IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
SARILDA PHILLIPS (1877-1971)
PAPERS, 1913-1986
5 linear inches
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ACQUISITION: |
The Sarilda Phillips papers (donor no. 522) were donated by Ronald
Langston in 1998 as part of the Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler papers. |
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ACCESS: |
The papers are open for research. |
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COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright held by the donor has not been transferred to The University of Iowa. |
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PHOTOGRAPHS: |
In Boxes 11 and 12 of the Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler papers. |
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PROCESSED BY: |
Lisa Mott, 2003. [PhillipsSarilda.doc] |
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Biography
Sarilda C. Robinson was born in Holmes County
at Pickens, Mississippi on September 23, 1877 to Isabella Marshall Robinson and
Amos Griffin Robinson. Sarilda Robinson
married S.K. (Samuel King) Phillips in 1905 during a double ceremony with her
youngest sister Fannie Robinson and Dr. Cornelius M. Wilson. In 1910 the couple moved to Holly Springs,
Mississippi. Sarilda Phillips
attended Rust College and received her A.B. degree in 1931. Phillips taught at Rosenwald School in Holly
Springs, and was also an instructor for adult education. She taught for thirty years and then served
as the first Jeans Supervisor of Schools in Marshall County, a position she
held for eighteen years. Phillips was
forced into retirement in 1956 following desegregation. A few months after her forced retirement, Phillips
had to go on welfare.
Phillips’ husband, S.K. Phillips
died in 1966 following 61 years of marriage.
Sarilda and S.K. Phillips had no children but were close to their nieces
and nephews. In 1970, Sarilda Phillips
went to Des Moines, Iowa to live with her niece, Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler, who
was the daughter of Fannie and Cornelius Robinson. Phillips died April 29, 1971.
Scope and Content Note
The Sarilda Phillips papers date from 1913 to 1986 and measure 5 linear inches. The papers
are arranged in two series: Biography and Financial. The bulk of the papers deal with Sarilda
Phillips’ conservatorship and estate as handled by her niece, Gwendolyn Wilson
Fowler.
The Biography series contains handwritten notes, the Last Will and Testament of Sarilda Phillips’ brother J.M. Robinson, correspondence from some of Phillips’ siblings, a 1960 letter from her husband, S.K., the funeral program and funeral arrangements for her husband, and Phillips’ own obituary, funeral program, funeral book, and sympathy cards sent to her sister Fannie Wilson Cooper and her niece Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler. Also included in the Biography series is the 1956 letter from the Mississippi State Board of Education requesting Phillips to retire.
The Financial series contains warranty deeds
for property Sarilda Phillips owned in Mississippi, bank statements, bills and
invoices, insurance papers, medical bills, and all the correspondence and
records maintained by Phillips’ niece, Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler, who served as
both conservator for her aunt and executrix of Phillips’ estate. A 1964 bank book ends with the words “Broke
(used up).” Also included is a 1971
codicil to Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler’s Last Will and Testament, a direct result
of the infighting she experienced with her cousins over Sarilda Phillips’
estate.
Related Collections
Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler papers
Fowler was Sarilda Phillips’ niece.