Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
William Robinson papers, 1913-2005
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Robinson, William
- Title
- William Robinson papers
- Dates
- 1913-2005 (inclusive)19132005
1945-2005 (bulk)19452005 - Quantity
- 1.62 cubic feet, (4 letter document cases, 1 map folder)
- Collection Number
- Coll 791
- Summary
- Papers of Portland, Oregon gardener William ("Robbie") Robinson, including materials relating to the Neal family, the Japanese Garden of Portland, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, and nursery catalogs.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
William ("Robbie") Robinson was born in 1917 in Lonerock, Oregon. He spent much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he worked as a gardener for the Portland Park Bureau, serving as head gardener for 25 years. Robinson was a charter member of the American Rhododendron Society. He also played a significant role in the construction of the Japanese Garden of Portland, and worked as a volunteer for that garden. Among the honors that Robinson received were the Portland Beautification medal and a medal presented by Japanese emperor Hirohito. The Robbie Robinson rhododendron, which he cultivated in the 1940s, is named for him. He and his wife, Lena Fossati Robinson, had three daughters: Joanne Robinson, Martha White, and Nancy Izatt. Robinson died in May 2011 in Portland, Oregon.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of William ("Robbie") Robinson's papers. In addition to Robinson's own personal correspondence, clippings, and photographs, the collection includes newsletters and other publications relating to the Neal family, to whom Robinson was related. A significant portion of the collection consists of records, photographs, and publications relating to the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon, the American Rhododendron Society, and other gardens and gardening organizations. The collection also includes a number of nursery catalogs.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
William Robinson papers, Coll 791, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series: Series 1. Personal and family papers; Series 2. Japanese Garden of Portland; 3. Other gardens and gardening societies; 4. Nursery catalogs.
Acquisition Information
Gifts of William Robinson, 2005 and 2006, (Lib. Accs. 25651 and 25951).
Separated Materials
Issues of Rhododendron News and the newsletter of the Cecil and Molly Smith Garden were separated to serials collections, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Related Materials
Records of the American Rhododendron Society collected by Robinson are designated Mss 2488, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Records of the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon are designated Mss 1859, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Personal and family papers, circa 1955-2004Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Personal biography, correspondence, and clippings |
1965-2003 |
1 | 2 | Personal photographs |
circa 1955-2000 |
1 | 3-6 | Neal family history, "Neal - Then and Now" |
2002 |
1 | 7 | Neal family publications |
1987-1999 |
1 | 8 | Neal family publications |
2000-2004 |
2 | 1 | Pamphlets for Oregon attractions and travel |
circa 1981-2005 |
Series 2: Japanese Garden of Portland, 1985-2004Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 2 | History of the lanterns in the Japanese Garden |
2004 |
2 | 3 | Plant materials in the Japanese Garden |
1988 |
2 | 4 | "The Garden Way: The Plan of the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon" |
1990 November |
2 | 5 | Japanese Garden Society of Oregon - correspondence, minutes, etc. |
1989-1998 |
2 | 6 | Japanese Garden Society of Oregon publications |
1988-2004 |
Folder | |||
Oversize 1 | Plans for supports at Japanese Garden of Portland |
1994 August | |
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 7-8 | Photographs and postcards of the Japanese Garden of Portland |
circa 1990-2004 |
Series 3: Other gardens and gardening societies, 1945-2005Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 9 | American Rhododendron Society of America, Portland Chapter - correspondence and publications |
circa 1975-2005 |
3 | 1 | Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden - Pamphlets, clippings, and newsletter "Garden Update" |
1950-1999 |
Folder | |||
Oversize 1 | Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden plans |
1988 | |
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 2 | Pamphlets and clippings re flowers and fruit trees |
1945-circa 2000 |
3 | 3 | Newspaper articles about rhododendrons and primulas |
2004 |
3 | 4 | Garden society pamphlets (including American Rhododendron Society) |
1983-circa 2000 |
3 | 5 | Garden pamphlets and clippings (excluding Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden) |
circa 1988-2005 |
3 | 6 | "Rhododendron and Azalea Miscellany," compiled by Janet E. Binford and prepared by members of the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society |
circa 1984 |
3 | 7 | Photographs of miscellaneous gardens |
circa 1980-2000 |
Series 4: Nursery catalogs, 1913-2003, (bulk 1954-2003) Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 8 | A-F |
1958-2003 |
3 | 9 | G |
1954-1995 |
4 | 1 | G |
2000-2001 |
4 | 2 | H |
circa 1979-1995 |
4 | 3 | J |
1913-1997; 1994-1997 |
4 | 4 | M-N |
1942-1997 |
4 | 5 | O |
1985-2001 |
4 | 6 | S |
1991-2002 |
4 | 7 | T-Z |
1935-2003; 1982-2003 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Gardening--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Robinson, William
Corporate Names
- American Rhododendron Society. Portland Chapter
- Japanese Garden Society of Oregon
Family Names
- Neal family
Geographical Names
- Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden (Portland, Or.)
- Japanese Garden (Portland, Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- catalogs (documents)
- clippings (information artifacts)
- publications (documents)