John Y. Simon Day at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
recognized the achievements and legacy of Dr. John Y. Simon on October 10 by holding the first Ulysses S. Grant Lecture. Dr. Simon, editor of The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant and Executive Director of the Ulysses S. Grant Association since 1962, passed away in July 2008. Dr. Simon’s lifetime work includes editing and publishing 30 volumes of the Grant papers, in addition to The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant (Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant), and authorship of numerous books and over 100 articles.

These publications have been instrumental in interpreting Ulysses and Julia Grant at the site, and Dr. Simon was always only a phone call away when park staff had a question related to Grant. The national park and staff were honored to have hosted the 2008 meeting of the U.S. Grant Association, never anticipating that would be the last time Dr. Simon would be at the site.

In his honor, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site named October 10, 2009 Dr. John Y. Simon Day at the park, and held the first Ulysses S. Grant Lecture. The Honorable Frank J. Williams, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and President of the Board of Directors of the Grant Association spoke to Dr. Simon’s legacy in documentary editing and Grant scholarship. Dr. John F. Marszalek, the new editor of the Papers and Executive Director of the Grant Association, provided the keynote lecture on “Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman: A Decisive Friendship.”

The program was free and was supported by funding from Jefferson National Parks Association and overflow parking was provided by Grant’s Farm. For more information about the event contact Pam Sanfilippo at 314-842-867 extension 224 or via email at Pam_Sanfilippo@nps.gov.