Margaret Dreier Robins Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS Group 015

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains records related to the life of Margaret Dreier Robins. Her involvement with the women's movement and trade unions is extensively documented. Additionally, the collection contains documents and correspondence regarding such specific topics as: prohibition, China, Florida, public health, social welfare, religious groups, the 'Peace Movement', political parties and campaigns, and women's suffrage. The collection also contains biographical material related to both her and her husband as well as correspondence between the two and records related to the Chinsegut Hill estate. Raymond Robins' life is also documented through several scrapbooks and photo albums and many of the clippings and publications reflect his activities as well as those of his wife. There are also records of Raymond Robins' father, Charles E. Robins.

Addendum: Correspondence to Lilly Brummerhoff, a resident of Chinsegut Hill who was employed by the Robins family, was added in August 2005. It includes letters from both Raymond Robins and Margaret Dreier Robbins. In 2007, letters from Margaret Dreier Robins and Raymond Robins to Mary Dreier and Katherine Dreier, sisters of Margaret, were added. The correspondence in the addendum was not microfilmed and is not indexed in the register.

Dates

Creation: 1876-1950
Creation: Majority of material found within 1905-1945

Creator

Robins, Margaret Dreier, 1868-1945. (Person)

Access

The collection is open for research.

Biographical/Historical Note

Women's rights leader and social activist. Margaret Dreier Robins was born in 1868 in Brooklyn, New York. She left New York in 1925 and moved to Florida with her husband Raymond Robins. The Robins' resided at a large estate called Chinsegut Hill near the town of Brooksville. Margaret was a founder and leader of the National Women's Trade Union League and an outspoken crusader for equal rights for women in the workplace. She and her husband were also active in politics and campaigned for candidates in both major parties as well as the National Progressive Party. She died in 1945.

Extent

41.5 Linear feet (101 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Women's Trade Union League, social work, suffrage, anti-war, personal papers, photos, correspondence, and biographical material on Robins family members.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into nine series: (1) Biographical and personal records, (2) Organizational and topical materials, and (3) Correspondence, (4) Publications, (5) Photographs, (6) Albums, (7) Clippings, (8) Scrapbooks, and (9) Miscellany.

Physical Location

University of Florida Smathers Library Building

Finding Aid Note

A typewritten register for the Dreier correspondence is available in the Special Collections Research Room. The register is organized alphabetically by the correspondents' names.

Acquisition Information

The collection was gifted to the University of Florida after the death of Raymond Robins in 1954.

Alternate Form of Material

Series 1-3 are included in the microfilm edition entitled Papers of the Women's Trade Union League and Its Principal Leaders.

Digital reproductions of selected items in this collection are available online via the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC). Please read the Permissions for Use statement for information on copyright, fair use, and use of UFDC digital objects.

Related Material

The remainder of Raymond Robins papers are located at the Wisconsin Historical Society and at New York University.

Additional materials related to Chinsegut Hill can be found in the Lisa von Borowsky papers, University of Florida.