 Most notably, he served as the founder and president of the National Education Association (NEA), and president of the American Normal School Association from 1856 to 1900 (44 years).He also served as the vice-president of the first International Conference of Educators, over which he presided at the centennial exposition in 1876.Phelps was born in Auburn, New York, the son of Halsey and Lucinda (née Hitchcock) Phelps.