modjeska Monteith Simkins House at the National Park Service

Modjeska Monteith Simkins Resources
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