Professor Emeritus
BA. Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Social Sciences (1961)
M.A. University of Oklahoma, United States History (1965)
Ph.D. University of Colorado, United States History (1970)
Professor Sims teaches classes in twentieth century United States History. His research interests include the Great Depression era, the Pacific Northwest and Japanese American history. He has been at Boise State University since 1970 as a member of the history department and for nine years (1985-1994) served as dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. He is a contributor to World Book Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Western History. He has also published book reviews for over two dozen historical journals. His principal publications include a volume on Idaho’s Governors (1992) and articles on Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest Quarterly and Idaho Yesterdays. Sims has served on the Executive Committee of the Idaho Humanities Council and is a board member of the Idaho Humanities Foundation. He has participated in many projects funded by the N.E.H. and the Idaho Humanities Council, including multi-state projects dealing with ethnic groups in the west. He has served as a consultant to the Four Rivers Cultural Center, Ontario, Oregon, which is developing a Japanese American museum. He is currently preparing a manuscript on Minidoka, the World War II Japanese American camp located in Idaho.
Office: L188
Email: rsims@boisestate.edu