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Key local figure

Hubert Robinson

Hubert Samuel Robinson sat on the Chapel Hill Board of Aldermen from 1953 to 1965. He worked for Frank Porter Graham's family and then as a UNC custodian, was a deacon and trustee of First Baptist Church, and was first vice-president of the Chapel Hill NAACP chapter formed in 1947.

Source: UNC Libraries, Southern Historical Collection: Hubert Samuel Robinson Diaries and Scrapbooks, 1912-1969

2 indexed works are connected with this person.

Search these 2 works Research sources View indexed works ↓
Hubert Robinson, newspaper photograph, 1955
Hubert Robinson, newspaper photograph, 1955

Indexed works

Works in the index that concern this person directly, or were written by them. Each links to the institution that holds or provides it; background reading with wider context sits further down.

Frank P. Graham and Hubert Robinson; William Aycock and Frank P. Graham

1962

Two filmed interviews recorded on 9 June 1962 with Frank Porter Graham, former president of the University of North Carolina. In the first he talks with Hubert Robinson, a Black man who spent years as his driver, butler and assistant; in the second chancellor William Aycock joins him. Topics include university history, Graham's United Nations work and South Asian affairs.

DigitalNC DPLA

Hubert Samuel Robinson diaries and scrapbooks, 1912-1969.

Robinson, Hubert Samuel, 1893-1972 · 1912

Forty six volumes of diaries and scrapbooks kept by Hubert Samuel Robinson (1893-1972) between 1912 and 1969, 1.5 linear feet in the Southern Historical Collection at UNC, collection 4123. Robinson was an African American civic leader and city council member in North Carolina. The volumes concern university employees, janitors and household employees, family life, and social customs. Frank Porter Graham is also represented.

UNC

Life and Orange County connections

Dated events connected with this person, earliest first. See these 5 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Hubert Robinson and Paul Wager are elected to the Chapel Hill Board of Aldermen Robinson led the five candidates with 571 votes and Wager followed with 560; Kenneth Putnam took the third seat. The Weekly noted Robinson was the second Black person elected to public office in Chapel Hill, the first since Reconstruction, and it was Wager's first run for office. People: Hubert Robinson, Wilson Swain CaldwellSearch the index · DigitalNC: The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 8, 1953, p. 1 (Robinson Gets Largest Vote; Other Winners: Wager, Putnam)
  2. Roland Giduz and Adelaide Walters are elected to the Chapel Hill Board of Aldermen In a heavy turnout that also re-elected Mayor Oliver K. Cornwell and approved a $500,000 bond issue, voters re-elected aldermen Hubert Robinson and Paul Wager and chose two new members, Adelaide Walters and Roland Giduz. As low man among the winners, Giduz drew a two-year term. People: Paul W. Wager, Hubert Robinson, Adelaide Walters, Oliver K. CornwellSearch the index · DigitalNC: The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 10, 1957, page 1 (Heavy Vote Approves Bond Issue and Ten Candidates for Office)
  3. Hubert Robinson is named Man of the Year After Robinson was re-elected alderman with the highest vote on the ticket, a group of Black citizens representing churches, fraternal organizations and civic clubs named him Man of the Year and gave a reception in his honor at the Lincoln High School gymtorium on June 11.Search the index · DigitalNC: The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 28, 1957, page 5 (Hubert Robinson Honored)
  4. McClamroch is sworn in as mayor and Joe Page is named to his aldermen seat McClamroch and three re-elected aldermen, Adelaide Walters, Paul Wager and Hubert Robinson, were sworn in at the Monday night meeting of the Board of Aldermen by Recorder's Court Judge William Stewart. The board named businessman Joe Page to the unexpired two year aldermen's term McClamroch left on becoming mayor, and elected Mrs. Walters mayor pro tem. People: Paul W. Wager, Hubert Robinson, Adelaide WaltersSearch the index · DigitalNC: The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 11, 1961, page 1 (Joe Page Gets Appointment To Board Of Aldermen)
  5. Chapel Hill dedicates the Peace and Justice Plaza marker The town unveiled a granite marker at Peace and Justice Plaza, in front of the old post office on Franklin Street, naming nine local activists: Charlotte Adams, Hank Anderson, James Brittian, Joe Herzenberg, Mildred Ringwalt, Hubert Robinson, Joe Straley, Lucy Straley and Gloria Williams. The Town Council had named the plaza in 2006 and set criteria for later honorees. People: James Brittian, Mildred Ringwalt, Hubert Robinson, Joe Straley, Lucy Straley, Gloria Williams, Charlotte AdamsSearch the index · Town of Chapel Hill (Internet Archive copy, October 17, 2020): Peace and Justice Plaza

Places in this person’s story

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Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Site locations from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office survey, Open Orange and OpenStreetMap; town and community pins mark the middle of their mapped buildings.

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Books about Hubert Robinson

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Picture: Hubert Robinson, newspaper photograph, 1955. No known copyright restrictions. Photograph by Lavergne; The Chapel Hill Weekly, 10 June 1955; Library of Congress

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