24 BULLETIN or THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



its financial guide, and lived to be the last survivor of its 

 first board of government as well as of the original mem- 

 bership of the Essex County Natural History Society. 



During Mr. Phippen's early years at the Salem Bank in 

 Pickman Place, the second floor of the old banking house 

 was variously occupied by societies in which he took an 

 active part : the Essex Historical Society, the Salem 

 Athenaeum, the Natural History Society, the Essex 

 Institute, in turn had chambers overhead. And besides 

 his contributions of service to these last he acted as super- 

 intendent of the East India Marine Museum, not a stone's 

 throw away, for the seven years succeeding 1848, at 

 which date the activity of Dr. Wheatland, in that sphere, 

 seems to have been transferred from the Museum to the 

 Essex Institute just formed. 



He succeeded Dr. Wheatland as superintendent of the 

 Museum in November, 1848, and received a vote of 

 thanks from the Marine Society on retiring in November, 

 1855. 



Mr. Phippen was through life an ardent lover of flow- 

 ers, and this passion manifested itself in many ways. 

 Broad in his denominational views, his interest in the 

 Ta])ernacle Church led him to furnish the most fitting 

 floral decorations for his place of worship. His beautiful 

 garden, looking out on Collins Cove, made famous through 

 the water-colors of our artist-townsman. Turner, absorbed 

 for years a generous portion of his time and thought. He 

 soon came to be recognized as an authority on floriculture 

 as he had long been on local history. The fruit and flower 

 shows of the Institute, which were sustained with great 

 acceptance in various halls of the city, but especially in 

 that of the Chase Block, now superseded l)y the Holyoke 

 Building, were greatly helped })y Mr. Phippen's zeal, 

 liberality and good taste. 



