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The private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson ... in the holdings of the Kansas State Historical Society

Creator: Robinson, Charles, 1818-1894

Date: 1834-1911

Level of Description: Coll./Record Group

Material Type: Manuscripts

Call Number: MICROFILM: MS 640-MS 652
Manuscripts Collection 488

Unit ID: 40488

Biographical sketch: Charles Robinson: Physician; 1st governor of Kansas, 1861-1863 (Republican); political figure. Of Massachusetts; California; Lawrence, Kan.

Biographical sketch: Sara T. L. Robinson: Anti-slavery advocate, author, historian. Of Belchertown, Mass.; Lawrence, Kan.

Abstract: Included in this collection are correspondence, compositions, diaries, clippings, business records, and memo books. The beginning date is 1834 and a few papers are dated 1855. There is no material about Dr. Charles Robinson's trip to California and his experiences there. His activities in the fight for a non-slavery Kansas are well covered by letters written by him, mostly to his wife, and letters he received. Much of this collection must be considered Sara T. L. Robinson's because of the numerous letters to her from family and friends. After Charles's death in 1894, all the papers center around her activities. This latter period includes material concerning the Governor's estate and Sara's philanthropies. Correspondents or authors include Isaac T. Goodnow, Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, John James Ingalls, Amos Lawrence, and Eli Thayer.

Summary:

Speeches of Charles Robinson (Roll 12, MS 651):

Eulogy for Preston B. Plumb.

Anniversary of the settlement of Topeka.

On human slavery.

On the granting of honorary degrees.

On malpractices of transportation companies.

Introduction for Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State.

On the relationship of science to humanity.

A refutation to personal charges made by George L. Stearns (includes much personal and early Kansas history).

Miscellaneous fragments, notes, etc.
Genealogical material relating to Sara T. D. Robinson.
Compositions of Sara T. D. Robinson:
(Roll 12, MS 651):


“Personal Recollections of Mrs. Sara T. D. Robinson of the Quantrell Raid of Aug. 21, 1863.”

Kansas troops in the Civil War.

Exploits of Civil War Scout Daniel W. Bartwell.

Notes prepared for the second edition of Kansas, Its Interior and Exterior Life.

Letter to an editor about John Brown.

On early days in Lawrence, Kansas.

Miscellaneous compositions and fragments.

Compositions by other authors (Roll 12, MS 651):


J. H. Cook, “An Open Letter to Hon. Chas. Robinson.”

Lucy Kingman, “Presentation of the Portrait of Sara T. D. Robinson.”
Amos A. Lawrence, “On the Presentation of Daguerreotypes of John Brown and Charles Robinson.”

F. B. Sanborn, “Suborned Biographies.”

Samuel C. Smith, “The First Legislature of the State of Kansas . . .”

Samuel C. Smith, Reply to “T. W. H.” in Boston Advertiser.

“The Duties and Responsibilities of Young Men or Practical Education.”

Unidentified articles on early Kansas history.

Summary: Index to Correspondence

The following is a selected index to the private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson.
Adams, F. G.: 1878, Jan. 31
1880, Sept. 28
1887, Jan. 22
1894, June 23
1898, Jan. 15, Feb. 28, Sept. 24
Alderman, J. W.: 1887, July 16
Allen, C. G.: 1890, Sept. 13
Andrew. Gov.: 1862, Sept. 29
Austin, Ben W.: 1886, Nov. 4
Ayres, W. W.: 1897, Aug. 24
Banks, Nathaniel: [1856], Mar. 19
Barber, E. W.: 1899, April 6
1902, Sept. 3
1904, July 14, Aug. 5
1908, April 2
Barrows, E.: 1866, Jan. 23
Beard, J. W.: 1887, March 10
Blackmar, Frank W.: 1903, Feb. 1, Sept. 5, Dec. 17
1905, Feb. 3, 17
Blackwell, Henry B.: 1884, Jan. 7
1887, Jan. 24, April 8, June 17
Blood, H. L.: 1864, April 4
Blood, James: 1879, Nov. 29
1889, Sept. 24
Boone, A. G.: 1883, Nov. 21
Boutwell, Geo. S.: 1857, Nov. 24
Breidenthal, J. W.: 1892, Oct. 19
Brewster, James: 1883, Nov. 21
Broun, Joseph M.: 1888, July 9
Brown, B. Gratz: 1857, Dec. 15
Brown, G. W.: 1860, Aug. 20
1903, Nov. 24, Dec. 17, Dec. 30
1904, Sept. 27, Oct. 14, 27, Nov. 18, Dec. 5,12
1908, Sept. 30
1909, Aug. 26
1910, Aug. 14, Sept. 4, 14, Oct. 20, Nov. 29
Brown, G. W.: 1911, April 9, May 17, July 29
Brown, John, Jr.: 1862, May 22
Burgess, John W.: 1897, Sept. 4
Butler, J. T.: 1887, Aug. 23
Byers, James L.: 1887, Oct. 27
Canfield, James H.: 1883, Nov. 5
1888, Feb. 24
1892, May 9
1899, July 31
1902, Feb. 25
Carpenter, N. F.: 1887, Jan. 17
Carruth, W. H.: 1887, July 29, Aug. 3
1894, May 26
Carter, Franklin: 1866, Jan. 21
Case, Theo. S.: 1883, Oct. 28
Caswell, Peleg: 1858, Feb. 24
Chadwick, Charles: 1891, March 20
1894, June 16, Nov. 17
1895, Aug. 20, Sept. 25, Nov. ?
1896, Feb. 5
Chapman, J. B.: 1892, March 26
Chase, Harold T.: 1897, Dec. 18, 22, 23
Christian, James: 1880, Jan. 26
1888, Jan. 7
1889, Jan. 2
1892, May 5
1893, March 6
Clark, Charles Robinson: 1985, Aug. 20, Nov. 23, Dec. 7
Clark, Johnson: 1879, Dec. 10
1910, Oct. 22
Clayton, Paul M.: 1887, Feb. 22
Coates, Kersey: 1856, May 25
Cobb, Nelson: 1887, Jan. 23, July 18
Colfax, Schuyler: 1857, April 8
Coney, P. H.: 1886, Dec. 30
Conway, Martin F.: 1860 Sept. 7
Crawford, George A.: 1861, Jan. 21
Creitz, W. F.: 1892, April 10
Davis, Elnathan: 1870, Aug. 19
Dietzler, George W.: 1861, April 16
Dietzler, George W.: 1876, Nov. 16
Delahay, Mark W.: 1856, Feb. 16
1861, Nov. 30
Dorrance, O. H.: 1872, Sept. 22, Dec. 5
Drum, Richard C.: 1861, Feb. 7
Earl, George F.: 1861, April 29
Eggleston, N.: 1883, Oct. 18
Eldridge, M. L.: 1887, June 7
Emmerson, William A.:
1903, May 13, 24, June 1, 13, Dec. 7
1904, Jan. 5, July 17, 26
1905, Jan. 12, Feb. 8, July 4
1906, Feb. 28, July 1, 28, Aug. 12, Oct. 7, Nov. 22
1907, Feb. 10, March 31, April 14, Aug. 19
1908, June 5, March 8, July 26, Dec. 6
1909, Jan. 10, July 11, Sept. 8, Nov. 14
1910, Jan. 9, March 20, April 10, July 10, Sept. 18, Oct. 16
1911, Jan. 1, March 5, April 14, 16, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 2
Evans, T. W.:
1887, Feb. 25, March 2
Ewing, Thomas:
1894, Feb. 8
1895, Dec. 27
Fleming, Fred W.:
1887, Nov. 4
Foote, A. H.:
1888, Aug. 24
Fremont, John C.:
1856, March 17 (filed under March 19, 1856)
Frisbie, Dr. C. M.:
1887, Oct. 27
Goodnow, Isaac T.:
1890, Jan. 22, Feb. 1, 17
1892, May 9
Gorman, John A.:
1887, Sept. 18, Oct. 21, Nov. 8, 17, Dec. 3
1888, Jan. 16, 19, Feb. 13, March 16, 21, June 28, July 12, 13, Aug. 23,

1889, Jan. 3, 16, 20, March 9, Nov. 6, Dec. 13
Gorman, J. P.:
1887, Nov. 11
1888, Jan. 6, 7, April 5, May 15, July 16
Grabouskii, Arthur:
1887, Jan. 26
Grow, Galusha A.:
1858, May 2
Guthrie, John:
1884, April 28
Hale, Edward Everett:
1885, Aug. 24
1892, May 10
Hamilton, Anna C.:
1887, Feb. 21
Hanscom, S. P.:
1856, June 23
Hanway, James:
1878, Jan. 30
Harvey, Charles M.:
1902, Jan. 12, 19, 26, 31, Feb. 8, 22, March 2, 9, April 6, 27,
May 18, 25, June 22, July 6, 25, Oct. 12
Harvey, Charles M.:
1903, Jan. 18,April 19
Hatcher, T. B.:
1887, Jan. 15
Hill, Eben L.:
1904, Dec. 21
1905, Jan. 24
Hogan, Paul J.:
1887, Jan. 4, Oct. 27, Nov. 8
1888, Jan. 26
Holland, F. M.:
1898, Aug. 9
Holliday, C. K.:
1857, Dec. 26
1890, Sept. 30
1892, May 9
1897, Oct. 27
Hopkins, Henry:
1886, Dec. 14
1888, April 2
Hopkins, Mark:
1865, Nov. 24
Howland, Joseph A.:
1887, Oct. 1
Hoyt, George H.:
1862, Aug. 12
Humphrey, James:
1899, July 24, 31
Humphrey, Mary A.:
1883, Dec. 10, 23, 27
1899, Aug. 1
Hyatt, Thaddeus:
1857, June 29
Ingalls, F. T.:
1874, April 16
Ingalls, John J.:
1876, Aug. 22
1878, Feb. 8, 26, June 24
1880, March 14
1881, July 27
1884, Feb. 16
1885, March 21
1888, April 14, Nov. 30
Jenkins, Gaius:
1857, Nov. 29
Jennings, George W.:
1887, Aug. 1, 18
Jennison, C. R.:
1862, Aug. 22
Johns, Laura M.:
1887, Feb. 7
Johnston, H. H.:
1887, Aug. 24
Julian, George W.:
1887, Jan. 29
1892, April 24
1897, April 19, 15, 29, May 7
1898, March 2, 7, 21, Oct. 11
Julian, Isaac H.:
1892, April 20
Keys, Prescott:
1884, Jan. 20
Klotz, Robert:
1856, May 18
Koster, Henry A.:
1892, Dec. 12, 17

Lane, James H.:
1856, Aug. 10
1858, Feb. 24 (filed under Aug. 20, 1860)
Laptad, P.:
1887, Jan. 10, 28
Lawrence, Amos, A.:
1856, Jan. 31, June 26
1858, March 5, Oct. 19
1859, Feb. 25
1860, April 20, Aug. 4
1865, Feb. 28, March 20, April 26, June 19
1882, Jan. 23
1883, Dec. 14
1884, Nov. 21
1885, Feb. 25
Lawrence, Frank B.:
1865, Dec. 20
1866, Feb. 11
1868, July 19
1869, Jan. 19
1870, Jan. 9, Nov. 19
1871, Feb. 9
1895, Sept. 29
1904, Oct. 29
Lawrence, Mark D.:
1869, July 7
1870, Jan. 9
1872, Dec. 30
Lawrence, William:
1887, July 25
1898, Sept. 10
Learnard, O. E.:
1910, Oct. 24
Legate, James F.:
1892, Nov. 20
Leonard, E. F.:
1876, Oct. 26, Dec. 1, 14
Limbert, L. F.:
1887, Jan. 20, 22, 25
1888, May 21, 25
Lippincott, J. A.:
1885, Dec. 19
1887, June 13
1888, June 2
Lowe, P. G.:
1886, Sept. 7
Lowman, E. S.:
1861, Aug. 13
Lowrey, G. P.:
1856, June 23
McHale, F. M.:
1902, Dec. 10
McKimmey, N.:
1890, Aug. 14
MacLennan, Frank P.:
1887, Jan. 7
Marcum, T. D.:
1887, Dec. 8
Marsh, Arthur Richmond:
1887, Feb. 26
Martin, George W.:
1902, June 2, 11, 26, 30, July 16, 28, Aug. 16, 29, Dec. 18
1904, June 13
1907, Oct. 23
Martin, John:
1887, Jan. 28
1890, June 16
Mason, Charles:
1896, April 15
Mason, L. J.:
1892, Feb. 10
Mason, R. Z.:
1863, Dec. 12
1864, March 8
May, V. W.:
1887, Dec. 10, 20, 30
1888, Feb. 6, April 2, 10, 16, 18, May 24, June 23, Aug. ?
Miller, G. B.:
1895, May 26, June 24
1897, Oct. 21
Miserez, Peter J.:
1889, Jan. 4, 12, 16
Montgomery, James:
1862, Aug. 3
Moody, H. C.:
1887, Nov. 26
Moonlight, Thomas:
1887, Feb. 18
Moore, H. Miles:
1886, Sept. 18
Moore, W. C.:
1874, Dec. 27
Morris, W. H.:
1898, March 31
Oakley, W.:
1857, Dec. 26
Oberly, John H.:
1887, Jan. 13
Paige, Lucius R.:
1876, Oct. 24
Park, Edward A.:
1866, Jan. 19, 23
Parsons, William B.:
1884, Feb. 6
Penoyer, John W.:
1872, Aug. 17
Petefish, George:
1887, Aug. 3
Phillips, John L. T.:
1866, Jan. 19
Pomeroy, S. C.:
1887, March 25
Prentis, Noble:
1894, Sept. 24
Reeder, Andrew H.:
1856, Feb. 16, 18
Rice, Franklin P.
1903, May 30, Sept. 7, Dec. 6, 29
1904, June 19, Aug. 21, Nov. 7
1910, Oct. 30
Scott, Charles F.:
1897, March 15, 19
1899, July 20
Sears, W. H.:
1887, April 6
1888, May 27, 28, Aug. 31
1891, Sept. 1
1892, May 4, 13
1897, Dec. 20
Shannon, Wilson:
1855, Dec. 9
Sharpe, Gen. A. T.:
1887, March 12
Sherman, Mrs. Margaret S. C.:
[1856, May 25]
Simpson, E. J.:
1887, Nov. 28, Dec. 16
Smith, J. A.:
1889, Jan. 5
Smith, Samuel C.:
1858, Jan. 11, Dec. 1, 7, 14, 19, 29
1866, Aug. 5
1868, Feb. 7
1875, Sept. 15
1879, July 30
1881, March 13
1884, June 6, July 4
1892, April 3, May 8, 9
1895, Nov. 3
1896, Jan. 19, April 13, May 31, June 8, July 18, Sept. 27
1897, July 29, Aug. 8, Sept. 27
1898, Dec. 17
1900, March 5, May 27
1901, Feb. 20
1902, Oct. 27, 29, Nov. 11
1904, Jan. 17, Sept. 30, Dec. 16
1905, July 2, Sept. 12, Nov. 12
1907, March 25
1908, Dec. 15
1910, Sept. 23
1911, March 2, July 23, Aug. 28, Sept. 4
Snow, B. Jr.:
1866, Aug. 9
Snow, Edwin H.:
1887, Jan. 11
Snow, Frank H.:
1865, Dec. 2, 25
1866, Jan. 25
1891, Nov. 3
1897, March 19
1899, Dec. 31
1902, Oct. 5
Speer, John:
1876, Dec. 9
Spring, Leverett W.:
1903, April 15, 26, June 28
Stearns, George L.:
1861, May 7
Stevens, R. S.:
1889, Jan. 7
Stone, J. C.:
1863, Sept. 2
Stone, W. B.:
1887, Jan. 30, July 4
Strong, Frank:
1903, Nov. 30
1904, Jan. 9
1907, March 20, June 18
1910, June 2
Stryker, William:
1897, Aug. 13
1898, Feb. 1, 15
Sullivan, John:
1893, Dec. 3
Swope, John W.:
1888, May 1
Tappan, Lewis N.:
1866, Aug. 22
Tappan, Samuel F.:
1859, Jan. 12
1887, Feb. 18, June 16
1888, Jan. 21
1890, June 28, 29
1891, Sept. 20
1892, April 11, May 17, 18
Tenney, William C.:
1887, Sept. 11
1892, May 10, Oct. 20
1893, April 28
1895, Jan. 17
1897, Aug. 16
Thacher, Solon O.:
1888, Feb. 29
Thayer, Eli:
1856, Aug. 5
1881, May 27, July 13
1884, May 2, 15, 23
1885, Nov. 23
1886, Jan. 4, 14, Feb. 5, 7. 13
1889, Sept. 19, Oct. 6, Nov. 17
1890, Feb. 2, 7, 18
1891, Jan. 21, June 4, Aug. 25
Trimble, C. D.:
1872, Aug. 14
Utter, David N.:
1883, July 17
1884, Jan. 4, Feb. 26, April 11
1897, Nov. 30
1899, Nov. 1
Wagstaff, W. R.:
1886, Dec. 20
1887, Aug. 9
Walker, Samuel:
1884, Dec. 16
Watkins, J. B.:
1888, Jan. 31, Feb. 1
Wessells, H. W.:
1861, Aug. 29
White, Horace:
1857, May 15

White, W. A.:
1892, May 14
Wicks, Hamilton S.:
1887, July 6
Wilder, D. W.:
1892, April 27
Wilson, Henry:
1857, June 15, Nov. 26
1859, Aug. 15 (2 letters)
Wilson, Hill P.:
1903, Feb. 5, 8, 11, May 7
Wilson, R. P. C.:
1861, April 22
Wood, Margaret L.:
1894, March 18
1895, Feb. 13, Aug. 22
1896, Jan. 27, Aug. 29
1902, May 2
1904, Sept. 26
1906, Nov. 3
1909, March 11, Oct. 11, 17
1911, Jan. 24, Aug. 6, 7, 11, Sept. 12, 27, Oct. 4
Wood, S. N.:
1862, April 5
1887, Feb. 10, Nov. 21
Woodcock, Arthur:
1875, Aug. 9
Woodward, B. W.:
1897, May 10, 18, 26, Oct. 3, Nov. 5
1898, Jan. 25, Feb. 5

Space Required/Quantity: 13.26 cubic feet

Title (Main title): The private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson ... in the holdings of the Kansas State Historical Society

Titles (Other):

  • Charles Robinson and Sara T.D. Robinson Papers
  • Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson papers
  • Guide to the microfilm edition of the private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson, 1834-1911, in the Kansas State Historical Society
  • Private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson ... in the holdings of the Kansas State Historical Society

Biography

Biog. Sketch (Full):

Charles Robinson was born at Hardwick, Mass., on July 21, 1818, the son of Jonathan and Huldah (Woodward) Robinson. He was educated at Hadley Academy, Amherst Academy, and Amherst College. In 1835 failing eyesight sent him to Keene, N. H., where for six months he received treatment from Dr. Amos Twitchell. His long and close association with the doctor influenced him to study medicine and for the next eight years he pursued courses under Dr. Henry H. Childs of Pittsfield, Mass.; Dr. Isaac Gridley at Amherst; and Dr. Rush Palmer at Woodstock, Vt. In 1843 he opened a practice at Belchertown, Mass.

In November, 1843, Robinson married Sarah Adams, daughter of William Adams, a farmer of West Brookfield, Mass. To them were born two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Robinson died January 17, 1846.

In March, 1849, Robinson determined to visit California in an attempt to improve his health and obtained an appointment as physician to a company bound for the gold fields of California. After a short time spent in prospecting, he settled in Sacramento where he opened a restaurant and edited The Settler's and Miner's Tribune, a free-soil newspaper. In Sacramento Robinson became involved in a controversy between settlers and land speculators and soon became the recognized leader and adviser of the former. Several conflicts between the two factions occurred, in one of which Robinson was wounded and another man killed. Robinson was indicted for murder and spent ten weeks on a prison ship awaiting trial. He was ultimately acquitted. While in jail he was elected to the California legislature, where he supported the election of John C. Fremont as United States senator.

In the summer of 1851 Robinson decided to return to Massachusetts and in July began the trip home by way of the Isthmus of Panama. His ship was wrecked off the Mexican coast, so he signed as surgeon on a vessel bound for Cuba and on which there were a number of sick men who had been working on the construction of the Panama railroad. He arrived at Fitchburg on September 9, 1851, and immediately resumed the practice of his profession.

On October 30, 1851, he married Sara Tappan Doolittle Lawrence, who had been his patient before his California adventure. While in Fitchburg, and in addition to his medical practice, Robinson edited the Fitchburg News.

As the interest of the country turned to the opening of Kansas, Robinson wrote several letters about that place through which he had passed in 1849. His letters attracted considerable attention and Robinson found himself involved in the Free-State effort to settle the new territory. On June 28, 1854, he left Fitchburg for Kansas as an agent of the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company, assigned the job of selecting company town sites. Later he returned to St. Louis to meet and guide the company's second party of emigrants to Kansas. They arrived at the site of Lawrence, on September 11. From that time on Robinson was active in helping Free-State settlers find homes in Kansas and was soon recognized as a leader in the movement to have Kansas admitted as a free state.

Under the Topeka Constitution of 1855, the first attempt to have Kansas admitted, Robinson was elected "governor." In May, 1856, while en route east, he was arrested for treason and conspiracy against the United States. After several months in prison at Lecompton, the Proslavery capital, he was finally acquitted.

Under the Wyandotte Constitution, by which Kansas was finally admitted in January, 1861, Robinson was again elected governor and upon admission assumed the office. He served only one term, retiring on January 12, 1863.

From 1864 to 1874 he was a regent of the University of Kansas, which he had helped found and to which he had donated considerable property. He was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1871 and to the Senate in 1874. He again ran for governor of Kansas in 1882, this time on a Greenback-Labor ticket, against Republican John P. St. John and Democrat George W. Glick. Robinson failed to be elected but so split an ordinarily solid Republican front that Glick became the first Democrat to reach the governor's office. In 1890, this time as a Democrat, he ran again but was defeated once more.

For a time in 1887-1888 Robinson was superintendent of Haskell Institute, a federal Indian school located at Lawrence. In 1892 he wrote a book about the territorial struggle which he called The Kansas Conflict. He was again appointed a regent of the University of Kansas in 1893, which office he held until his death on August 17, 1894.

Biog. Sketch (Full):

Sara Lawrence was born at Belchertown, Mass., on July 12, 1827, the daughter of Myron and Clarissa (Dwight) Lawrence. She was educated in the classical school at Belchertown and at Salem Academy. With her husband she shared in the fight for freedom in Kansas and in 1856 published a book, Kansas, Its Interior and Exterior Life, about the struggle. One prominent Kansas historian, F. W. Blackmar, has called it "one of the best works on the early history of Kansas, and . . . a classic. It is both history and literature."

Mrs. Robinson spent much time and effort trying to correct untrue published accounts of incidents in Kansas history. She was especially active in trying to prevent the elevation of John Brown to hero status.

She died at the family home, Oakridge, near Lawrence, on November 15, 1911. Under the terms of her husband's will their Kansas property and a large sum of money then passed into the hands of the University of Kansas, which stands on Mount Oread, the hill pre-empted by Robinson in 1854.

Scope and Content

Scope and content:

The private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson consist of 32 document boxes of correspondence, compositions, diaries, clippings, business records, and memo books. The bulk of the collection was presented to the Kansas State Historical Society by Mrs. Robinson on November 19, 1902. During the remainder of her life Mrs. Robinson periodically donated other papers to the collection. Single and small groups of letters have been given by a large number of other donors.

Though the beginning date of the collection is 1834, there are but few papers until 1855. There is no material concerning Doctor Robinson's journey to California and his experiences there. However, his activities in the fight for a free Kansas are well covered by letters written by him (most of them to his wife) and others which he received.

After the early statehood period, 1861-1863, the collection consists chiefly of personal, family and business matters, though such subjects as the construction of the University of Kansas, local and national politics, and reminiscences of early-day events are well covered. Unfortunately there is little on the elections of 1871 and 1874 or on the gubernatorial election of 1882. Letters written by Robinson during the campaign of 1890 appear in the letter books on roll ten (MS 649).

In large part the collection is Mrs. Robinson's, for there are numerous letters to her from family and friends and, of course, after Robinson's death in 1894, all the correspondence and papers center around her activities. In this latter period there is material concerning the governor's estate and communications regarding Mrs. Robinson's philanthropies.

The papers have been filmed in the same order as the originals are arranged. Dated correspondence, arranged chronologically, is followed by undated which has been arranged as much as possible in an alphabetical order by name of writer. Fragmentary letters conclude the correspondence and papers section. Letter books and memorandum books are followed by miscellaneous material, including business records, compositions by both Robinsons, and clippings. One document box containing check stubs, canceled checks and bank statements after 1874 has not been filmed.

Dates supplied by the editors have been placed in brackets in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of applicable material. Question marks denote some dissatisfaction with the reliability of supplied dates. Names penciled in the upper left-hand corner of the first page of some letters were supplied by Society staff members many years ago and were not bracketed or removed for this publication. Such names provide immediate identity of the writer. Typed copies follow partially illegible letters in some cases.

Microfilm targets have been kept to a minimum and are used only when necessary to indicate enclosures, retakes, etc. Targets containing editorial material have, for the most part, not been included. Title targets on small sheets of white paper introduce each new series and are easily noticed during rapid winding of the film.

Helpful secondary works relating to the Robinsons, besides their own publications, include: Frank W. Blackmar, The Life of Charles Robinson (Topeka: Crane & Co., 1902).

Two letters from Charles Robinson to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1867 Nov 20 and Dec. 5, discussing the failure of the 1867 campaign for full woman suffrage in Kansas and prospects for the future appear with letters from Samuel N. Wood on microfilm roll MS 705.

Other personal papers of Charles Robinson are at the Kansas Collection, University of Kansas libraries (Lawrence); an on - line guide is posted on the Libraries' website at http://ead.diglib.ku.edu/xml/ksrl.kc.robinsoncharles.htm

The Kansas State Historical Society also has Robinson's gubernatorial papers; these have not been microfilmed, but an archival inventory is available on the Historical Society's web site at http://www.kshs.org/p/governor-s-records-charles-robinson-administration-feb-9-1861-jan-12-1863/14107

The papers of the New England Emigrant Aid Company on file in the manuscripts collection of the Kansas State Historical Society contain much information about Robinson and his relationship with the company. This collection is also available on microfilm (rolls MS 619-MS 627) and through interlibrary loan.

Contents: Roll 1 (MS 640). Correspondence and papers, 1834-1865 -- roll 2 (MS 641). Correspondence and papers, 1866-1874 -- roll 3 (MS 642). Correspondence and papers, 1875-1887 -- roll 4 (MS 643). Correspondence and papers, 1888-1892 -- roll 5 (MS 644). Correspondence and papers, 1893-1897 -- roll 6 (MS 645). Correspondence and papers, 1898-1902 -- roll 7 (MS 646). Correspondence and papers, 1903-1906 -- roll 8 (MS 647). Correspondence and papers, 1907-1911 -- roll 9 (MS 648). Undated and miscellaneous correspondence and papers -- roll 10 (MS 649). Letter and memoranda books, 1884-1894 -- roll 11 (MS 650). Account books of Charles Robinson, 1856-1872 ; records of personal expenses, 1859-1890 ; miscellaneous cash record books, 1886, 1894-1905 ; "Record of Sales of the material of the Co-operator and Press . ." ; statements of accounts, receipts, and business memoranda, 1857-1911 -- roll 12 (MS 651). Genealogical material relating to Charles Robinson ; compositions of Charles Robinson ; speeches of Charles Robinson ; miscellaneous fragments, notes, etc. ; genealogical material relating to Sara T. D. Robinson ; compositions of Sara T. D. Robinson ; compositions by other authors ; unidentified articles on early Kansas history -- roll 13 (MS 652). Typed copies of newspaper articles of the Kansas territorial era ; newspaper clippings.

Locators:

Locator Contents
007-04-03-03 to 007-04-06-06   

Microfilm:

  • MS 640:
  • MS 641:
  • MS 642:
  • MS 643:
  • MS 644:
  • MS 645:
  • MS 646:
  • MS 647:
  • MS 648:
  • MS 649:
  • MS 650:
  • MS 651:
  • MS 652:

Related Records or Collections

Associated materials: Other personal papers of Charles and Sara Robinson are at the University of Kansas libraries (Lawrence), Kenneth Spencer Research Library, Kansas Collection: collections RH MS 38, P141, and P610; links to on - line guides are posted on the Libraries' website at https://archives.lib.ku.edu/repositories/3/search?q[]=Robinson%2C+Charles%2C+1818-1894&op[]=&field[]=creators_text&from_year[]=&to_year[]=&filter_fields[]=published_agents&filter_values[]=Robinson%2C+Charles%2C+1818-1894

Other Finding Aid/Index: Guide to the collection available on each microfilm roll, in the repository, and on its website: Snell, Joseph W. Guide to the microfilm edition of the private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson, 1834-1911, in the Kansas State Historical Society / editor, Joseph W. Snell ; assistant editor, Mrs. Eunice L. Schenck ; microfilm technician, George T. Hawley. -- Topeka [Kan.] : Kansas State Historical Society, 1967. http://www.kshs.org/p/private-papers-of-charles-and-sara-t-d-robinson-1834-1911/14108

Indexes: Name index to correspondents in the published microfilm guide and on the Internet at http://www.kshs.org/p/private-papers-of-charles-and-sara-t-d-robinson-1834-1911/14108

Related materials: The Kansas State Historical Society also has Charles Robinson's gubernatorial records (Record Group 252); these have not been microfilmed, but an archival inventory is available on the Historical Society's web site at http://www.kshs.org/p/governor-s-records-charles-robinson-administration-feb-9-1861-jan-12-1863/14107

Index Terms

Subjects

    Kansas -- History
    Kansas Territory. Constitutional Convention (1855)
    Kansas Territory. Constitutional Convention (1857)
    New England Emigrant Aid Company
    Business records -- Kansas
    Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
    Speeches, addresses, etc., American -- 19th century
    Kansas -- Emigration and immigration
    Robinson, Charles, 1818-1894
    Robinson, Sara T. L. (Sara Tappan Lawrence), 1827-1911
    Governors -- Kansas
    American letters -- Kansas -- History -- 19th century
    American letters -- Kansas -- History -- 20th century
    Quantrill's Raid (Lawrence, Kan.), 1863

Creators and Contributors


Additional Information for Researchers

Use and reproduction: Information on literary rights available from the Kansas Historical Society (Topeka).

Add'l physical form: Microfilm. Topeka, Kan. : Kansas State Historical Society, 1967; rolls MS 640-MS 652; available for research or inter-library loan.

Holder of originals: Originals in the repository.

Notes

General Note: Issued with: Snell, Joseph W. Guide to the microfilm edition of the private papers of Charles and Sara T. D. Robinson, 1834-1911, in the Kansas State Historical Society. Topeka [Kan.] : Kansas State Historical Society, 1967. (OCoLC)4948781. http://www.kshs.org/p/private-papers-of-charles-and-sara-t-d-robinson-1834-1911/14108