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Collection Number: 04123

Collection Title: Hubert Samuel Robinson Diaries and Scrapbooks, 1912-1969.

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.

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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
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Hubert Samuel Robinson Diaries and Scrapbooks, #4123, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Addie B. Robinson of Chapel Hill, N.C., March 1977 and March 1978; two volumes transferred from the North Carolina Collection in March 1977.
Additional Descriptive Resources
A copy of the original finding aid for this collection is filed in folder 1a.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

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.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The 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.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

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.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The 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.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Hubert Samuel Robinson Diaries and Scrapbooks, 1912-1969 and undated.

Folder 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, 1912-1965

Contains 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, 1930-1950

Includes 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, 1950

Includes 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, 1950-1951

Includes 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, 1963

Includes 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

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

Oversize volumes (SV-4123/38-46).

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