1938
Born to Elmer R. Phelps and Floy E. (Howe) Phelps in Potsdam, NY.
1953
Is a member of the Norwood Fire Department Band until 1954.
1959
Earns a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Lawrence University; Is a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow at Princeton University until 1960.
1960
Is a junior fellow at Princeton University until 1961.
1961
Achieves a Master of Arts in English from Princeton University; Is a Charles Scribner Junior Fellow and Summer Fellow at Princeton until 1962.
1962
Teaches as an instructor to assistant professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania until 1972.
1962
Publishes numerous written works in Notes and Queries through 1988.
1965
Obtains a Doctor of Philosophy in English from Princeton University.
1972
Is an assistant prof. at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University until 1977.
1978
Is published in Erasmus in English and the Shakespeare Quarterly, as well as the Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America through 1979.
1978
Serves the State Council for Higher Education for VA as a research associate of academy programs and coordinator of institutional approval until 1982.
1979
Is published in English Language Notes, Theatre Surveys, The Dickensian and Studies in Bibliography.
1980
Is published in The Library and Philological Quarterly; Plays organ/piano for an Anglican Catholic Church until 1982.
1982
Is director of planning and educational research for the West Virginia Board of Regents until retiring in 1986.
1989
Serves on the board of directors of Friends of the Owen D. Young and Launders Libraries at St. Lawrence University until 2009.
2021
Maintains membership with the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Pi Mu Epsilon, Irving Bacheller Society and Modern Square Dancing Club.