Charles M. Robinson
Encyclopedia
Charles Morrison Robinson (March 3, 1867 – August 20, 1932), most commonly known as Charles M. Robinson, was an American architect. He worked in Altoona
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
from 1889 to 1906 and in Richmond, Virginia
from 1906 until the time of his death in 1932. He is most remembered as a prolific designer of educational buildings in Virginia, including public schools in Richmond and throughout Virginia, and university buildings for James Madison University
, College of William and Mary
, Radford University
, Virginia State University
, and the University of Richmond
. He was also the public school architect of the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. Many of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
in Loudoun County, Virginia
, the son of architect James T. Robinson. He apprenticed with D.S. Hopkins, of Grand Rapids, Michigan
, and John K. Peebles of Richmond, Virginia
. In 1889, Robinson formed the architectural firm of Smith & Robinson with G. T. Smith in Altoona, Pennsylvania
. In 1891, Robinson married Altoona native, Annie Custer. They had two children, Charles Custer Robinson (born 1893) and Miriam Robinson (born September 1895). At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Robinson was living at 1910 West Chestnut Avenue in Altoona. He had two live-in servants, Bridget Sheehan and Mattie Jones, at that time. In 1901, Robinson moved his architectural practice from Altoona to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
. He served as the supervising architect for the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. He remained in Richmond for the remainder of his professional career. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Robinson was living at 828 Park Avenue in Richmond with his wife, Annie C. Robinson, their two children, and his parents. He also had a live-in servant, Etta Scruggs, and a live-in butler, Fred W. Smith.
At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Robinson was living in Richmond with his wife and his mother.
In the early 1930s, Robinson's health began failing. He was hospitalized in Norfolk, Virginia
in August 1932 and died there following an operation.
. In 2006, The Virginian-Pilot called him one of "Virginia's most prolific architects." Mimi Sadler, a historic architect in Richmond, noted at the time that Robinson not only "cranked out a lot of school buildings, but they were all high quality and many have become landmarks."
.jpg)
Robinson's works include:
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
from 1889 to 1906 and in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
from 1906 until the time of his death in 1932. He is most remembered as a prolific designer of educational buildings in Virginia, including public schools in Richmond and throughout Virginia, and university buildings for James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
, College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, Radford University
Radford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
, Virginia State University
Virginia State University
Virginia State University is a historically black and land-grant university located north of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield, in the Richmond area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans...
, and the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. He was also the public school architect of the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. Many of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Early years
Robinson was born in Hamilton, VirginiaHamilton, Virginia
Hamilton is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 562 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, the son of architect James T. Robinson. He apprenticed with D.S. Hopkins, of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, and John K. Peebles of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. In 1889, Robinson formed the architectural firm of Smith & Robinson with G. T. Smith in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
. In 1891, Robinson married Altoona native, Annie Custer. They had two children, Charles Custer Robinson (born 1893) and Miriam Robinson (born September 1895). At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Robinson was living at 1910 West Chestnut Avenue in Altoona. He had two live-in servants, Bridget Sheehan and Mattie Jones, at that time. In 1901, Robinson moved his architectural practice from Altoona to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Richmond years
In 1906, Robinson moved his practice and family to Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. He served as the supervising architect for the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. He remained in Richmond for the remainder of his professional career. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Robinson was living at 828 Park Avenue in Richmond with his wife, Annie C. Robinson, their two children, and his parents. He also had a live-in servant, Etta Scruggs, and a live-in butler, Fred W. Smith.
At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Robinson was living in Richmond with his wife and his mother.
In the early 1930s, Robinson's health began failing. He was hospitalized in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
in August 1932 and died there following an operation.
Legacy
A number of his buildings survive and are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In 2006, The Virginian-Pilot called him one of "Virginia's most prolific architects." Mimi Sadler, a historic architect in Richmond, noted at the time that Robinson not only "cranked out a lot of school buildings, but they were all high quality and many have become landmarks."
Selected works
College and university buildings
- The master plan and multiple structures at James Madison UniversityJames Madison UniversityJames Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
, originally known as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, from 1908 to 1928, including Maury Hall (1908), Jackson Hall (1908), Harrison Hall (1912), President's House (1913), Spottswood Hall (1915), Alumnae Hall (1922), Sheldon Hall (1922), Gymnasium (1926), Johnson Hall (1928), and Wilson Hall (1930). - More than 20 buildings at Virginia State College (a historically blackHistorically Black Colleges and UniversitiesHistorically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
college now known as Virginia State UniversityVirginia State UniversityVirginia State University is a historically black and land-grant university located north of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield, in the Richmond area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans...
), in Petersburg, VirginiaPetersburg, VirginiaPetersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, between 1918 and 1930, including Eggleston Hall (1926), Seward Hall (1926), Trinkle Hall (1928), Byrd Hall (1928), and the Agricultural Building (1930). - More than 60 works as the College Architect for the College of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryThe College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
from 1921–1931, including Jefferson Hall (1920), the George Preston Blow Gymnasium (1923), Monroe Hall (1923), Old Dominion Hall (1926), Rogers Memorial Science Hall (1926), Kate Waller Barrett Hall (1926), Lake Matoaka Cottage (1927), Kappa Kappa GammaKappa Kappa GammaKappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
(1927), Delta Delta (1927), Moncure Cottage (1928), Washington Hall (1928), Brown Hall (1930), Alpha Chi OmegaAlpha Chi OmegaAlpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity founded on October 15, 1885. Currently, there are 135 chapters of Alpha Chi Omega at colleges and universities across the United States and more than 200,000 lifetime members...
(1929), Kappa DeltaKappa DeltaKappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university...
(1929), Phi Beta Phi (1929), Chandler Hall (1930), Delta Delta DeltaDelta Delta DeltaDelta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.-History:...
(1931), Chi OmegaChi OmegaChi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee....
(1931). - University of Mary WashingtonUniversity of Mary WashingtonThe University of Mary Washington is a public, coeducational liberal arts college located in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. Founded in 1908 by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a normal school, during much of the twentieth century it was part of the University of Virginia, until...
: President's Residence (1910), Frances Willard Hall (1910), Virginia Hall (1914), Chandler Hall (1928), Seacobeck Hall (1930), and Bridge to Dining Hall (Seacobeck Hall) (1930). - University of RichmondUniversity of RichmondThe University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
: Milhiser Gymnasium (1919), T.C. Williams Law School Additions at 601 North Lombardy (1924), Puryer Hall (1926), Cannon Memorial Chapel (1928), Richmond Hall (1929), Jenkins Outdoor Theater (1929), and Maryland Hall (1932). - Radford UniversityRadford UniversityRadford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
: Master plan, Administration Building, and dormitories. - Lutheran Theological Seminary Building: Beam DormitoryLutheran Theological Seminary Building: Beam DormitoryThe Lutheran Theological Seminary Building: Beam Dormitory was the first permanent building at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. It was built in 1911 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The structure was built by Wise Granite...
, 4201 Main St., Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, built in 1911, NRHP-listed.
Public school buildings
- Thomas Jefferson High SchoolThomas Jefferson High School (Richmond, Virginia)The Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia is a public high school. The Art Deco building, constructed in 1929 and opened in 1930, has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by architect Charles M. Robinson...
, 4100 W. Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Considered to be Robinson's "masterpiece." - John B. Cary School (renamed the West End School in 1954), 2100 Idlewood Ave., Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed.
- Appomattox Agricultural High School, a NRHP-listed building constructed in 1908, now the Appomattox Middle School. A contributing building in the Appomattox Historic DistrictAppomattox Historic DistrictThe Appomattox Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in Appomattox, Virginia. It contains over 300 contributing properties and various other historic buildings....
, it is located roughly along High, Church, Highland, Virgina Route 131, Linden, Lee Grant, Oakleigh and Evergreen, in Appomattox, VirginiaAppomattox, VirginiaAppomattox is a town in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,761 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Appomattox County.Appomattox is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. - Highland Park Public SchoolHighland Park Public SchoolHighland Park Public School is a historic school building located in Richmond, Virginia. The structure was built in 1909 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The Mediterranean Revival building is a two-story brick and stucco structure topped by hipped roofs clad with...
, 1221 East Brookland Park Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia. Converted into a residential facility for senior citizens in the 1990s, and renamed Brookland Park Plaza, NRHP-listed. - Anna P. Bolling Junior High SchoolAnna P. Bolling Junior High SchoolThe Anna P. Bolling Junior High School in Petersburg, Virginia was built in 1926 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.The school building was designed by architect Charles M...
, 35 W. Fillmore St., Petersburg, VirginiaPetersburg, VirginiaPetersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, NRHP-listed. - Clarendon SchoolClarendon SchoolClarendon School is a historic school building located in Arlington, Virginia. The structure was built in 1910 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. In 1944, the building was renamed the Matthew Maury Elementary School. The building ceased operating as a school after...
, 3550 Wilson Bvd., Arlington, Virginia, later converted and renamed the Arlington Arts Center, NRHP-listed. - Peabody Building of the Peabody-Williams SchoolPeabody Building of the Peabody-Williams SchoolPeabody Building of the Peabody-Williams School is a historic school building located in Petersburg, Virginia. The structure opened in 1920 as a public high school for African American students in Petersburg's segregated public school system. The building was designed by noted Virginia architect...
, Jones St., Petersburg, VirginiaPetersburg, VirginiaPetersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, NRHP-listed. - Orange High SchoolOrange High School (Orange, Virginia)Orange High School is a historic school located in Orange, Virginia. The first school building at the site was built in 1911 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The original structure is a -story building with a monumental Doric portico modeled on the Temple of...
, 224 Belleview Ave., Orange, VirginiaOrange, VirginiaOrange is a town in Orange County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Orange County...
, NRHP-listed. - Shea Terrace Elementary SchoolShea Terrace Elementary SchoolShea Terrace Elementary School is a historic school building located in Portsmouth, Virginia. The structure was built in 1925 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The school opened in September 1925 serving Portsmouth's Shea Terrace neighborhood...
, 253 Constitution Ave., Portsmouth, Virginia, NRHP-listed. - Springfield SchoolSpringfield SchoolSpringfield School is a historic school building located in Richmond, Virginia. The Gothic Revival structure was built in 1913 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The -story structure has a granite exterior, a raised basement and a small penthouse. The building...
, 608 North 28th Street, Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. - Nathaniel Bacon SchoolNathaniel Bacon SchoolNathaniel Bacon School is a historic school building located in Richmond, Virginia. The structure was built in 1914 based on a design by Charles M. Robinson, supervising architect, and William L. Carneal, architect. The Colonial Revival building is a -story brick structure located in Richmond's...
, 815 North 35th Street, Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. - Kenbridge High School, 511 East Fifth Avenue, Kenbridge, VirginiaKenbridge, VirginiaKenbridge is a town in Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,253 at the 2000 census. It is in a tobacco farming area. The area is home to noted folk artist Eldridge Bagley.-Geography:Kenbridge is located at ....
, NRHP-listed as part of the Fifth Avenue Historic District (1921). - Matthew Whaley SchoolMatthew Whaley SchoolMatthew Whaley School is a historic school building located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Georgian Revival structure was built between 1929 and 1930 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson...
, 301 Scotland St., Williamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, NRHP-listed. - Suffolk High School in Suffolk, VirginiaSuffolk, VirginiaSuffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
(converted in 2006 into the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts). - Harry Hunt Junior High School.
- Albert Hill School in Richmond, Virginia.
- Louisa High School, 212 Fredericksburg Avenue, Louisa, VirginiaLouisa, VirginiaLouisa is a town in Louisa County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,401 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Louisa County.-Geography:Louisa is located at ....
.
Other buildings
- Landmark Theater, formerly known as the Mosque, 6 N. Laurel St., Richmond, Virginia. With Marcellus Wright, Sr. The theater was the most elaborate and largest (4,600 seats) ever built in Richmond.
- Newport News Public LibraryNewport News Public LibraryThe Newport News Public Library now known as the West Avenue Library in the Newport News Public Library System was opened on October 14, 1929 at the corner of West Avenue and 30th Street in the City of Newport News, Virginia. This building was the first to be built in the Newport_News for the...
, 2907 West Ave., Newport News, VirginiaNewport News, VirginiaNewport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, NRHP-listed. - Grace HospitalGrace Hospital (Richmond, Virginia)Grace Hospital is a historic hospital in Richmond, Virginia. The original Colonial Revival structure was built in 1911 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The hospital is located to the west of Richmond's central business district and was substantially expanded by...
, 401 West Grace St., Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. - Commonwealth Park Hotel, fka Hotel Rueger and later the Raleigh Hotel, 9 North 9th Street, Richmond, Virginia. NRHP-listed as part of the Main Street Banking Historic District.
- Grace Lutheran Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania.