William Robinson papers, 1913-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Robinson, William
Title
William Robinson papers
Dates
1913-2005 (inclusive)
1945-2005 (bulk)
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

Arranged in alphabetical order by catalog title.
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)