The Phillips Family papers document a period in the young-adulthood of the four sisters, Edith, Philena, Hannah, and Sallie. The bulk of the collection is personal correspondence written by Edith and Philena to various family members.  Many of the letters describe student life both, in the case of Edith, at Central College in McGrawville, New York, in 1850, and from all the sisters at Oberlin Preparatory and College between 1852 and 1855.   Of special interest are Edith’s descriptions of student life at Central College, including being quarantined through the 1850 small pox epidemic that swept the campus; her fond and detailed descriptions of the African-American professor of rhetoric, William G. Allen; and descriptions of campus visits by Lucretia Mott (1793-1880) and Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), “these abolitionists of the Empire State,” whom Edith described as “rugged, determined looking people.”   Also of special interest are the sisters’ descriptions of travel through upstate New York, including their 1153 mile trip by water, rail and stage to Oberlin; their graphic descriptions of the town of Oberlin, their housekeeping arrangements and the cold weather; notes on the Ladies Literacy Society and comments on speakers of the day, including President Charles G. Finney, Henry Ward Beecher, and Antoinette Brown. Philena’s letters include an especially rich description of the 1853 [Robert] Burns Festival at Oberlin. 

Also preserved are a series of essays and orations, some written by Philena at Oberlin, and some not identified as to author or location.  The essays reflect student life, and cover topics such as “The Head and the Heart,” Greek mythology, and an analysis of American author Grace Greenwood’s (Sara Jane Lippincott, 1823-1904) book, History of My Pets.  Two of the essays, both on symbolism and nature, were delivered as orations, one at the Oberlin Ladies Literary Society in 1852, and the other at McGrawville in 1854. 

The collection is divided into three series.  Series 1 contains the correspondence of the four sisters.  Series 2 contains the correspondence of other Phillips family members, sometimes written to the sisters, and sometimes mentioning news of them.  Series three consists of essays and orations, five by Philena Phillips, and seven unidentified.

Series I. Phillips Sisters Correspondence, 1847-1853, n.d. (7 folders)

The outgoing correspondence of the four Phillips sisters is divided into four separate subseries, as described below. An asterisk beside an original letter entry indicates the existence of a transcription maintained in a separate folder.  All original letters are encapsulated.  Arranged Chronologically.

            Subseries 1: Letters of Edith Phillips (outgoing), 1847 – 53, n.d.

The correspondence of Edith Phillips is comprised of fifteen original letters written to her siblings, primarily from Central College in McGrawville, New York and from Oberlin, Ohio.  The letters primarily concern Edith’s experiences as a student at Central College in McGrawville, her travel through New York State and to Ohio, and life as a student at Oberlin.  Also included are transcriptions for four of the letters. 

           
            Subseries 2: Letters of Philena Phillips (outgoing), 1847 – 53

Philena Phillips’s correspondence includes ten letters written from Pennsylvania and Oberlin to relatives concerning teaching at a small school, her housekeeping arrangements with her sisters in Oberlin, new of her declining health, reports on classes and classmates, descriptions of hearing Henry Ward Beecher speak, and a notable account of the 1853 Oberlin [Robert] Burns Festival.  Also included are transcriptions for five of the letters. 

            Subseries 3:  Letters of Hannah Phillips (outgoing), n.d.

A single original letter from Hannah Phillips, written to a cousin describing teaching school, is included in this subseries. 

            Subseries 4:  Letters of Sarah Grace (Sallie) Phillips (outgoing), 1853, n.d.

The Phillips family collection contains two letters written by Sarah Grace (Sallie) Phillips.  One letter from Oberlin is written on a piece of paper shared with Edith and Philena Phillips.  That original letter and its transcription are both filed in subseries 1.  The second letter, contained herein, is an original letter written by Sallie from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and describes her reasons for leaving Oberlin. 

Series II.  Letters of Other Phillips Family Members (1 folder)

The correspondence of other Phillips family members includes two letters from a cousin to Hannah Phillips; from Barclay Pemrock (classmate?) to Hannah Phillips; from John B. Phillips to an unidentified brother; from W.W. Woodruff, Edith’s husband; and others. 

Series III. Essays and Orations, 1852-1854, n.d. (2 folders)

The series essays and orations includes five handwritten essays and orations by Philena Phillips.  Also included are seven essays and orations written by an unidentified author(s). 

            Subseries 1:  Essays and Orations by Philena Phillips

The essays and orations included in this subseries are all signed by Philena Phillips.  They include a speech entitled “Symbolism and Nature,” which she delivered before the Ladies Literary Society in 1852.  The essays primarily concern student life at Oberlin, and engage topics such as Greek mythology and “Dolor Dentium.”

            Subseries 2:  Essays and Orations (Unidentified Authors)

The essays and orations in this subseries are not signed, and primarily concern topics of the day, slavery, reformers, and “Jus Divinum.”  One unsigned oration concerning symbolism and nature was delivered at McGrawville on July 12, 1854.  Also included is the undated writing entitled “Joseph Barnard’s Account Concerning his Grandson.” 

The Phillips Family Papers were donated by Anna B. (Mrs. Jacob F.) Pratt, July 24, 1967. 

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