Ezekiel Gilman Robinson papers, 1848-1896

(bulk 1875-1889)

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	Ezekiel Gilman Robinson papers
Date range:	1848-1896, (bulk 1875-1889)
Creator:	Robinson, Ezekiel Gilman, 1815-1894
Extent:	0.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	The Ezekiel Gilman Robinson papers primarily contain the business correspondence of Robinson during his presidency at Brown University between 1872 and 1889. Also included are three typewritten drafts of an article entitled, "The Professor of Philosophy," by Alfred Gideon Langley about Robinson. This article was meant to be a supplement to Robinson’s autobiography but it was never published.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	MS.1C.7

Scope & content

The Ezekiel Gilman Robinson papers primarily contain the business correspondence of Robinson during his presidency at Brown University between 1872 and 1889. Series 3 contains a translation of "Micah" from Hebrew to English by Ezekiel Gilman Robinson, as well as some business receipts and notes related to Brown Corporation meetings. Also included in this series is a brief biography and notes on a resolution written by the Brown Corporation upon Robinson's death in 1894. Series 4 contains three typewritten drafts of an article entitled, "The Professor of Philosophy," by Alfred Gideon Langley about Robinson. This article was meant to be a supplement to Robinson’s autobiography but it was never published.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Langley, Alfred G.
• Robinson, Ezekiel Gilman, 1815-1894

Subject Organizations

• Brown University--History.
• Brown University--Presidents

Occupations

• Authors
• College presidents
• Ministers
• Professors

Document Types

• Letters (Correspondence)
• Manuscripts

Subject Topics

• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Arrangement

The Robinson papers are arranged into the following series:

• Series 1. Letters by Robinson
• Series 2. Letters to Robinson
• Series 3. Miscellaneous
• Series 4. Biography

Series 1. (Letters by Robinson, 1848, 1872-1891) arranged chronologically.

Series 2. (Letters to Robinson, 1873-1889) arranged alphabetically by author.

Series 3. (Miscellaneous) arranged chronologically.

Series 4. (Biography, 1896) includes three manuscript drafts arranged by draft copy.

Biographical note

Ezekiel Gilman Robinson (1815-1894), seventh president of Brown University, was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on March 23, 1815 to Cynthia and Ezekiel Robinson. After studying at multiple high schools in Wrentham, Massachusetts, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and New Hampton, New Hampshire, Robinson entered Brown University in 1835, as a sophomore. While a student in high school and at Brown, Robinson preached services for the First Baptist Church in Pawtucket, and eventually decided to become a minister. A year after his graduation from Brown, Robinson began attending Newton Theological Seminary in Newton, Massachusetts.

Following his graduation in 1842, Robinson moved around Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio teaching at seminaries and preaching in various Baptist churches. Robinson moved to Rochester, New York in 1853 as a professor of Christian theology at the Rochester Theological Seminary. He was named president of the Seminary in 1860. In 1867, Brown University invited Robinson to become President, but he refused. When invited again in 1871, he accepted and returned to Providence.

Robinson served as President of Brown University from 1872 to 1889. In that time, Robinson sought to bring Brown up to the standards of other New England institutions by expanding the science and modern languages departments, and reinstituting graduate studies programs. Robinson continued to teach classes in philosophy, morality, theology, and ethics. While President, Robinson also improved the campus of Brown by renovating buildings, updating science labs and improving the landscaping. In 1889, Robinson retired.

Following retirement, Robinson continued to preach, teach, and write. Some of his teaching appointments included the Crozer Theological School, Newton Theological Seminary, Rochester Theological Seminary, the University of Chicago, and Vassar College, where he had been a trustee since its inception. On a visit to Boston in June of 1894, Robinson fell ill and died at a Boston city hospital. He was buried in Rochester, New York. The class of 1884 erected a gate in Robinson’s name in 1924. An editorial in the Brown Alumni Monthly stated, "We may not all have loved him then, but we respected him. He was genuine, all through, except so far as some of his austerity may have been assumed in self-defense against an inconvenient kindliness of heart." (Information from the Encyclopedia Brunonia was included in this biographical note)

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials:	All the materials in this collection are in the public domain and available for use without restriction.
Preferred citation:	Ezekiel Gilman Robinson papers, MS-1C-7, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Acquisition information for this collection is unavailable.
Accruals:	No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Processing information:	This collection was arranged and described by Amy Greer, student at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, and the Archives staff.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Amy Greer and Archives staff.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-03-27

Additional Information

Related material:	Brown University Archives, Biographical Files Collection.The books and speeches written by Ezekiel Gilman Robinson are cataloged separately and can be found in the Library's catalog under the heading: Robinson, Ezekiel Gilman
Other information:	Brown University catalog record for this collection: Ezekiel Gilman Robinson papers

Inventory

---