ABSTRACT
In the years 1858 to 1861 John Phillips was exceptionally busy: in addition to his regular responsibilities at Oxford and for the Association, he was president of the Geological Society of London 1852–60 and Rede lecturer at the University of Cambridge in spring 1860. At Oxford Phillips' appointment was welcomed by the local bishop, Samuel Wilberforce. Oxford was a collegiate university with almost as many colleges as professors and readers. Prima facie Phillips' closest colleague at Oxford was Story-Maskelyne who, as deputy reader in mineralogy, lectured in the Clarendon Building and taught mineralogical and chemical analysis in his small laboratory in the Ashmolean Museum. Phillips was in charge of the collection of geological specimens housed until 1861 in the Clarendon Building and subsequently in the less cramped conditions afforded by the new Museum. Phillips' other contribution to science teaching in schools, apart from teaching undergraduates who became science masters, was as examiner at Cheltenham Ladies College.
