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Finding aid prepared by Katie Martin.

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
Phillips, Emma Julia, 1900-1991.

Title
Emma Phillips family papers, 1899-1967,  (bulk 1919-1967)

Collection No.
C616

Extent
1 cubic foot (1 box)

Language
Materials are in English

Abstract
Emma J. Phillips was born in 1900 in Alexandria, Indiana to schoolteachers J. W. Phillips and Arvia Phillips. She graduated with Distinction from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages in 1923. Upon graduation, she returned home to teach French and English at Alexandria High School. In 1934, she completed her Master of Arts in English with her thesis titled The Technique of George Whyte - Melville's Novels . In 1967, she received a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University. Her dissertation was titled Mysticism in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson . She died on April 11, 1991 in Alexandria, Indiana. The collection consists of course notes, assignments, theses, miscellaneous correspondence, clippings, pamphlets published by professional societies, and commencement materials.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

Biographical Note

Emma Julia Phillips was born to John Wilbur Phillips, a schoolteacher and ward principal, in Alexandria, Indiana and Arvia Phillips, also a schoolteacher, on March 26, 1900. Emma Phillips graduated from Alexandria-Monroe High School in 1918. She attended Indiana University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages in 1923 and graduated With Distinction. She was involved in the French Club, inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, an honor society and professional association for educators, and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1930, she lived in Alexandria and taught French and English at Alexandria High School. She was involved in the Indiana State Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French. She also served as the sponsor of the French Club at Alexandria High School. In 1934, she received a Master of Arts degree in English from Indiana University with the completion of her thesis, The Technique of George Whyte - Melville's Novels . Upon completion of her master's, she continued to teach at Alexandria High School while also taking classes by correspondence from IU. Finally, Phillips returned to Bloomington in the 1950s to continue her education. In 1967, she completed her dissertation, Mysticism in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson, and earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University in English with minors in American Literature and Comparative Literature. Emma died on April 11, 1991 in Alexandria, Indiana.

Emma’s father, John Wilbur Phillips was born in Jefferson County, Indiana on November 6, 1868. In 1898, he married Arvia Ellen Hardison in Alba, Missouri. He graduated from the Indiana State Normal School and in 1910, studied chemistry at IU. Phillips was heavily involved in the First Methodist Church in Alexandria, particularly in the music program, an interest which extended to the local musical organization, the Crescendo Club. He taught in several schools across Indiana and served as a ward principal in the Alexandria public school system. He died on June 12, 1941 in Alexandria, Indiana. His wife, Arvia Phillips was born in Portland Mills, Indiana on January 13, 1876. She was a schoolteacher for 14 years at Pisgah and Innisdale as well as four years in Grant County, Indiana. She was an active member in the First Methodist Church and taught Sunday school. She was involved in the Foreign Missionary Service, W.S.C.S. (now the United Methodist Women), and the Truthseekers Class. Arvia died on May 24, 1955.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into two series: Emma Phillips academic papers, 1919-1967 and Phillips Family papers, 1899-1944.

Scope and Content Note

The Emma Phillips Family Papers are organized into two series: Emma Phillips academic papers and Phillips Family papers.

The Emma Phillips academic papers (1919-1967) consists of course notes, course assignments, professional society newsletters, commencement materials, published theses, miscellaneous clippings, and various correspondence. Two photographs depicting Emma Phillips in the 1920s have been transferred to the Archives Photograph Collection. The series is ordered chronologically with undated material at the end of the series.

The Phillips Family papers (1899-1944) contains a letter or recommendation for J.W. Phillips, course notes, a pamphlet related to the 1910 anniversary week of the Indiana Normal School, and Arvia Phillips' certificate from IU for completion of "Fundamentals of Industrial Accounting." The series is ordered chronologically.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • Phillips, Emma Julia, 1900-1991 --Archives
  • Phillips, Emma Julia, 1900-1991 --Correspondence
  • Indiana University --Students --History --Sources
  • Indiana University --Alumni and alumnae --History --Sources
  • Phillips family

Separated Material

The following publications were moved to the Publications collection:

Related Material

Related photographs may be available in the University Archives Photographs Database

Administrative Information

Container List

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