(1) ANDREW WHEELER PHILLIPS
Andrew Wheeler Phillips was born at Griswold, Connecticut, March 14,1844. After graduating from the preliminary schools he became a teacher in the public schools of eastern Connecticut. After four years devoted to higher studies he became an instructor in mathematics at Cheshire Academy, where he remained from 1864 to 1875. In 1878 he obtained the degree of Ph.D. at Yale, and in 1877 the degree of doctor of philosophy. He was awarded the honorary degree of master of arts by Trinity College in 1875. In 1875 he was called to Yale as tutor in mathematics. In recognition of his ability as teacher and administrator he was promoted to be assistant professor in 1881, professor in 1891, and dean of the graduate school in 1895. He resigned active work as dean in 1911.
Dean Phillips collaborated with colleagues in publishing The Graphic Algebra, The Elements of Geometry, and Trigonometry and Tables, which last has been translated into Japanese. For thirteen years he edited the Connecticut Almanac.
On May 15,1914, the Carnegie Foundation, on the recommendation of the president of Yale University, granted Dean Phillips a retiring allowance. He died at New Haven, Connecticut, January 20,1915.
Source: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Tenth Annual Report, 1915; Pg. 114
(2) ANDREW W. PHILLIPS, the son of Isra Denison and Wealthy (Wheeler) Phillips, was born in Griswold, Connecticut, March 14, 1844. He received early Christian instruction. The youthful development of his mind and understanding is evidenced by his being received at nine years of age into the Baptist church that his parents attended.
Upon the completion of my sophomore year at Yale in 1861 I opened a summer-vacation school at Jewett City, Conn. Young Phillips, seventeen years old, attended it, driving in daily from his country home three miles distant. My first step was to examine briefly the pupils to learn their capabilities and assign each a task. I soon arrived at a desk on which a boy had a work on trigonometry, a higher astronomy and an analytic geometry that he proposed to pursue besides studies in English. A little talk with him satisfied me he was equal to his purpose. This boy was Andrew Phillips who had then had only the advantage of winter terms in a small country school.
At this time he was spare and looked rather frail—so that I feared he had not a long life before him, still he put remarkable energy into his work and was always punctual and diligent.
His special genius was in the mathematical line but I found he had a mind comprehensive and versatile that enabled him to make rapid progress in other studies—excelling his fellow pupils. In mathematics, of course, he was alone and I set no limit therein to his lessons. I gave him many difficult problems not found in his books. These he invariably solved, sometimes much to my surprise. He began Latin this term with the hope of a college course which I urged upon him, but circumstances prevented its attainment, for possibly a better course that by energy and application in the midst of other duties he later carried out in the Yale Graduate School.
In the rhetorical exercises of the school he usually selected declamations from Shakespeare, entering vigorously into the spirit of them; and in a school paper of essays, puns, etc., prepared now and then by the members of the school, his share was of the best.
With no air of superiority on his part, his schoolmates recognized his superiority of intellect and scholarship without envy or jealousy. He joined heartily in their sports. His uprightness, geniality and apt witticisms won the attachment of all. He was trusted by teacher and pupil. He exerted an influence over his mates that was beneficial to them and helpful to the discipline of the school. He soon became a companion to me rather than merely a pupil.
I occasionally spent a night with him at his hospitable home which consisted of his parents, himself and a young1 brother. One attraction at that time on the place was a loaded peach orchard of ripe fruit of which we partook without stint.
His studies were continued in a second and a third short summer term (1862 and 1863) with the same diligence and progress. In the three terms covering about seven months, he completed the mathematical works named above and the differential and integral calculus, besides doing master work in his other studies.
In the intervening periods he taught local schools in the winter and then worked on his father's farm. Shortly after this time he accepted a position as teacher in the Academy at Cheshire, Conn.
I cannot better illustrate Professor Phillips's genial good nature, his appreciation of humor and his aptness in meeting the unexpected than by telling an incident of early days. In Norwich, one day, he passed some boys playing in the street. One of them noticing the prominent feature of his face, said: "Pretty Poll, Pretty Poll." Mr. Phillips stopped and saying to the boy "You deserve a nickel" gave him the nickel. The merit of that act instead of an angry rebuke will be readily admitted.
Andrew Phillips was always faithful to duty. He was a zealous and loyal friend ever speaking encouragingly and anxious to do favors. I am indebted to him for many a favor he rendered me during his life and his memory is very dear to me.
-Tribute by Mr. Thomas H. Fuller, A.M.
Source: Andrew Wheeler Phillips, Born March 14, 1844 - Died January 20, 1915, privately printed, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, New Haven, 1915; Pg. 14
(3) NOTE: Andrew Wheeler Phillips, s/o Israel Denison Phillips and Wealthy Browning Wheeler; md. Maria Scoville Clarke, of Cheshire, Conn., April 23, 1867; She, d. Feb. 22, 1895, leaving no children.
Source: Universities and Their Sons, Volume III, by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, John DeWitt, John Howard Van Amringe, 1899; Pgs. 71-72
