WAURobinsonJohnPH2016_082.xmlGuide to the John S. Robinson Photograph Collection circa 1870-1999Robinson (John S.) Photograph CollectionSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2017 (Last modified: 11/27/2017)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH2016-082Robinson, John S., 1921-2003John S. Robinson photograph collectioncirca 1870-1999Photographs, negatives, and slides (8 boxes plus 1 oversize folder)Collection materials are in English.Photographs of people, events, and places, taken by or related to John S. Robinson, a freelance author and attorney who lived in Olympia, Washington

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.

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.

Open to all users.

Request at UW

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

Donor: Robinson, Kathryn, September 26, 2003.

Material Described Separately:

John S. Robinson Papers (Manuscript Collection 5319)

Robinson, John S., 1921-2003--ArchivesRobinson, John S., 1921-2003--PhotographsRobinson, John S., 1921-2003--Family--PhotographsRobinson, John S., 1921-2003--Friends and associates--PhotographsWashington (State)--PhotographsOregon--PhotographsBritish Columbia--PhotographsAlaska--PhotographsAfrica--PhotographsEurope--PhotographsFamilies--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsLawyers--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsPhotographsVisual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Home and FamilyPhotographs

 

1Family and class photographs, Olympic Peninsula, and general Pacific Northwest2Alaska, the Arctic, Tahiti, Fiji, Grand Cayman, and British Columbia3Mexico, Seattle and Washington state, Alaska, and Germany4Washington state, British Columbia, Germany, and Kenya5Germany, Kilimanjaro, South Africa, Rhodesia, Egypt, Nigeria, Portugal, Morocco, Ghana, Congo, Senegal, and Greece6Washington state, Alaska, Burundi, Rwanda, Holland, and Belgium7Washington state, Alaska, British Columbia, and Morocco8Oregon coast, Washington state, and Alaska1Family and class photographs