Background
Phelps was born in Anaqua, Texas to Edwin McNamee and Mary Jane (née Bickford) Phelps.
Phelps was born in Anaqua, Texas to Edwin McNamee and Mary Jane (née Bickford) Phelps.
He began working as a draftsman in various architectural offices in San Antonio by the time he was twenty. He briefly served in the Spanish–American War. From 1902 to 1909 Phelps opened several architectural firms both by himself and partnering with others
He firmly established himself in a solo practice between 1910 and 1940.
Phelps designed buildings in several architectural styles such as Romanesque Revival, Mission Revival, Beaus-Arts and Streamline Moderne. He died of a heart attack in San Antonio.