1. R.S. Phifer: Tenure at R.F.C.
Patrick Wasley, Ph.D.
Averett University
October 30, 2012
2. R.S. Phifer: Tenure at R.F.C.
• When did Robert Phifer teach at Roanoke
Female College (R.F.C.)?
– The Problem: multiple dates are listed.
– The Process: How to find information about
faculty members in the Archives.
– The Results, with Supporting Evidence.
3. Why are Accurate Dates Important?
• Archives: “Collective Memory” of an
Institution. Accuracy is important to create a
factual historical record.
• The Social Nature of Information (incorrect
information may impact further research).
• Phifer: was head of music dept. at R.F.C. when
Frederick Delius was in Danville (1885-86).
• R.S. Phifer Collection: July 2012.
4. The Discrepancy in Dates
• Three conflicting dates from three different
sources.
– The Averett Faculty list (Archives) – (1879-90).
– The Brydon Portrait of R.S. Phifer (Archives) –
(1878-90).
– The obituary for R.S. Phifer from the Danville
Register (pub. In Mary Cahill’s book, Delius in
Danville, c. 1986) – (1878-95).
7. Phifer Obituary: c. 1910
• “… Mr. Phifer came to Danville in 1878 and
assumed direction of the school of music of
the Roanoke Female College. Here he taught
with eminent success for seventeen years ….”
– Danville Register (Sept. 13, 1910)
• Dates of Service: 1878 – 1895.
8. Sources of Information in Archives
• Public Records: city directories.
• Online: census reports.
• University records and publications.
– Catalogs
– Annuals (Yearbooks)
– Programs (concert, commencement, other
events).
9. First Question: Start Date
• Two Sources.
– Newspaper clippings from the R.S. Phifer
Collection (UNC Chapel Hill).
– Catalogue for Roanoke Female College
10.
11.
12.
13. R.S. Phifer: End Date at R.F.C.
1890, 1894 or 1895?
• Last catalogue listing Phifer as a faculty
member: 1893-94.
• Averett Alumni List: Mimi and Robert attend
R.F.C. during 1893-94 session.
14.
15.
16.
17. R.F.C. after Phifer
1895 – 96 Catalogue
Miss Jennie Marvin
(Piano, Organ, Theory)
Miss Susie M. Miller
(Voice Culture and Piano)
18. Was Phifer at R.F.C. During
the 1894 - 95 Session?
• Missing Pages from 1894-95 Catalogue.
Existing Evidence
• Letter to F. Delius (July 1894). Does not
mention change of schools (R.F.C. to D.C.Y.L.).
• June 1895 Concert Program in R.S. Phifer
Collection.
19.
20.
21. Phifer: Teaching after R.F.C.
• Obituary states that after teaching at Roanoke
Female College, he accepted a position with
the Danville College for Young Ladies (later
Stratford College) and “remained there for
two years.”
• Dates at D.C.Y.L.: Fall 1895 – Spring 1897.
22. Concert Program
Two copies of the program
for the May 1897 Concert
at the Danville College for
Young Ladies are included
in the R.S. Phifer
Collection.
“Mr. Phifer” is listed in the
program.
23. Conclusion
• Danville Register obituary (c. 1910) appears to
be correct. Phifer taught at R.F.C. from fall
1878 to spring 1895. He went on to teach at
the Danville College for Young Ladies from fall
1895 until spring 1897. He then offered
private instruction in his home and also
participated in community organizations (e.g.,
church musical director).
24. Further Research
• The June 1895 Concert: R.S. Phifer?
• Compare and contrast the 1895 concert
program with those that came before and
those that came after (musical archaeology).
• Hypothesis: 1895 concert will contain
similarities (musical pieces) with those that
came before.
• Identify musical scores in Phifer collection that
were performed during 1895 concert.
25. June 1895 Concert
“2ndHungarian Rhapsodie”
performed by Miss Empsie
Lipscomb.
Musical Score from R.S.
Phifer Collection.
Was this the score that
was used for the 1895
concert?
26. Final Question:
Why Did Phifer Leave R.F.C.?
• No information available describing why Phifer
left R.F.C. in 1895.
• Departure probably related to economic
issues.
28. C.F. James: 1892-1902
• State of R.F.C. in 1892
– Declining enrollment
– Deteriorating buildings
Accomplishments:
– Built a new wing on the old main hall with indoor
plumbing (Patton St.)
– More privileges for students; uniforms became more
attractive.
29. Panic of 1893
• 1893: The nation suffers its worse economic
depression in its history.
• Causes: diminished foreign markets for Am.
goods; declining foreign investments; reduction in
spending power for Am. Consumers;
overexpansion of transportation and
manufacturing industries, etc.
• Depression ends in 1897.
• Source: Panic of 1893. (2011). In The American Economy: A Historical Encyclopedia.
Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/abcamerecon/panic_of_1893
30. Impact of 1893 Panic at R.C.F.
• June 1896: President James issues a statement
regarding the economic situation.
• James: “we have been giving our boarding
patronage a reduction from the regular
catalogue rates.”
• Reduction for 1896-97 session: $25 off “those
who take either music or art, or elocution and
physical culture ….”
31.
32. R.F.C. Music Dept. after Phifer
• Miss Jennie Marvin (1895 – 1898?)
• Miss Susie Miller (1895 – 1896).
• Sidenote: When Delius returned to Danville in
January 1897, he performed in a concert at
the Danville College for Young Ladies (where
Phifer was a teacher).
33. R.S. Phifer: 1897 - 1910
• Pursued various interests:
• Genealogical research
• Botany (esp., mycology)
– Phifer collection contains a series of volumes from
the State Museum of New York (Report of the
State Biologist) relating to mycology (vols. 1897 –
1909) as well as a handwritten letter from Charles
H. Peck, Botanist for the State of New York.
34. R.S. Phifer: Botany (mycology)
• Letter from Charles
Peck to R.S. Phifer
dated Oct. 1903 relating
to the identification of
several species of
mushrooms.
36. Conclusion
• R.S. Phifer: Taught at R.F.C. from fall 1878 until
1895.
• Phifer then taught at the Danville College for
Young Ladies from 1895 to 1897.
• From 1897 until his death in 1910, Prof. Phifer
offered private music lessons, participated in
musical events in the community, and pursued
other interests such as botany and genealogy.
