Philip Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Simmons
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Simmons in 1982
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| Born | June 9, 1912 Daniel Island, South Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | June 22, 2009 (aged 97) |
| Occupation | Artisan, ironworker |
Philip Simmons (June 9, 1912 – June 22, 2009) was an American artisan and blacksmith. An artisan is someone skilled at making things by hand. A blacksmith is a person who shapes metal, especially iron, using tools like a hammer and anvil. Simmons was known for his beautiful ironwork.
He spent 78 years working as a blacksmith. When he started, blacksmiths in Charleston, South Carolina made useful items like horseshoes. By the time he retired, his craft was seen more as an art form than just a job.
You can see examples of Simmons' work, like iron gates, all over Charleston, South Carolina. His pieces are also in museums like the Smithsonian Museum and the South Carolina State Museum. Some of his art has even traveled to Paris, France, and China!
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The Story of Philip Simmons
Philip Simmons was born on June 9, 1912, on Daniel Island, South Carolina. He lived with his grandparents until he was 8 years old. In 1920, he moved to Charleston to live with his mother.
Simmons lived on Vernon Street and went to Buist Elementary School. This school is now called the Buist Academy. Years later, Simmons would design and create the iron arch that stands over the school's entry gate.
How Philip Simmons Became a Blacksmith
Philip became very interested in the craftspeople in his neighborhood. He started visiting different workshops near his home. He was especially drawn to a smithy, which is a blacksmith's workshop, on Charlotte Street. This shop was run by Peter Simmons, who was not related to Philip.
When Philip was 13, he quit school and began an apprenticeship with Peter Simmons. An apprenticeship is like learning a skill from a master. Peter Simmons was a former slave. After five years of learning, Philip became a full blacksmith at age 18.
In 1938, Philip Simmons opened his own blacksmith shop. He began to focus on making ornamental and decorative ironwork.
Creating Famous Iron Gates
In the early 1940s, Simmons started working with a Charleston businessman named Jack Krawcheck. Krawcheck asked him to make a wrought iron gate for the back of his store. Wrought iron is a type of iron that can be shaped when hot.
It was hard to get new iron during World War II. So, Simmons had to create the gate using scrap iron. This was the first iron gate Simmons ever made for a customer. The Krawcheck family ended up buying more than 30 iron pieces from Simmons over the years.
The Krawcheck gate was a big moment for Simmons. It truly marked the start of his career as an iron artist. Over seven decades, Simmons created more than 500 pieces. These included iron balconies, window grilles, fences, and gates. For example, he made five iron gates just along Stolls Alley in Charleston. In 1976, he made a "star and fish gate" for the Smithsonian Institution. It was designed to look like a fish swimming!
Simmons also made smaller metal items to earn extra money. These included tools, shutter dogs (decorative pieces for shutters), and fireplace pokers. In 1970, he even made a cup holder for a Volvo car. He crafted it from a coat hanger!
Most of his amazing work was created at his workshop, which was at his home on Blake Street.
Philip Simmons' Achievements and Awards
Philip Simmons received many honors for his incredible work.
John Michael Vlach, a professor, wrote a book about Simmons in 1981. It was called Charleston Blacksmith: The Work of Philips Simmons. Vlach later wrote that Simmons "found self-expression in the communal tradition." This means Simmons used his art to show his own feelings and ideas, while also honoring old traditions.
In 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts gave Simmons a National Heritage Fellowship. This is a very high honor from the United States government for folk and traditional arts. During his acceptance speech, Simmons said, "My instrument is an anvil." He explained that his anvil helped him through tough times.
Even after officially retiring at age 75, Simmons kept teaching his craft. He shared his skills with younger artists. In 1991, a foundation was started in his name, the Philip Simmons Foundation. It created a special garden at his church, St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church, to honor him and his work.
A documentary about Simmons' life, Keeper of The Gate, won an Emmy Award in 1995. This film showed how important his work was. In 2006, South Carolina State University gave him an honorary doctorate degree. This recognized his huge contributions to metalworking.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2008, Simmons moved to a retirement community in Charleston. He passed away there on June 22, 2009, at the age of 97.
Awards and Honors for Philip Simmons
Simmons received the 1982 National Heritage Fellowship. This was the first time this award was given by the NEA. On January 31, 1994, he was added to the South Carolina Hall of Fame.
South Carolina Governor David Beasley gave Simmons the Order of the Palmetto in 1998. This is the highest honor in the state. In 2001, he received the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for "Lifetime Achievement in the Arts." The South Carolina Legislature also honored him for his work.
The Berkeley County School District honored Simmons by naming three public schools after him. These schools are on Daniel Island, where he was born. They are Philip Simmons Elementary, Philip Simmons Middle, and Philip Simmons High.
List of Awards
- 1982, National Endowment for the Arts, National Heritage Fellowship
- 1982, Lifetime Achievement Award, South Carolina General Assembly
- 1994, South Carolina Hall of Fame, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- 1998, Order of the Palmetto, by Governor David Beasley
- 2001, Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for "Lifetime Achievement in the Arts"
