Charles M. Robinson architectural records

Content Description

This collection contains some material that has offensive or harmful language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials. The Charles M. Robinson collection consists of professional design works and business papers of Charles Robinson architectural firm, and successor architects and firms. The bulk of the collection consists of architectural rolls that contain drawings, designs, and site plans. Of strong note, this collection includes Robinson’s works and designs on educational institutions for students from underrepresented groups and marginalized backgrounds, including the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, the Virginia State University, the nation’s first fully-state supported four-year post-secondary learning institution for Black Americans, and other HBCUs including Norfolk State University and Virginia Union University. The collection holds items of Robinson’s work as an architect for the Virginia State Board of Health, including works of the Catawba, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont tuberculosis institutions. Of note, the Piedmont Institution was developed specifically for the care of Black residents of Virginia. A smaller part of the collection includes business papers and records such as photographs, renderings, proposals, notes, inventories, lists, correspondence, portfolios, newspaper clippings, and other artifacts such as pamphlets and campus maps. The collection begins with Robinson’s early works as an architect in Virginia (1907) and continues through the work of architect partnerships and successor firms throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. While the architectural rolls span this entire time period, most of the business papers and records relate to works completed by successor architects and firms with a focus on projects and commissions throughout the 1940s – 1970s. The successor firms to Charles M. Robinson, Architects include J. Binford Walford, Architect, Walford & Wright, Wright Jones & Wilkerson, Wright Jones Wilkerson Rothschild, Boynton, Architects, and Boynton Rothschild Rowland, Architects. Only a few items in this collection demonstrate the work of firms past Wright Jones & Wilkerson. Please see External Documents for a link to a detailed spreadsheet of the architectural drawings and see the inventory for a detailed box list of the administrative materials.

Acquisition Type

Purchase

Provenance

Gift of David Robinson, 31 March 2021.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

No

Access Restrictions

To request the architectural drawings, please send a reference request (https://www.library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/reference-request) with the desired materials' title and commission number (COMM #). Please note that part of this collection is housed at Ivy Stacks, an off-site storage facility. Requests for materials housed at Ivy Stacks require at least 72 hours' notice.