Background
Phelps, William Franklin was born on February 15, 1822 in Auburn, New York, United States. Son of Halsey and Lucinda (Hitchcock) Phelps.
Phelps, William Franklin was born on February 15, 1822 in Auburn, New York, United States. Son of Halsey and Lucinda (Hitchcock) Phelps.
Public school education. Taught country schools, 1838-1843. Graduate Albany State Normal School, 1846, (Master of Arts, Union College, 1852).
Supervisor practice Experimental School, Albany. Organized State Normal School, Trenton, 1855. Organized Farnum Preparatory School, Beverly, New Jersey, 1857.
Principal Minnesota State Normal School, Winona, 1864-1876.
President Whitewater State Normal School, Wisconsin, 1876-1878. Superintendent public schools, Winona, Minnesota, 1878-1879, 1882-1883.
Director State Normal schools, Minnesota, 1896-1903.
Member American Geography Society, Phi Beta Kappa (1852), American Whig Society (1857).
Married 1852, Caroline C. Livingston, Albany.