The William Henry Robinson Collection houses published and unpublished manuscripts, diaries, scrapbooks, correspondence, and printed matter dating from 1841 to 1940. The bulk of the collection extends from 1900 to 1938 and primarily documents Robinson's work as an author of history and fiction.
Identification:
MSS-70
Language:
Material in English
Repository:
Arizona State University Library. Greater Arizona Collection
P.O. Box 871006
Tempe, AZ 85287-1006
Phone: (480) 965-4932
E-Mail: archives@asu.edu Questions? Ask An Archivist!
Biographical Note
William Henry Robinson, Phoenix businessman and author, was born to Henry Martyn and Anna Adaline (Fulwiler) Robinson in Lexington, Illinois on September 24, 1867. He attended preparatory school in Parkville (Missouri?) in 1885. He arrived in Phoenix in 1886, where he served as timekeeper for the construction of the head of the Arizona Canal, a project supervised by his uncle W. D. Fulwiler.
In 1888, after completing the program at the Woodbury Commercial School in Los Angeles, Robinson returned to Phoenix to serve as private secretary to William J. Murphy, president of the Arizona Canal and Improvement Company. He married Grace Perley (1870-1945) in 1894 and they raised two children, Dorothy Fulwiler (1895-1990) and Bruce Perley (1899-1981), in Phoenix and Chandler. After retiring from the business because of "lung hemorrhages," Robinson supervised the construction of the Ingelside Club on behalf of William J. Murphy. Grace Perley Robinson became the club's manager. The Robinsons later moved to Chandler to serve in similar capacities at the San Marcos Hotel. Once settled in Chandler, William Robinson began writing substantial works of history and fiction, including Under Turquoise Skies. Robinson died in 1939.
Scope and Content Note
The William Henry Robinson Collection houses published and unpublished manuscripts, diaries, scrapbooks, correspondence, and printed matter dating from 1841 to 1940. The bulk of the collection extends from 1900 to 1938 and primarily documents Robinson's work as an author of history and fiction.
To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.
Copyright
Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.
[Identification of item], William Henry Robinson Collection, MSS-70, Arizona State University Library.
Provenance
The William Henry Robinson Collection was received from Robinson's daughter Dorothy F. Robinson in at least two accessions, the first in about 1969 and the second in 1975 (ACC# 1975-00069).
Container List
Box
Folder
1
1
Anna A. Robinson Diary; Grace Perley Robinson Autobiography,
1841-1876, Undated
1
2
Autobiography Random Recollections by Wm. H. Robinson,
1926
1
2A
Medicine Men,
Undated (Manuscript)
1
2B
Yellow Bones,
Undated (Manuscript)
1
2C
Pahoona Goes Primitive,
Undated (Manuscript)
1
2D
With Benefit of Clergy,
Undated (Manuscript)
1
2E
Missionaries; Misalliance; Why He Didn't Tell; Unfaithful,
Undated (Manuscripts)
1
2F
Why the Cactus Wren Sings So Badly (A Pima Story for Children),
Undated (Manuscript)
1
3-3A
William H. Robinson Diary,
1904-1927
1
4
Poetry Collection,
Undated
1
5
Getting Pudge Back and The Admirable Alibi,
1916 (Manuscripts)
1
6-6A
A Bird in the Hand,
1918 (Manuscript)
1
7
Rimed Dinosaurs and Other Ancients,
1919 (Manuscript)
Box
Folder
2
1-1A
A Desert Vagabond,
1920 (Manuscript)
2
2
Letters. Mrs. W. H. Robinson from John H. Thornber,
1920-1936
2
3
Scrapbook of Reviews,
1903-1937
Box
Folder
3
1
Scrapbook of Short Stories, Articles, and Newspaper Clippings,
1902
3
2
Scrapbook of Articles and Short Stories Including "The Knotted Cord" and "The Man from Yesterday",
1912, Undated
Box
Folder
4
1-1B
Slippery Highway,
1915 (Manuscript)
4
2-2C
Someone Always Tells,
1938 (Manuscript)
Box
Folder
5
1
The Angel Lady's Dressmaker (Manuscript). Agreements with Publishers Regarding Under Turquoise Skies and Thirsty Earth,
1927, 1936, Undated
5
2
Resignations: Military, Phoenix Company of Boys' Brigade,
1893, Undated
5
3
Membership Certificates,
1900-1934
5
4
Stock Certificates,
1901-1914
5
5
Bruce Perley Papers: Stock Certificates and Abstracts of Title,
1894, 1901, 1928
5
6
Peleg Stone Perley [1829-1898], In Memorium,
circa 1898
5
7
Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings,
1893-1940
5
8
Agreements,
1898
Box
6/OV3
Certificate: Appointment as Captain, Phoenix Boys' Brigade,
Undated
6/OV3
Certificate: Appointment as Chairman, Four Minute Men for Chandler, Arizona,
1918
6/OV3
Certificate: Appointment to Company B., First Infantry, Territory of Arizona,
1893
6/OV3
Saturday Evening Post,
1926 January 23, July 10 (2 Issues)
Signed by Cyrus H. K. Curtis, the publisher of the Saturday Evening Post.
