History - A Biographical Sketch of Frank T. Simpson

Mr. Frank T. Simpson was born in Florence, Alabama on July 18, 1906.  He came to Hartford, Connecticut in 1929 upon graduation from Tougaloo College in Mississippi.  He began his career as a social worker for the independent School Center, a Red Feather Agency in North Hartford.  Here he became recognized as a prominent civic leader.

Dr. Simpson was the first Executive Secretary of the State’s first interracial Commission (now called the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities).  Because of his dedication in that effort, Connecticut became the model for other states’ civil rights commissions.  In the field of education, Dr. Simpson was a leading proponent for encouraging and assisting Hartford’s students with financial aid for higher education.  He chaired the United Negro College Fund for a number of years in an effort to put every black student in college.  In 1959, the United Negro College Fund awarded him their Meritorious Service Award.  He served many years as Secretary of the Greater Hartford Inter-Racial Scholarship Committee, Treasurer of the Hartford Housing Authority, Secretary for National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro students, and Vice President of the Connecticut Chapter of Tougaloo College Alumni Associations.

He was a charter member of Beta Sigma Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha national black fraternal organization dedicated to service to mankind.  He also was a member of the Carpe Diem Fraternity.  He held various offices in Faith Congregational Church and was instrumental in its relocation to its present site.

Dr. Simpson traveled throughout the country as a lecturer and consultant to institutions of higher learning and to state governments.  Dr. Simpson was also the recipient of many awards for outstanding services some of which were:

Delta Sigma Theta Award
Outstanding Civil and Cultural Leadership
Hartford Seminary Foundation
Merit Award and Merit Citation
Prince Hall Masonic Chapter of New England
Public Relations Award
Lions Club of Hartford – Outstanding service Award

For Dr. Simpson’s outstanding efforts in the field of education, Waverly Elementary School was rededicated and renamed the Frank T. Simpson-Waverly Elementary School on February 10, 1974.