Washington and Lee University
Pamela Hemenway Simpson, one of the most influential figures of the last four decades at Washington and Lee, died at her home in Lexington on Oct. 4. She was 65.
“She was a dear friend and colleague,” said President Ken Ruscio ’76. “Washington and Lee is a different place and a much better place because of her. And Lexington and Rockbridge County are better places, too.”
During her 38 years on the faculty, Simpson made myriad contributions, both in the classroom, where she was “the embodiment of W&L’s teacher-scholar” model, as Ruscio described her, and in countless other formal and informal positions.
Simpson was the first female tenure-track professor at W&L and the first female professor to receive an endowed chair, when she became the inaugural Ernest Williams II Professor of Art History in 1993. Not only did she pave the way for women faculty at W&L, mentoring them and serving as a role model, but she also played a critical role in the transition to coeducation in the mid-1980s. From 1984 to 1986, she chaired the Coeducation Steering Committee, which implemented the decision to admit women.
Simpson discussed her pioneering role with the Roanoke Times & World-News in 1981, when she became assistant dean of the College. She recalled a student who told her he had enjoyed her course. “Then he said, ‘I didn’t think I could learn from a woman, but I did,’ “ Simpson related.
Born on Sept. 8, 1946, in Omaha, Neb., she earned a B.A. in art from Gettysburg College (1968); an M.A. in art history from the University of Missouri (1970); and a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Delaware (1974).
Simpson spent her entire teaching career at W&L except for a 1973 stint at the Penn State Extension Campus in Media, Pa. She arrived at W&L in 1973 as an instructor, becoming assistant professor in 1974, associate professor in 1979 and full professor in 1985.
Simpson taught courses on the art and architecture of America, England and modern Europe; women artists; African-American art; and vernacular architecture.
Even after being diagnosed with cancer this summer, she had begun the fall term by team-teaching three courses, explaining that “as long as I’m sitting, I can talk all day long.” Said Ruscio, “Pam was once again exemplifying strength of courage, character and humanity.”
Simpson received several major teaching awards, including the Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in 1995, and the Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) in 2010.
Simpson also twice served as head of the Department of Art and Art History, and as assistant and then associate dean of the College from 1981 through 1986.
She wrote three books: Cheap, Quick and Easy: Imitative Architectural Materials, 1870–1930 (1999); The Architecture of Historic Lexington (1979), co-authored with Royster Lyle Jr.; and Corn Palaces and Butter Queens: The History of Crop Art and Dairy Sculpture (forthcoming). She also co-edited (with Cindy Mills) Monuments to the Lost Cause: Women, Art and the Landscapes of Southern Memory (2004). She authored numerous exhibition catalogues, articles in the academic and popular press, and book reviews.
A popular speaker at academic conferences, she was equally in demand by lay audiences and W&L alumni chapters. She gave many talks on the architecture of Lexington and W&L to groups in Lexington and Rockbridge County.
Simpson served as president of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, president of the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians and board member of the Society of Architectural Historians. She participated in every annual meeting since 1976 of SECAC and served as president and as editor of its journal, the Southeastern College Art Review, from 1979 to 1992.
Simpson also held leadership and volunteer posts in the local chapter of the National Organization for Women, Project Horizon, the Historic Lexington Foundation, the Rockbridge Historical Society, the Rockbridge Area Coalition against Sexual Assault, the Rockbridge Regional Library and the R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church.
In September, W&L announced the establishment of the Pamela H. Simpson Professorship. It will be held by a member of the undergraduate faculty who, like her, exemplifies the highest standards of teaching, scholarship and service.
Simpson is survived by her husband, Henry H. Simpson; her son, Peter Simpson, and his wife, Laura; her grandchildren, Henry and Helen; her brother, Robert Hemenway; and her father, Dr. Myrle E. Hemenway.
The family has requested that those wishing to make memorial donations direct them to the Rockbridge Valley Chapter of the National Organization for Women (P.O. Box 1848, Merrifield, VA 22116-1848); Project Horizon (120 Varner Lane, Lexington, VA 24450); the Historic Lexington Foundation (22 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450); the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic (25 Northridge Lane, Suite 3, Lexington, VA 24450); or the Rockbridge Historical Society (101 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450).
-Walt Shugart '61
"I hope her family, friends, the W&L community and those in the organizations she supported will soon be able to take comfort in the lasting legacy she left at W&L, in Lexington and in countless other places where her fortunate students live."
-John Rudder '83
"I will argue that most females here, and a lot of men, look to her as a trailblazer."
-George Bent, head, W&L Department of Art and Art History
"Her disciplined guidance helped me steer past distractions."
-Alice L. Harrell '90
"Beyond her sincere investment in her students, Prof. Simpson's deep understanding and passion for her subject taught me to sincerely appreciate art."
-Julia Pleasants '08
"She helped me discover what it is like to truly love your work. Who knew writing a thesis would be fun?"
-Susan Rudolph '07
"She had a huge influence on me and my world view."
-Lewis Perkins '93
We encourage readers to add their memories of Pam Simpson to the comments at the end of our online news story (news.blogs.wlu.edu/2011/10/07/pamela-hemenway-simpson-1946-2011/) and to our Facebook page.