Phillips, William D., MD

Submitted by Mike Miller

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 562-563. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Phillips, William Davis, M. D., New Orleans, was born at St. Francisville, west Feliciana parish, La., Dec. 2, 1883; son of Marshall Pope and Camilla Mumford) Phillips, the former of whom was born at Baton Rouge, La., and died at Lakeland, same state, May 30, 1894, aged 39 years. The mother was born at Bayou Sara, West Feliciana parish, La., and is now living at Lakeland, Pointe Coupée parish. Marshall Pope Phillips was a planter in Pointe Coupée parish during all of his active career. His father, William Davis Phillips, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and came to Louisiana when a young man, locating at Baton Rouge, where for many years he was engaged in merchandising. Later he removed to Lakeland, Pointe Coupée parish, and in partnership with his son, Marshall Pope, engaged in merchandising and sugar and cotton planting. The maternal grandfather, Robinson Mumford, was a native of North Carolina. He was a steamboat captain, and came to Louisiana in the course of his employment. He continued upon the river but also established a merchandising business at Bayou Sara, which was continued until the beginning of the Civil war. At the close of the war he resumed this business and devoted his energies to it for the remainder of his life. William Davis Phillips was the fourth of 6 children born to his parents, 5 of who are now living. His early education was received in the private and public schools of Lakeland, Pointe Coupée parish. In 1899 he entered the Louisiana state university at Baton Rouge, and graduated with the degree of B. S. In 1904. In the fall of the same year he entered the medical department of Tulane university, and in 1906 received the degree of M. Ph. In 1907 he entered the New Orleans Charity hospital as resident interne and ambulance surgeon, spending 2 years there and graduating as M. D. in 1909. He at once began practice in New Orleans and his profession has claimed his undivided attention since that time. In Oct., 1909, he was appointed resident physician at the New Orleans sanitarium, now the Presbyterian hospital, and served 2 years in that connection, at the same time carrying on private practice and specializing in gynecology and obstetrics. In the year following his graduation, 1907, he was appointed assistant to the chair of operative gynecology in the post-graduate department of Tulane university, and served as such for 2 years, at the end of which time Dr. C. Jeff Miller, who had charge of that department, resigned, and Dr. Phillips was appointed demonstrator of operative gynecology. In June, 1914, he was appointed assistant professor of operative gynecology on the cadaver in the same department. In this way he came into active charge of this chair, and so continues at this time. In 1912 he was appointed assistant in Clinical Obstetrics under Dr. C. Jeff Miller, in the undergraduate department of Tulane medical school. Dr. Phillips is visiting gynecologist and obstetrician to the New Orleans Charity hospital and visiting physician to Touro infirmary. He is a member of the Orleans parish, the Louisiana State Medical societies, and the American Medical association. Since Feb., 1912, he has been secretary of the New Orleans parish Medical association. Is also a member of the Chess, Checkers and Whist club, the Phi Chi Medical fraternity and the Sigma Nu academic fraternity. Sept. 9, 1913, Dr. Phillips was married to Miss Mary G. Scott, of Lexington, Mass, the daughter of Hon. Augustus E. and Ceceil (Gustine) Scott, the former of Massachusetts and the latter of New Orleans; both still living in Lexington, Mass., where the father is an attorney by profession.