John Phelps papers
Scope and Contents
Collection consists largely of manuscript notes dating from 1936 to 1954 compiled by Phelps during his life-long interest in classical studies. The collection does not reflect his legal career or personal life. The notes include Phelps's research on the prehistoric solar calendar, his linguistic studies on the origins of plant names, personal names, and the names of the Mediterranean islands. Extensive notes from Phelps's study of the solstice in Latin mythology are the final items in the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1936-1954
Creator
- Phelps, John, 1873-1955 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.
Collection is open for use.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.
Biographical Note
John Phelps was a Baltimore lawyer and classics scholar. He was born in Baltimore in 1873 and received his B.A. from Hopkins in 1894. He served as assistant State's attorney in 1896 and was professor law at the University of Maryland.
While in France in 1897, Phelps discovered a few fragments of the Coligny calendar which dated from ancient Gaul (70-80 A.D.). While studying this calendar, Phelps familiarized himself with Europe's ancient and modern languages and mathematics. In 1955, Phelps published "The Prehistoric Solar Calendar."
Extent
5.13 Cubic Feet (13 letter size document boxes, 1 letter half-size document box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
John Phelps was a Baltimore lawyer and classics scholar. Collection consists largely of manuscript notes compiled by Phelps during his life-long interest in classical studies. The notes include Phelps's research on the prehistoric solar calendar, his linguistic studies on the origins of plant names, personal names, and the names of the Mediterranean islands.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated to the library by Mrs. John Phelps in 1965.
Processing Information
This is no known processing information for this collection.
Subject
- Phelps, John, 1873-1955 (Person)
- Title
- John Phelps papers
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu