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Inventory of the Phillips Family Papers, 1848-1889, 1998
Inventory of the Phillips Family Papers, 1848-1889, 1998
Descriptive Summary
| Abstract: | Memoirs and journals written by lawyer and politician Philip Phillips, his wife, Eugenia Phillips, and their two youngest sons, lawyer William Hallett Phillips and Library of Congress Superintendent of Maps Philip Lee Phillips. Also includes a poem describing a Washington, D.C., ball in which Eugenia is referenced, and an address based on the writings and works of Philip Lee Phillips. |
| Title: | Phillips family papers |
| Creator: | Phillips family |
| Date(s): | 1848-1889, 1998 |
| Extent: | 0.5 linear feet (1 document box) |
| Repository: | Special Collections, College of Charleston Libraries 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424 Phone: (843) 953-8016 Fax: (843) 953-6319 URL: http://archives.library.cofc.edu |
| Call Number: | Mss 1125 |
| Language of Material: | Materials in English |
Biographical Note
Philip Phillips (1807-1884) was born to Aaron and Caroline Phillips in Charleston, South Carolina. Philip received a formal education under Mr. Gates and Isaac Harby before being sent to Captain Partridge's American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at the age of 15, when it was temporarily located in Middleton, Connecticut. Returning to Charleston three years later, he decided to pursue a career in law, studying under John Gadsden. He married Eugenia Levy (1819-1902) in 1836 and the couple settled in Mobile, Alabama, where he served two terms in the state legislature. In 1853, he was elected as a U.S. Congressman and the family moved to Washington, D.C. He served one term, from 1853-1855, before setting up a law practice in Washington.
Philip was a Unionist, opposed to secession; his wife, however, was a Confederate. In 1861 when the family was living in Washington, D.C., she was accused by federal authorities of participating in a spy ring. She and two of her daughters were put under house arrest in Rose O'Neal Greenhow's home for three weeks before being released on the condition that the family move south. The family left Washington, D.C., and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1862, where Philip continued his law practice. There Eugenia was again imprisoned, this time on Ship Island, a former quarantine station in the Mississippi Delta, for allegedly failing to show respect during the funeral of a Union solider. She was released after three and a half months, and she and her husband were summoned to take a loyalty oath to the United States. They refused to sign and the family then moved to LaGrange, Georgia, where they remained for the duration of the war. In 1867, Philip returned to practicing law in Washington, D.C., primarily before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Philip and Eugenia had twelve children. Their second youngest son, William Hallett Phillips (1853-1897), also became a lawyer who argued cases before the Supreme Court. Their youngest son, Philip Lee Phillips (1857-1924) became the first Superintendent of Maps at the Library of Congress when the Hall of Maps and Charts was established in 1897.
Collection Overview
The collection consists primarily of typescripts and manuscripts created by members of the Phillips family, who lived in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Georgia during the Civil War. Recollections and journals recount their daily activities during the war, as well as the imprisonment of Eugenia Phillips in Washington, D.C., and on Ship Island by federal forces. Philip Phillips and William Hallett Phillips wrote at length on their careers in law, both before and after the Civil War. Besides the family's own writings, the collection contains a published poem on a Washington, D.C., ball in which Eugenia is referenced, and an address based on the writings and works of Philip Lee Phillips, the Library of Congress's first Superintendent of Maps.
Collection Arrangement
Materials are described at the folder level.
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person, family, or organization, by topical subject, by place, and by types of material.Names
- Phillips, P. (Philip), 1807-1884
- Phillips, W. Hallett (William Hallett), 1853-1897
- Phillips, Eugenia Levy
- Phillips, Philip Lee, 1857-1924
Subjects
- Women prisoners of war--Missisppi--Ship Island--Biography
- Women prisoners of war--United States--Biography
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
- Lawyers--United States
- Practice of law--Washington (D.C.)
- Practice of law--Louisiana--New Orleans
Places
- Washington (D.C.)--History
- Ship Island (Miss.)--History
- New Orleans (La.)--History
Types of Material
- Memoirs
- Typescripts
- Manuscripts
- Poems
- Proceedings
Related Resources
Related Material
Related materials in Special Collections include the Robert N. Rosen papers (Mss 1064).
Inventory
Contains a section of printed instruction followed by handwritten journal entries, including one brief entry by Philip Phillips in 1848, and many entries by William Hallett Phillips from 1871 to 1876. Most pertain to W. H. Phillips's career as a lawyer, but he also wrote lengthy notes on the New Testament at the end of the journal.
Eugenia Phillips of Alabama is identified as one of the guests in the notes. Written by Franklin Philip.
A manuscript of William Hallett Phillips's recollections of his family's daily life during the Civil War.
Typescript memoir by Philip Phillips, mainly focusing on his education and career, as well as the periods during the Civil War when his wife, Eugenia, was imprisoned by Union authorities. Original typescript signed by Philip Phillips, based on an earlier manuscript written in 1870.
Contains the proceedings of a meeting held to commemorate the late Philip Phillips, reflecting on his career, positive qualities, and the significant impacts of his work.
A typescript recollection by Eugenia Phillips of her imprisonments during the Civil War, written from memory in 1889.
An address written by Richard W. Stephenson speaking as Philip Lee Phillips, based on Phillips's reports and writings. Originally presented at the first annual dinner of the Philip Lee Phillips Society and published by the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Phillips family papers, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Materials were donated in 2010 by John Jameson.
Processing Information
Processed by Amy Lazarus, June 2015.
Encoded by Amy Lazarus, July 2015.
Reviewed and uploaded by Joshua Minor, July 2015.
