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Life

James B. Simpson’s passion was collecting the words of others. His interest in quotes stemmed from his early years in the newsroom. He left his career as a journalist at 38 to become a priest. However, he retained a strong appreciation for journalism and applied this to other aspects of his life. A voracious reader, he turned his analytical eye to the words of others, always searching for an interesting, meaningful, or unique phrase. Daily, he cataloged his favorite quotes from several news sources, both print and broadcast. The Rev. Simpson would eventually publish several volumes of quotation books under the name of Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations. His work continues to be a trusted and recognized favorite among journalists, scholars, academics and quote enthusiasts. The Rev. Simpson wrote that Contemporary Quotations picks up where James Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (first published in 1855) leaves off in that it seeks to capture the important quotes of our time as, or before, they become classics. One of the most important elements of his quotes, he wrote, was that they were accessible to his readers.

Living on at AU

The Rev. Simpson died in 2002 and bequeathed his quote archives to the School of Communication at American University in Washington, D.C. His work is hosted at the James B. Simpson room at the school and is carried on under the James B. Simpson Fellowship. The fellowship seeks to further the Rev. Simpson’s vision by creating a vibrant online community for quote enthusiasts from all walks of life. The words of others hold an important place in the lives of the modern day consumer of information and we hope to use this Web space to open up a lively dialogue surrounding contemporary quotations. Father Simpson felt that collecting quotations was a useful way of cataloging the sentiments of our time, and we concur wholeheartedly.

Our Staff

Click here to learn more about James B. Simpson Fellow Danna L. Walker, Ph.D. or e-mail: Danna Walker.