[Shakerpedia] [Memoirs]
Entries for Phelps, Bertha Lillian

Photos:Mt Lebanon Hancock Hamilton Richmond

Village:Canterbury, NH Source:bios:232

id 232
firstname Bertha Lillian
lastname Phelps
birthyr 1876
deathyr 1973
bio Phelps, Bertha Lillian (1876-1973), of Canterbury, NH, was born in East Boston, MA. Her parents had five daughters and four sons. She joined the Shakers at 16, when coming for health reasons and also to visit her two brothers already there. She took turns in the kitchen and taking care of the elder sisters. She signed the covenant in 1899 and assisted in selling trips of fancy goods for many years (1909-1940). She became 2nd eldress in 1918, working at the Trustees' Office from 1965 on. She was involved in the sweater trade, finishing off sweaters; in the poplar box construction; was in charge of the gift shop; gave Thursday and Sunday afternoon services for young people; helped with entertainments, and was one of the community photographers. Through her lifetime she took care of over 50 children, many of whom remembered her lovingly. Coming from a family of organists and having had professional training with a German professor, she played the Canterbury chapel pipe organ, installed in 1922; trained the famous Canterbury "Qui Vive Quartette," and taught instrumental music at both Canterbury and Enfield, NH. When 90 years old, in 1967, she obtained a "table model stereo." "Subsequently the Shakers spent many evenings listening to hours of delightful music" (Sr. Bertha Lindsay, 1973). She also wrote pamphlets about Shakers, one of which, titled" Industries and Inventions of the Shakers. Shaker Music... ", written together with Eldress Bertha Lindsay, was published in 1968 (based on a seminar talk delivered in 1961).
villageplus Canterbury. NH

	id	232
	firstname	Bertha Lillian
	lastname	Phelps
	birthyr	1876
	deathyr	1973
	bio	Phelps, Bertha Lillian (1876-1973), of Canterbury, NH, was born in East Boston, MA. Her parents had five daughters and four sons. She joined the Shakers at 16, when coming for health reasons and also to visit her two brothers already there. She took turns in the kitchen and taking care of the elder sisters. She signed the covenant in 1899 and assisted in selling trips of fancy goods for many years (1909-1940). She became 2nd eldress in 1918, working at the Trustees' Office from 1965 on. She was involved in the sweater trade, finishing off sweaters; in the poplar box construction; was in charge of the gift shop; gave Thursday and Sunday afternoon services for young people; helped with entertainments, and was one of the community photographers. Through her lifetime she took care of over 50 children, many of whom remembered her lovingly. Coming from a family of organists and having had professional training with a German professor, she played the Canterbury chapel pipe organ, installed in 1922; trained the famous Canterbury "Qui Vive Quartette," and taught instrumental music at both Canterbury and Enfield, NH. When 90 years old, in 1967, she obtained a "table model stereo." "Subsequently the Shakers spent many evenings listening to hours of delightful music" (Sr. Bertha Lindsay, 1973). She also wrote pamphlets about Shakers, one of which, titled" Industries and Inventions of the Shakers. Shaker Music... ", written together with Eldress Bertha Lindsay, was published in 1968 (based on a seminar talk delivered in 1961).
	villageplus	Canterbury. NH