Merle Simmons

Dr. Merle E. Simmons came to Indiana University in 1951 as Assistant Professor of Spanish, and in 1962 he became Professor of Spanish and also Professor of Folklore Institute of Indiana University.  Since his retirement in 1983 he has been Professor Emeritus of Spanish and Folklore.

Dr. Simmons held many administrative assignments in addition to teaching at I.U.  Some included Director of teaching associates in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, 1961-1963; Chairman of the Committee on the I.U. Program for Overseas Study in Peru, 1961-1967;  Chairman of the Foreign Study Committee at Indiana University, 1963-1967; Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, 1967-1976; Chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Curriculum for Undergraduate majors of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, 1973-1974; Chairman of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese 1976-1981; and Chairman of the CIC Committee on Study in Mexico, 1971-1983.

Under Dr. Simmons’ direction I.U. established new overseas study programs in Hamburg, Strasbourg, Bologna, Madrid, and Mexico City.  He administered all of these programs for their initial four years and served as resident director in Mexico (summer programs in 1952, 1958, 1965, 1967, and 1975) and Spain (year-long programs in 1967 and 1970-71).

During his academic career he published countless books, articles, and translations. But it has been since his retirement that he has accomplished his most notable research.  He is the sole author or co-author of three major books.  Two of these concerned his discovery of some four hundred manuscript pages written in French by Juan Pablo Viscardo y Guzman, an important figure in the history of Spanish American independence.  In 1984, in recognition for his work on Viscardo y Guzman, Dr. Simmons was named “Individuo correspondiente” of the Venezuelan National Academy of History.  Then in 1989 he was formally decorated by the Peruvian government with the rank of “Gran Oficial de la Orden El Sol del Peru.”  The rank of “Oficial Mayor” with its corresponding medal is the highest honor that the government of Peru can confer upon a foreigner.

Another notable book is on the Mexican corridor.  This book is based on his research of these historical narratives based on music about political events in Mexico.

Please email questions or consultations to Latin American Music Center: lamc@indiana.edu