Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Restrictions to Use

No usage restrictions.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Hubert Samuel Robinson Diaries and Scrapbooks, #4123, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Addie B. Robinson of Chapel Hill, N.C., March 1977 and March 1978; two volumes transferred from the North Carolina Collection in March 1977.

Additional Descriptive Resources

A copy of the original finding aid for this collection is filed in folder 1a.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• African Americans--Diaries.
• African Americans--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• African Americans--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
• Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Politics and government.
• Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
• City council members--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Civic leaders--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Diaries.
• Domestics--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
• Graham, Frank Porter, 1886-1972.
• Janitors--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Robinson, Hubert Samuel, 1893-1972.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Employees.

Hubert Samuel Robinson (1893-1972) was a chauffeur, butler, and gardener, 1932-1949, for the family of Frank Porter Graham, president of the University of North Carolina. Robinson was also a custodian, 1950-1966, at the University of North Carolina, a civic and political leader, and the first black alderman of Chapel Hill, N.C.

Robinson was born in Hogansville, Ga. and educated in Montgomery, Ala. He moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1932 and became active in community affairs. He was deacon and later trustee of the First Baptist Church; an active member of Mt. Olive Masonic lodge, of which he was grand master, 1956-1957, and the Men's Civic Club; president of the Parent Teacher Association, 1944-1946, and consultant tot he Board of Education; founder, fundraiser, and active board member of the Roberson Street Community Center and Holmes Day Care Center, of which his wife was director; and fundraiser for community charities, especially the Red Cross and World War II bond drives. He was also a director of the Chapel Hill Burial Association and Chapel Hill Investment Club and in 1957 he was named Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of which he was a charter member.

In 1946 Robinson attended the Southern Conference on Human Relations and was active in the formation of the Chapel Hill chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1947, serving as its first vice-president. In 1950 he played a similar role in the formation of the Council on Negro Affairs.

Robinson was also a leader of the Democratic Party, first locally, then at the state and national level. He served as Chapel Hill city alderman, 1953-1965, and was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the O'Berry School in Goldsboro, N.C., in 1959 by Governor Luther Hodges. Robinson was reappointed to the Board in 1961 by Governor Terry Sanford.

Hubert Samuel Robinson was married to Addie Bell Palmer in 1937 with whom he had five children: Hubert Junior, Ernestine, Harold, Frank, and Beatrice.

The collection includes pocket diaries, 1929-1969, and scrapbooks, 1912-1964, containing clippings, correspondence, and memorabilia of Hubert Samuel Robinson Senior. The diaries contain very brief, almost daily entries, chiefly concerning Robinson's work for the family of Frank Porter Graham and the University of North Carolina; his church, civic, social, and political activities; events in Chapel Hill, N.C.; University sports events and other University occasions, family matters, and national news. Many of the diaries also include cash accounts and addresses. The scrapbooks contain some items related to Robinson's own career and his family, but most concern race relations and African American history and achievement.

Oversize volumes (SV-4123/38-46).