Mark Clyde Phillips Collection, circa 1857-1961

Title: Mark Clyde Phillips Collection, circa 1857-1961

Predominant Dates: circa 1857-1947

ID: MSS PhillipsM

Primary Creator: Phillips, Mark Clyde (1877-1965)

Extent: 0.75 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The Mark Clyde Phillips Collection is arranged into four series: 1. Mark Clyde Phillips, 1881-1954; 2. Phillips Family, 1869-1961; 3. Crawford Family, circa 1857-1916; and 4. Photographs, circa 1878-1935.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Mark Clyde Phillips Collection is comprised of materials generated and collected by Phillips, an Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Superintendent of Heating. Included are materials documenting Phillips' education and career at OAC (1897-1947) including correspondence, course materials, certificates and diplomas, a patent, and professional literature. The collection also contains Phillips family genealogical records and mementos including an autograph book, a manuscript account of the life of James T. Phillips (Mark Clyde's father), and several deeds and patents. Also present are materials documenting the Crawford family (Mark Clyde's second wife), including a genealogical record, an autograph book and photo album, and a scrapbook. Photographic prints, real photo postcards, and a tintype of Mark Clyde Phillips and other members of the Phillips and Crawford families are also present.

Scope and Content Notes

The Mark Clyde Phillips Collection is comprised of materials collected and created by Phillips and is divided into three distinct categories: records pertaining directly to the life and work of Mark Clyde Phillips, records of the Phillips family, and records of the Crawford family. Materials documenting the life of Mark Clyde Phillips include professional correspondence, a biographical sketch, materials commemorating his retirement, a patent, course materials, diplomas and certificates, and professional literature. The collection also includes materials recording the Phillips family genealogy, an autograph book belonging to Evert Phillips, an address book, a manuscript record of James T. Phillips' life between 1855 and the early 1870s, and records of two patents and several plots of land owned by James T. Phillips. The Crawford family records include a list of family marriages and deaths, a photo album and autograph book featuring photographs of John W. Crawford and family friends (predominately in Illinois and Iowa), and a scrapbook containing numerous newsclippings, pamphlets, programs, and several photographs.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Mark Clyde Phillips was born in February 1877 to James and Laura Phillips in Corvallis, Oregon. Phillips graduated from high school in 1892 and earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) in 1896. In 1897, he accepted a position at OAC managing the iron-working department and machine shop. In 1900, Phillips wed Leah McDaniels and was made Instructor in Ironwork and Drawing at OAC. In 1906, he was promoted to Assistant Professor and, in 1910, took over management of the campus heating and power plant. Five years later, he was named Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Superintendent of Heating. In November 1922, Phillips married Mary Alice (Mayme) Crawford, daughter of Oregon pioneer John W. Crawford. Phillips remained at OAC until his retirement in 1947. He died in 1965.

James T. Phillips immigrated to Oregon from Missouri in 1858. Between his arrival in Oregon and 1868, Phillips worked as a blacksmith, freighter, and gold miner in the Willamette Valley, eastern Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. After divorcing his first wife, he settled in Corvallis where he met Laura Forgey. They had four children: Evert Justice (1870), Miles Job (1875), Mark Clyde (1877), and Minnie Ethel (1887). In Corvallis, Phillips was a prominent land owner, blacksmith, founder of the local Christian church, and volunteer firefighter. He died in 1925.

The Crawford family developed roots in Oregon when John W. Crawford, an Illinois native, immigrated to Oregon following service in the American Civil War. There, he worked as an Indian Agent at the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was a one-term Mayor of Corvallis, served as secretary to the President of OAC, and was Deputy Clerk at the Benton County Courthouse. He and his wife had several children including Frank, Emma, Edwin, and Mary Alice (Mayme). Frank, a competitive sprinter, died in 1899, shortly after graduating from OAC. John Crawford died in 1916. Mayme Crawford passed in 1961.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 62 photographs; 3 boxes including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: The collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: All materials in the Mark Clyde Phillips Collection were originally donated to the University Archives. The individually numbered photographs comprised the Mark Clyde Phillips Photographic Collection (P 070) and other materials were part of the Mark Clyde Phillips file in the Oregon State University Memorabilia Collection. All materials now reside together in the Mark Clyde Phillips Collection in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Related Materials: Other records related to the OAC Mechanical Engineering Department include the Mechanical Engineering Department Records (RG 213), the Mechanical Engineering Department Lantern Slides (P 229), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Oregon State College Student Branch Records (MSS ASME), and the Grant Adelbert Covell Papers (MSS Covell). Information about heating and power on the campus can be found in the Facilities Services Records (RG 193) and the Landscape Architecture Department Records (RG 089). Accounts of other Oregon pioneers are located in the Francis T. Howard Diary (MSS Howard), the Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection (OH 001), and the Jesse A. Applegate Collection (MSS Applegate).

Preferred Citation: Mark Clyde Phillips Collection (MSS PhillipsM), Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

Blacksmithing
Corvallis (Or.)
Crawford, Frank H.
Crawford, John W.
Crawford, Mary Alice
Crawford Family
Forgey, Laura, 1851-1916
Frontier and pioneer life--Oregon.
Local History
Mechanical engineering--Study and teaching--Oregon.
Monmouth (Ill.)
Monmouth College (Monmouth, Ill.)
Muskingum College
New Concord (Ohio)
Oregon Agricultural College
Phillips, James T., 1839-1925
Phillips, Mark Clyde, 1877-1965
Phillips Family
Portland (Or.)
University History
Weigand Studio.