LSU Libraries' Associate Dean Faye Phillips will retire at the end of January, after twenty-six years of service to the university.

Phillips' prestigious career began in 1972, when she joined the staff of the Georgia State University archives department within the University Library.  Since then, Phillips has worked as an archivist or librarian at the Atlanta History Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Troup County Georgia Archives, the National Archives and Records Administration, the United States Senate, and finally, LSU, where she found a place she wanted to settle.

Phillips received an MA in American History from Georgia State University and her library degree from UNC Chapel Hill.  In 1983, she was the first archivist/director of the first county archives in Georgia, and along with the Georgia State Archives and others, she worked to establish the guidelines for future county archives.  When she came to LSU, she worked with Louisiana’s senators to bring their congressional papers to the LSU Libraries and wrote a book about the management of congressional collections.   Also, with the great help of Elaine Smyth, Judy Bolton, Luana Henderson, Anne Smith, Sheila Lee, Sissy Albertine, Don Morrison, and others, significant improvements were made in the cataloging, care and management of the LSU Libraries Special Collections.

The LSU Libraries has changed quite a lot since 1986.  When Faye arrived at LSU in 1986, the Libraries had just automated its catalog, and it was called LOLA.  It was not until 1990 that the Special Collections department received one PC for all staff members to use!

Faye states that it has been an honor to work with all the great staff and faculty, and that much of the time it, has been rewarding and fun. She plans on staying in Baton Rouge and conducting research at the LSU Libraries Special Collections.  She just finished writing a book, Baton Rouge Cemeteries, to be published by Arcadia Publishing this spring, and her next project is a history of West Baton Rouge Parish to be published in the fall. Her current reading list includes lots of local history for her research.

Phillips will be working for herself, and hopes that everyone will stay in touch.  Her new contact information is Faye Phillips, V F Phillips Consulting, vfphillipsco@gmail.com

Congratulations and best wishes, Faye!