Edward Phelps, a Western student, writes his master thesis on John Henry Fairbank in 1965, the most comprehensive report written to date. This was after he spent nearly a year going through the diaries, letters, documents, receipts and papers that were stored in the Fairbank mansion.
Phelps later becomes the librarian of Western’s Regional Collection of D. B. Weldon Library and publishes three books on Petrolia (the first two were with journalist Charlie Whipp): Petrolia 1866 – 1966; Petrolia 1874 to 1974; and Petrolia Ontario-Canada 150 Years 1854-2004. Additionally, he wrote more than 30 other books on Ontario history.