MS 682 - R. S. Phillips Papers
MLA Citation
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| Title | MS 682 - R. S. Phillips Papers | ||
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| Introduction | The Richard "Doc" Stuart Phillips Papers consists of correspondence, subject files, literary materials, printed materials and photographs from the life and career of educator R.S. Phillips. The donation and transfer of these records to the Center for Archival Collections was arranged by Phillips in December 1986 with additional materials added in 1993. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The register was completed by Stephen W. Badenhop, Archival Assistant, in September 2008. | ||
| Biographical Sketch | Well known northwest Ohio ornithologist and naturalist Richard "Doc" Stuart Phillips (1913-1993), was born November 29, 1913, in Cygnet, Wood County, Ohio. He was the son of James Stuart Phillips (1886-1950) and Icie Mae Sowards (1890-1971), who were married October 16, 1909, in Wood County. Richard's father worked as the editor of the Cygnet Review. James Phillips, was of New England lineage, the son of James Thomas Phillips (1861-1926) and Nellie J. Smith (1867-1933), while his wife Icie, of Southern heritage, was the daughter of Martin L. Sowards (1856-1948) and Roxlielena Frances Elkins (1856-1945). From an early age "Doc" Phillips took to nature. As a 6 year old, he persuaded his father to carry home a dead tree trunk containing a red-headed woodpecker and its nest, so he could study it and from there his naturalist career only escalated. He graduated from Findlay High School in 1931 and immediately entered Findlay College. There he had an amazing three majors - biology, psychology and English with a French minor - and graduated in 1934. Phillips began his long teaching career in 1938 in Cygnet, while working on his Master's Degree from Bowling Green State University. "Those first two years were something else," Phillips later reminisced as he taught English to grades seven, eight, nine and twelve, second year French, biology and general science every day. He also served as high school track and junior high basketball coach, as well as assistant scoutmaster. In 1940, "Doc" received his Master's Degree in entomology and became a biology teacher at Findlay High School succeeding his own biology teacher George W. Lee. Following his move Richard married Violet Rice on September 2, 1938. He continued to teach at Findlay High School until 1950 when he joined the Findlay College biology staff, again succeeding his own teacher, Dr. William Levan, but returned to Findlay High School two years later in 1952. "I like the high school age person," Phillips later claimed, "and it seems there is really a lot I can do for people of that age." It was during this time that Phillips wore a short white lab coat in the biology lab to keep preservatives from being splashed on his clothes. One day a kid walked into the classroom and asked, "What's up, Doc?" and the name "Doc" stuck ever since then. Phillips continued to teach there uninterrupted until retiring in 1975, except for one year when he served as outdoor education program director at Holden Arboretum of Willoughby Eastlake School District in 1967. Phillips spent the summer of 1959 studying birds in Montana as part of the Montana State University Biological Station. He also taught human anatomy courses at Findlay College for ten summers, before retiring from the Biology Department in August 1988.
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| Scope and Content | The Richard "Doc" Stuart Phillips Papers consists of 15 linear feet of material including correspondence, subject files, literary productions, scrapbook materials, printed materials and photographic materials ranging from 1899 to 1993. The most important aspect of the collection for naturalists and ornithologists consists of Phillips Journal, field notes and bird observation cards Phillips made in the Findlay, Ohio, area. The journals spanning from 1940 to 1993 contains weekly bird counts, while the observation cards track the bird by species instead of date. These materials will prove invaluable for anyone tracking long term trends in bird species and migratory patterns in northwest Ohio. The correspondence in the collection are from various individuals discussing article publications, conferences, naturalists projects and programs, reported bird sightings and bird inquiries. There is a series of letters from fellow naturalist and bird watcher Betty Hardesty, also of Findlay, reporting her bird sightings on an almost weekly basis from 1986 to 1990. These reports go in conjunction with bird count reports in the subject files that list bird sightings on an almost weekly basis also from 1989 to 1993. Other subject files relate to the life and activities of R.S. Phillips including his long time teaching career. The literary productions apart from those already mentioned - i.e. Phillips Journal, field notes and bird observation cards - contain other bird related research notes along with the many articles and publications R.S. Phillips authored including several of his newspaper articles for The (Findlay) Courier. The diary of Phillips mother, Icie M. Sowards Phillips from 1899 to 1920 (dates not inclusive) is also in this part of the collection giving weather observation and writing down family and neighborhood related news. The scrapbook materials possess numerous newspaper articles about the life and activities of Phillips, while there is also a scrapbook about the history of the Findlay area naturalist from 1974 to 1992. Printed material includes numerous small books and periodicals collected by Phillips throughout his life relating to plant, animal and insect topics. Phillips personal book collection of science related books are also included in the collection and are kept at the end of the manuscript collection. Photographic material includes pictures of animals and birds, while on a more personal note contains photographs of family, friends and school groups. The R.S. Phillips collection is an excellent resource for any naturalist or anyone studying ornithology in northwest Ohio. | ||
| Series Description |
CORRESPONDENCE - BETTY HARDESTY TO R.S. PHILLIPS CORRESPONDENCE - CORRESPONDENCE TO R.S. PHILLIPS BIRD COUNTS MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPTS MEMOIRS & DIARIES RESEARCH NOTES SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIAL NEWSCLIPPINGS SCRAPBOOKS BOOKS MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS POSITIVE PRINTS NEGATIVES | ||
| Inventory |
Folders
Box 2: Correspondence, Subject Files Folders
Box 3: Subject Files Folders
Folders
Box 5: Literary Productions Folders
Box 6: Literary Productions Folders
Box 7: Literary Productions Folders
Box 8: Literary Productions Folders
Box 9: Literary Productions Folders
Box 10: Literary Productions Folders
Box 11: Literary Productions Folders
Box 12: Literary Productions Folders
Box 13: Literary Productions Folders
Box 14: Literary Productions Folders
Box 15: Literary Productions Folders
Box 16: Literary Productions, Printed Materials, Scrapbooks Folders
Box 17: Printed Materials Folders
Box 18: Printed Materials Folders
Box 19: Printed Materials, Photographs Folders
Box 20: Photographs Folders
Box 21: Publications Books
Box 22 Books
Box 23 Books
Box 24 Books
Box 25 Books
Box 26 Books
Box 27 Books
Box 28 Books
Wrapped
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