Reuben Philips Singin' School

A Small Portion of:

"Reuben Philips, Teacher & Musician"
By Kenneth Davidson Israel

May We All Remember Well: Volume 1 A Journal of the History and Culture of Western North Carolina Edited by Robert S. Brunk Published by Robert S. Brunk Auction Services, Asheville NC 1997

The forward to the article says that Israel was doing research on the history of the Methodist church when he found Philip's diary. The diary was originally thought to be done at the request of Philips children when he was older, but they think parts were copied from his journals since they are written in the present tense.

Israel says a copy of the text of the journal is at Pack Memorial Library in Asheville, along with the book published from the journal entitled Teacher, Preacher and Circuit Rider: The Biography of Reuben Philips (Texas: Biography Press, 1975). The reference to Posey's "three day singing... two at the Shook house" appears to be credited to the Philips diary, page 20-21.

The statement that Shook entertained Bishop Francis Asbury in the "third floor meeting hall" is credited to an article entitled "Haywood County" from October 11, 1941 in "The State".

Contributed by Dan Jones