William Scranton Simmons (September 10, 1938[1] – June 2, 2018)[2] was an American anthropologist specializing in the culture and history of the Narragansett people.
In 1998 Simmons returned to Brown University as Professor of Anthropology, and as Provost and also served as Acting Director of the Haffenreffer Museum from 2012–2013.
[5] He wrote three books and numerous articles and chapters on Native American religion, including studies of mortuary ritual, religious conversion, mythological narrative.
He also worked intensively with the Native groups of southern New England including Narragansett, Pequot, Mohegan, Massachusett, and Wampanoag, and also in California among the Northern Maidu.
He also worked in Africa doing field research with the Badyaranke of Senegal, publishing a book and several articles on traditional religion, witchcraft, and conversion to Islam.