In 1999, Bates received a $9 million bequest from the late Bates president Charles F. Phillips and his wife, Evelyn Minard Phillips.  Not only is the Phillips bequest the largest gift ever received by the College, it is also believed to be the largest gift ever from a U.S. college president and spouse to an institution. 

Their bequest established the Phillips Endowments, including the Phillips Professorships, the Phillips Faculty Awards, the Phillips Student Internships, and the Phillips Leadership Fund, all of which provide opportunities for students and faculty members to pursue scholarship and research.

Charles and Evelyn Phillips served the College from 1944 to 1967; together they developed a vision for Bates that became known as the “Bates Plan.” 

Charles Phillips studied economics at Colgate University and, after graduating in 1931, he and Evelyn married.  He received his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University in 1934 and subsequently taught at Hobart College and Colgate University.  He was a leading scholar in his field, and his text on Marketing Principles and Methods was widely used.  During World War II he worked in Washington, D.C. for the Office of Price Administration, before coming to Bates in 1944.  At a time when the country was recovering from the war, President Phillips and his wife brought a vital academic vision and a sound financial plan to Bates.

Evelyn Minard Phillips graduated from Elmira College in New York in 1932 and received advanced education as a dietitian at the Women’s Education and Industrial Union affiliated with Boston’s Simmons College.  At Bates, Evelyn was active in the life of the College as partner and friend to her husband; she was also very active in community organizations and clubs.

After President Phillips’ retirement in 1967, he and Mrs. Phillips maintained their residence in Auburn, Maine, and continued to be active in the community.  President Phillips also continued to serve on the board of several national corporations.  In their estate, they bestowed a gift to the College’s endowment, a legacy that inspires the College as it prepares for the future.