Charlene Garcia Simms (born 1952) is a teacher-librarian from Garcia, Colorado. She and her husband founded El Escritorio Publishing which focuses on Southwest history and genealogy.

Biography

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Charlene Garcia Simms grew up in Garcia, Colorado.[1] She is a relation of Maria Josefa Jaramillo Carson, the third wife of Kit Carson.[2]

She was married to Eduard Simms.[1][3]

Expanded description

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She received an MBA from Colorado State University Pueblo, and earned her Master's of Library Science from the University of Arizona.[1] While at Arizona, she was a Knowledge River Scholar.[3]

Garcia Simms and her husband are the co-owners of El Escritorio Publishing.[1] The company has published 15 books with a focus on Southwest history and geneaology.[4] They published Colorado State Fair Fiesta Day magazines for over 20 years, and her private collection has been used to research Pueblo's music history.[5] She also has a collection at CSU Pueblo on Olibama Lopez Tushar.[6]

In addition to publishing poetry and books, she has coordinated public art shows focusing on Hispanic artists with masterpieces but no place to showcase them.[1] She published Spanish/Mexican Legacy of Latinos in Pueblo County and an inspired mural called "Corazon de Pueblo."[1]

Garcia Simms worked at the Bruce Randolph School in Denver for 3 years, then in June 2008 returned to Pueblo to be the Hispanic resources librarian at Robert H. Rawlings Public Library.[3] She is currently the Genealogy and Special Collections Librarian at the Pueblo City-County Library System,[4] and was previously the President of the Genealogy Society of Hispanic America.[1]

Garcia Simms has been part of the Fray Angelico Chavez chapter of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America.[3] She was the Chairperson of the 2015 National Conference Team for the organization, and she edited their official newsletter.[7]

In 2021, Garcia Simms received a research grant from the Aztlán Center at CSU Pueblo to explore the historical lives of Chicana women in New Mexico and Colorado.[8]

Recognition

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In 2019, Simms was inducted as a Corn Mother for her social justice work and community support.[9]

Published works

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Books

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Poetry

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Martinez Martinez, Deborah (2020). Chicana Activists of Colorado: Powerful women paper dolls and their stories. Pueblo, CO: Vanishing Horizons.
  2. ^ "Susan Lee Johnson & Charlene Garcia Simms". History Colorado. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Porter, Mary Jean (September 16, 2008). "Mining for gold". Pueblo Chieftain.
  4. ^ a b c "Charlene Garcia Simms". Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. ^ Baltazar Martínez, Sandra (May 18, 2022). "NEH grant helps research Pueblo, Colorado's music history". University of California, Riverside.
  6. ^ "Charlene Garcia Simms". Colorado State University Pueblo Library.
  7. ^ "Noticias de Nuestras Raices" (PDF). Genealogical Society of Hispanic America.
  8. ^ "Aztlán Center". University Library. Colorado State University Pueblo. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Charlene Garcia Simms". Return of the Corn Mothers.
  10. ^ "CHAC kicks off Latinx Heritage Month honoring Familia and Food". Your Hub. Denver Post.
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