|
a.
|
Note: "He was a chemist for companies in Niagara Falls, worked for Thomas Edison in Orange, NJ 1907-1908, and during WWI operated a potash plant in Omaha, Neb. He owned a small chemical plant in Canandaigua, NY 1919-1922. He was a chemist for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY from 1922 until his retirement about 1946. He was partly self-educated, had dropped out of high school after one year. He was later accepted by Syracuse University by examination, and spent one year there. He read several languages, was artistically talented, and a keen amateur naturalist."
He was very good with pastels, and I have several of his works. He particularly liked to do insects, but also plants and a teddy bear.
"Ross Phillips, 106 Veness Ave., retired organic chemist and student of nature, died unexpectedly yesterday (Jan. 20, 1953) at the age of 71.
"Mr. Phillips retired about 10 years ago from Kodak Park where he had been employed in the synthetic chemistry division for about 24 years.
"He was born in Lowville, NY and was educated at Syracuse University. For about 15 years, he was chief chemist at the National Electrolytic Company, Niagara Falls, NY, then opened his own chemical plant in Canandaigua. He operated his own business for several years until he came to Rochester in 1923.
"A lover of nature, Mr. Phillips studied insects in their natural habitats and put his knowledge to paper in pastel drawings. He was a self-taught artist, never having taken a lesson and some of his drawings have been displayed in the Rochester Museum.
"He was particularly interested in solitary wasps. To study them, he made many trips to sandy areas around Rochester, where they nest. According to his relatives, he found that these insects showed a surprising intelligence and felt they deserved much more attention than they had been given. He had spent many hours at his hobby, particularly since his retirement. His drawings also include butterflies, moths and other colorful insects.
"Before his retirement, Mr. Phillips had been a member of the American Chemical Society.
"He is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, Donald R. Phillips of Birmingham, MI; two daughters, Mrs. James S. Nance of Champaign, IL, and Mrs. E. C. Armstrong of Rochester; five grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Howard H. Bryant of Phoenix, AZ."
"Short Biography of John F. Williams" (http://johnfwilliams.org/johnfwilliams/autobio/ONELIFE.htm) chapters 5 and 6 reference Ross Phillips' chemical company.
|
