John S. Robinson photograph collection, circa 1870-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Robinson, John S., 1921-2003
Title
John S. Robinson photograph collection
Dates
circa 1870-1999 (inclusive)
Quantity
Photographs, negatives, and slides (8 boxes plus 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
PH2016-082
Summary
Photographs of people, events, and places, taken by or related to John S. Robinson, a freelance author and attorney who lived in Olympia, Washington
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John Robinson (1921-2003) was a freelance author and attorney from Olympia, Washington, who spent much of his working and social life in the Seattle area. Robinson grew up in Seattle, graduating from Garfield High School in 1938. He attended Stanford University and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. During World War II he translated Japanese for the Navy. He graduated from Yale University Law School in 1949.

Although he worked for law firms and for the State Attorney General's office, mainly in Seattle, his prime interest was in writing. He researched and wrote articles for travel and Seattle and regional magazines, including the Argus, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Pacific Search, Northwest Arts, and Seattle Weekly. He traveled extensively in Africa in the early 1960s and was expelled from South Africa. He wrote a long manuscript about it but failed to get it published because of his reluctance to edit it. A lifelong bachelor, Robinson lived in his parents' Olympia home with his mother and then alone after her death. He died in Olympia in March 2003.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs relating to John S. Robinson's life and career. Included are images of friends and family members, class portraits, celebrations, events, totem poles, and landscapes. Many photographs are of locations including the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands, Lake Chelan, Okanogan, Vashon Island, Leavenworth, the Oregon coast, Alaska, Victoria, British Columbia, the Arctic, Mexico, Tahiti, Fiji, the Cayman Islands, Germany, Kenya, Kilimanjaro, South Africa, Rhodesia, Egypt, Nigeria, Portugal, Morocco, Ghana, the Congo, Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Greece, Burundi, Rwanda, Holland, and Belgium. Also included are drafts of articles with corresponding images.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Robinson, Kathryn, September 26, 2003.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

John S. Robinson Papers (Manuscript Collection 5319)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description
Box
1 Family and class photographs, Olympic Peninsula, and general Pacific Northwest
2 Alaska, the Arctic, Tahiti, Fiji, Grand Cayman, and British Columbia
3 Mexico, Seattle and Washington state, Alaska, and Germany
4 Washington state, British Columbia, Germany, and Kenya
5 Germany, Kilimanjaro, South Africa, Rhodesia, Egypt, Nigeria, Portugal, Morocco, Ghana, Congo, Senegal, and Greece
6 Washington state, Alaska, Burundi, Rwanda, Holland, and Belgium
7 Washington state, Alaska, British Columbia, and Morocco
8 Oregon coast, Washington state, and Alaska
folder:oversize
1 Family and class photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Families--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Lawyers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Robinson, John S., 1921-2003--Archives
  • Robinson, John S., 1921-2003--Family--Photographs
  • Robinson, John S., 1921-2003--Friends and associates--Photographs
  • Robinson, John S., 1921-2003--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Africa--Photographs
  • Alaska--Photographs
  • British Columbia--Photographs
  • Europe--Photographs
  • Oregon--Photographs
  • Washington (State)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)