This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities; this finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.
Size | 1.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 46 items) |
Abstract | Hubert Samuel Robinson (1893-1972) was a chauffeur, butler, and gardener, 1932-1949, for the family of Frank Porter Graham, president of the University of North Carolina. Robinson was also a custodian, 1950-1966, at the University of North Carolina, a civic and political leader, and the first black alderman of Chapel Hill, N.C. The collection includes pocket diaries, 1929-1969, and scrapbooks, 1912-1964, containing clippings, correspondence, and memorabilia of Hubert S. Robinson Senior. The diaries contain very brief, almost daily entries, chiefly concerning Robinson's work, his church, civic, social, and political activities, events in Chapel Hill, University sports events and other University occasions, family matters, and national news. |
Creator | Robinson, Hubert Samuel, 1893-1972. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: SHC Staff
Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007
Updated by: Kate Stratton and Jodi Berkowitz, January 2010; Nancy Kaiser, January 2021.
This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Hubert Samuel Robinson (1893-1972) was a chauffeur, butler, and gardener, 1932-1949, for the family of Frank Porter Graham, president of the University of North Carolina. Robinson was also a custodian, 1950-1966, at the University of North Carolina, a civic and political leader, and the first black alderman of Chapel Hill, N.C.
Robinson was born in Hogansville, Ga. and educated in Montgomery, Ala. He moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1932 and became active in community affairs. He was deacon and later trustee of the First Baptist Church; an active member of Mt. Olive Masonic lodge, of which he was grand master, 1956-1957, and the Men's Civic Club; president of the Parent Teacher Association, 1944-1946, and consultant tot he Board of Education; founder, fundraiser, and active board member of the Roberson Street Community Center and Holmes Day Care Center, of which his wife was director; and fundraiser for community charities, especially the Red Cross and World War II bond drives. He was also a director of the Chapel Hill Burial Association and Chapel Hill Investment Club and in 1957 he was named Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of which he was a charter member.
In 1946 Robinson attended the Southern Conference on Human Relations and was active in the formation of the Chapel Hill chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1947, serving as its first vice-president. In 1950 he played a similar role in the formation of the Council on Negro Affairs.
Robinson was also a leader of the Democratic Party, first locally, then at the state and national level. He served as Chapel Hill city alderman, 1953-1965, and was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the O'Berry School in Goldsboro, N.C., in 1959 by Governor Luther Hodges. Robinson was reappointed to the Board in 1961 by Governor Terry Sanford.
Hubert Samuel Robinson was married to Addie Bell Palmer in 1937 with whom he had five children: Hubert Junior, Ernestine, Harold, Frank, and Beatrice.
Back to TopThe collection includes pocket diaries, 1929-1969, and scrapbooks, 1912-1964, containing clippings, correspondence, and memorabilia of Hubert Samuel Robinson Senior. The diaries contain very brief, almost daily entries, chiefly concerning Robinson's work for the family of Frank Porter Graham and the University of North Carolina; his church, civic, social, and political activities; events in Chapel Hill, N.C.; University sports events and other University occasions, family matters, and national news. Many of the diaries also include cash accounts and addresses. The scrapbooks contain some items related to Robinson's own career and his family, but most concern race relations and African American history and achievement.
Back to TopFolder 1a |
Original finding aid |
Folder 1 |
Volume 1: Diary, 1929 |
Folder 2 |
Volume 2: Diary, 1932 |
Folder 3 |
Volume 3: Diary, 1933 |
Folder 4 |
Volume 4: Diary, 1934 |
Folder 5 |
Volume 5: Diary, 1935 |
Folder 6 |
Volume 6: Diary, 1936 |
Folder 7 |
Volume 7: Diary, 1938 |
Folder 8 |
Volume 8: Diary, 1939 |
Folder 9 |
Volume 9: Diary, 1940 |
Folder 10 |
Volume 10: Diary, 1941 |
Folder 11 |
Volume 11: Diary, 1942 |
Folder 12 |
Volume 12: Diary, 1943 |
Folder 13 |
Volume 13: Diary, 1944 |
Folder 14 |
Volume 14: Diary, 1945 |
Folder 15 |
Volume 15: Diary, 1946 |
Folder 16 |
Volume 16: Diary, 1947 |
Folder 17 |
Volume 17: Diary, 1948 |
Folder 18 |
Volume 18: Diary, 1949 |
Folder 19 |
Volume 19: Diary, 1950 |
Folder 20 |
Volume 20: Diary, 1951 |
Folder 21 |
Volume 21: Diary, 1952 |
Folder 22 |
Volume 22: Diary, 1953 |
Folder 23 |
Volume 23: Diary, 1955 |
Folder 24 |
Volume 24: Diary, 1956 |
Folder 25 |
Volume 25: Diary, 1957 |
Folder 26 |
Volume 26: Diary, 1958 |
Folder 27 |
Volume 27: Diary, 1959 |
Folder 28 |
Volume 28: Diary, 1960 |
Folder 29 |
Volume 29: Diary, 1961 |
Folder 30 |
Volume 30: Diary, 1962 |
Folder 31 |
Volume 31: Diary, 1963 |
Folder 32 |
Volume 32: Diary, 1964 |
Folder 33 |
Volume 33: Diary, 1965 |
Folder 34 |
Volume 34: Diary, 1966 |
Folder 35 |
Volume 35: Diary, 1967 |
Folder 36 |
Volume 36: Diary, 1968 |
Folder 37 |
Volume 37: Diary, 1969 |
Folder 38 |
Folder not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/38 |
Volume 38: Scrapbook, 1912-1965Contains letters from Luther Hodges, Terry Sanford, John F. Kennedy, G. Mennen Williams, and other Democratic politicians. Also contains memorabilia and letters of congratulations, commendation, and recommendation. |
Folder 39 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/39 |
Volume 39: Scrapbook, 1930-1950Includes clippings and other items related to Samuel Hubert Robinson's association and employment with Frank Porter Graham. |
Folder 40 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/40 |
Volume 40: Scrapbook, 1950Includes a photographic portrait of Hubert Samuel Robinson and clippings, some related to Frank Porter Graham. |
Folder 41 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/41 |
Volume 41: Scrapbook, 1950-1951Includes clippings, many related to the integration of the University of North Carolina. |
Folder 42 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/42 |
Volume 42: Scrapbook, 1955-1957 |
Folder 43 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/43 |
Volume 43: Scrapbook, 1957-1959 |
Folder 44 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/44 |
Volume 44: Scrapbook, 1961-1963 |
Folder 45 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/45 |
Volume 45: Scrapbook, 1963Includes clippings primarily related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy and to Kennedy's role in race relations. |
Folder 46 |
Folder number not used |
Oversize Volume SV-4123/46 |
Volume 46: Scrapbook, undated |
Oversize volumes (SV-4123/38-46).
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