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Warren M. Robbins Papers

Topic:
African Art in American Collections (Monograph : 1989)
African Art in American Collections (Monograph : 1966)
Extent:
83.1 cu. ft. (80 record storage boxes) (4 12x17 boxes) (2 16x20 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Newsletters
Floor plans
Maps
Color photographs
Black-and-white photographs
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white transparencies
Color transparencies
Color negatives
Glass negatives
Audiotapes
Artifacts
Place:
Cameroon
Date:
circa 1927-2009
Descriptive Entry:
These papers document the life and work of Warren M. Robbins, covering a wide swath of his life, from his early career in the Foreign Service to his work in cross cultural communications and African art. A prolific writer, Robbins correspondence with such people as Maya Angelou, Ernie Barnes, Saul Bellow, Eliot Elisofon, Otto Fried, Buckminster Fuller, Francoise Gilot, Chaim Gross, S. I. Hayakawa, Harry Holtzman, Frances Humphrey Howard, Herbert H. Humphrey, Ben Shahn, and Margaret Mead document the close relationships he had with a wide range of people as well as reveal his personality and character.

The papers also include Robbins subject files and reveal his interests in African art, Piet Mondrian, and semantics among other things. Also included are records related to the creation and administration of the Museum of African Art, the work it took to get it included as part of the Smithsonian, its transfer, and the difficulties and conflicts Robbins experienced as a result. The records provide extensive coverage of the work involved in keeping the MAA a vibrant center of education, as well as documents the acquisition of collection material and the production of exhibitions.

The papers also contain materials related to publications, including Robbins' African Art in American Collections, both the 1966 and 1989 editions. Also included are materials related to his writings, lectures, and introductions of which he was known for. Of interest are the materials prepared by Roulhac Toledano in preparation for an unpublished work: Before and After the Smithsonian, The Legacy of Warren Robbins, Founder, National Museum of African Art: A Biography of Letters and Essays.

Other highlights include audio recordings from the dedication of the Museum of African Art on September 21, 1966, as well as recordings of lectures and interviews; records regarding the return of the Afo-A-Kom to the Kom people of Cameroon; records related to the acquisition of the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives; transcripts of oral history interviews; and the numerous awards and honors received by Robbins including the Joseph Henry Medal.

Materials include correspondence, memoranda, invitations, publications, articles, reports, images, sound recordings, transcripts, awards, clippings, newsletters, brochures, scrapbooks, pamphlets, mailings, maps, and floor plans. Some materials are in German and French.
Historical Note:
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, BA, 1945 and the University of Michigan, MA, 1949, Warren Murray Robbins started his career as a secondary school teacher. He later served in the United States Foreign Service, holding a variety of educational and curatorial posts in Germany and Austria. After returning to the United States, Robbins established the Center for Cross Cultural Communication (CCCC) in 1962 to serve as an educational institute integrating, popularizing and utilizing the insights and perspectives of the social sciences and the arts to foster international and interracial understanding as well as communication between the academic world and a broader public audience.

Once of first major projects of the CCCC was the creation in 1964 of the Museum of African Art (MAA). The museum was the extension of an interest in African art that Robbins developed while in Europe. The museum was originally located in the Washington, DC residence of Frederick Douglass and became part of the Smithsonian Institution in1979 and was later renamed the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) in 1981.

During the 15 years that the MAA was in operation, the CCCC operated under the Museum's name. Following the Museum's inclusion as part of the Smithsonian it reverted back to its original corporate name with the inclusion of Robbins' name in the title to become the Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication.

From 1964 to 1982, Robbins was the Director of the MAA, later becoming the Founding Director Emeritus and Senior Scholar from 1982-1995. In June of 1995, the Smithsonian eliminated Robbins position as Founding Director Emeritus/Senior Scholar because of budgetary reasons. Subsequently Robbins sued the Smithsonian, but ultimately lost and was not able to be reinstated.

After leaving the Smithsonian, Robbins continued his work at the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications to apply the perspectives and insights of the social sciences and the arts in public education with particular emphasis on interracial understanding. Robbins passed away on December 4, 2008.
Chronology:
September 4, 1923 -- Born - Worcester, Massachusetts

1928-1937 -- Midland Street Elementary School

1938-1941 -- Classical High School

1941-1945 -- University of New Hampshire, Durham - BA English

1945-1949 -- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - MA History

August 1949-September 1950 -- Teacher, High School, Department of the Army, Dependent School System - Bremerhaven, Germany

September-December 1950 -- Teacher, High School, Department of the Army, Dependent School System - Nurnberg, Germany

January 1951-November 1951 -- Visiting Expert, Public Affairs Program, Department of State - Hicog, Germany

1951-1955 -- Education Officer, American Embassy, Department of State -Vienna, Austria

1955-1957 -- Cultural Affairs Officer, American Consulate General, United States Information Agency - Stuttgart, Germany

1957-1958 -- Public Affairs Officer, American Consulate General, United States Information Agency - Stuttgart, Germany

1958-1960 -- Deputy Chief, Cultural Centers and Program Unit, American Embassy - Bonn, Germany

1960-1961 -- Staff, U. S. Advisory Commission on Educational and Cultural Relations

1961-1962 -- Assistant to Deputy Assistant of State for Educational and Cultural Relations, Department of State

1962-1963 -- Course Chairman, Foreign Service Institute, Department of State

1962-2010 -- Founder and Director, Center for Cross Cultural Communications (CCCC) and later the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications

1964 -- Museum of African Art founded as a part of CCCC

1964-1982 -- Founder and Director, Museum of African Art/National Museum of African Art

1966 -- Establishment of the Frederick Douglass Institute for Intercultural Understanding

1978 -- President Carter signs bill authorizing the transfer of MAA to the Smithsonian

1979, August 13 -- Museum of African Art officially becomes part of the Smithsonian

1981 -- Museum of African Art changed names to the National Museum of African Art

1982 -- Sabbatical to Africa

1982-1995 -- Founding Director Emeritus and Senior Scholar, National Museum of African Art

1987 -- National Museum of African Art building opens in the Quadrangle on the National Mall

1995, June -- Terminated from National Museum of African Art

2008, December 4 -- Warren M. Robbins passes away
Topic:
Museums -- Management  Search this
Museum directors  Search this
Museums -- Collection management  Search this
Museum techniques  Search this
Museums -- Educational aspects  Search this
Museum exhibits  Search this
Museum attendance  Search this
Museum finance  Search this
Museums -- Public relations  Search this
Museums and community  Search this
Art, African  Search this
Afo-A-Kom (Statue)  Search this
Kom (African people)  Search this
Cultural relations  Search this
Communication  Search this
Museum publications  Search this
Semantics  Search this
Museums -- Acquisitions  Search this
Genre/Form:
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Newsletters
Floor plans
Maps
Color photographs
Black-and-white photographs
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white transparencies
Color transparencies
Color negatives
Glass negatives
Audiotapes
Artifacts
Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 11-001, Warren M. Robbins Papers
Identifier:
Accession 11-001
See more items in:
Warren M. Robbins Papers
Archival Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-sia-fa11-001

Folder 1

Container:
Oversize
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 11-001, Warren M. Robbins Papers
See more items in:
Warren M. Robbins Papers
Warren M. Robbins Papers / Series 16: Scrapbooks, Awards, Photographs, and Publications, 1944-2001 / Oversize
Archival Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-sia-fa11-001-refidd1e35184

A selection of works by African American artists in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Glenn C. Tomlinson, Rolando Corpus

Title:
African American artists
Author:
Tomlinson, Glenn C  Search this
Author:
Philadelphia Museum of Art  Search this
Physical description:
46 pages illustrations 28 cm
Type:
Exhibitions
Expositions
Exhibition catalogs
Date:
1995
Topic:
African American art  Search this
African American artists  Search this
Art noir américain  Search this
Artistes noirs américains  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1113163

Manuscript

Collector:
Frank Williams  Search this
Shirley Williams  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Length:
26 cm
Width:
16 cm
Height:
6 cm
Culture:
Amhara  Search this
Object Type:
Manuscript
Place:
Ethiopia, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433876-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3cb6fb3a3-94b9-4392-9ea0-e22d3568d921
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925202

Bracelet

Collector:
Marc Grumet  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Diameter:
9 cm
Height:
5 cm
Culture:
Akan  Search this
Object Type:
Bracelet
Place:
Ghana, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433879-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/302ab753c-cc18-4bd1-9132-bede2dd1b247
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925206
Online Media:

Bracelet

Collector:
Marc Grumet  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Diameter:
9 cm
Height:
5 cm
Culture:
Akan  Search this
Object Type:
Bracelet
Place:
Ghana, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433883-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3273730ab-abaa-4e95-bedd-0bbab5f55edf
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925210
Online Media:

Bracelet

Collector:
Marc Grumet  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Diameter:
9 cm
Height:
1 cm
Culture:
Frafra (?)  Search this
Akan (?)  Search this
Object Type:
Bracelet
Place:
Liberia, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433896-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3906f01c6-862a-4b8c-aca7-87003bcfc351
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925224
Online Media:

Bracelet

Collector:
Marc Grumet  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Diameter:
8 cm
Height:
3 cm
Culture:
Akan  Search this
Object Type:
Bracelet
Place:
Ghana, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433898-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3174bed7f-da2c-4603-9d03-254b144aa82d
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925226
Online Media:

Hat

Collector:
Warren Robbins  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Diameter:
24 cm
Height:
11 cm
Object Type:
Hat
Place:
Grassfields, Cameroon, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Collection Date:
1975
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433900-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/321881c5f-c551-4203-b18a-9f4957ef21f8
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925228
Online Media:

Crocodile Pendant

Collector:
Paul Tishman  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Length:
14 cm
Width:
9.5 cm
Height:
2.5 cm
Culture:
Baule (Baoulé)  Search this
Object Type:
Pendant
Place:
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433902-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3f6782b75-c26b-4271-8dea-af0849b0f37d
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925230
Online Media:

Headrest

Collector:
Alvin Cohen  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Length:
11 cm
Width:
17 cm
Height:
15 cm
Object Type:
Headrest
Place:
Ethiopia, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433929-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3ed7f63d0-1172-4df4-8ea3-b6c5d69706a0
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925259
Online Media:

Chi Wara, Crest Mask

Collector:
Dr. Pascal J. Imperato  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Length:
14 cm
Width:
9 cm
Height:
48 cm
Culture:
Bamana (Bambara)  Search this
Object Type:
Mask
Place:
Yanfoilla, Mali, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Collection Date:
1970 to 1988
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433932-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/35b4d8a79-4d55-49c1-a212-d31b3053ded0
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925262
Online Media:

Mask

Collector:
Dr. Jack Baruch  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Length:
10.5 cm
Width:
21 cm
Height:
36 cm
Culture:
Baule (Baoulé)  Search this
Object Type:
Mask
Place:
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433936-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3fe4ef3f9-a69e-4af9-8b26-f198557fa1c3
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925266
Online Media:

Power Figure

Collector:
Dr. Arthur Dintenfass  Search this
Donor Name:
Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication  Search this
Length:
19 cm
Width:
7.5 cm
Height:
8.5 cm
Culture:
Teke  Search this
Object Type:
Figure
Place:
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
Accession Date:
19 May 2017
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2073315
USNM Number:
E433940-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/33f8100d8-9d3f-47b0-ae3c-65c949404e1f
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_11925271
Online Media:

Marshall A. Janoff Collection

Donor:
Janoff, Marshall A.  Search this
Artist:
Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969  Search this
Collector:
Robbins, Warren M.  Search this
Extent:
4 Lithographs
1 Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
49 Slides
49 Negatives
1 Sound discs (CD)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Lithographs
Clippings (books, newspapers, etc.)
Slides
Negatives
Sound discs (cd)
Date:
1971-1974
Biographical / Historical:
The Museum of African Art (MAA) was originally located in the Washington, DC residence of Frederick Douglass and became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979 and was later renamed the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) in 1981. During the 15 years that the MAA was in operation, the The Robbins Center (originally called Center for Cross Cultural Communication or CCCC operated under the Museum's name. Following the Museum's inclusion as part of the Smithsonian, it reverted back to its original corporate name with the inclusion of Robbins' name in the title to become the Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication. From 1964 to 1982, Robbins was the Director of the MAA, later becoming the Founding Director Emeritus and Senior Scholar from 1982-1995. After leaving the Smithsonian, Robbins continued his work at the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications to apply the perspectives and insights of the social sciences and the arts in public education with particular emphasis on interracial understanding.

One year before the founding of the Frederick Douglass Institute of Negro Arts and History, Robbins asked American artist Ben Shahn (1898-1969) to create a print of Douglass to be used for fund-raising purposes. Shahn created four prints in total.
Related Materials:
Related EEPA collections include: EEPA 2015-013, which contains posters advertizing the Museum of African Art (now the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution) and its exhibits, exhibit brochures, a watercolor painting and photographs by Eliot Elisofon, and museum signage. EEPA 2016-009, which includes ephemera related to the Museum of African Art (now the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art) and 7 photographic prints.

The Ben Shahn papers (AAA.shahben), held at the Archives of American Art, include more correspondence between Shahn and Warren Robbins.The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds the Warren M. Robbins Papers (SIA.FA13-136).
Provenance:
Donated by Marshall A. Janoff, 2017.
Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Topic:
National Museum of African Art  Search this
Citation:
Marshall A. Janoff Collection, EEPA 2017-004, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
EEPA.2017-004
Archival Repository:
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7563bef47-bef9-41b4-8bca-1efd13737cd6
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-eepa-2017-004

Female figure

Maker:
Fante artist  Search this
Medium:
Wood
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 27.3 × 5.1 × 3.2 cm (10 3/4 × 2 × 1 1/4 in.)
Type:
Figure
Geography:
Ghana
Topic:
Birth  Search this
Female use  Search this
male  Search this
female  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of The Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication in memory of Warren M. Robbins
Object number:
2014-32-18
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7e5e22cd5-ec4f-4d62-b587-e41ad1b426db
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2014-32-18
Online Media:

Bowl

Maker:
Lozi artist  Search this
Medium:
Wood
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 19.7 × 52.1 × 25.4 cm (7 3/4 × 20 1/2 × 10 in.)
Type:
Sculpture
Geography:
Western Province, Zambia
Topic:
bird  Search this
Household  Search this
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of The Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication in memory of Warren M. Robbins
Object number:
2014-32-6
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
On View:
NMAfA, Pavilion Gallery
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys74844cea8-e3a4-4d8f-8e26-2664f53390a5
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2014-32-6

Figure

Object Name:
ogo Elegba
Maker:
Yoruba artist  Search this
Medium:
Wood, cowrie shells, leather, metal, coin
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 10.3 x 7.9 x 6.4 cm (4 1/16 x 3 1/8 x 2 1/2 in.)
Type:
Figure
Geography:
Nigeria
Date:
Mid-20th century
Topic:
Adornment  Search this
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication in memory of Warren M. Robbins
Object number:
2010-13-1
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys761784e98-aaea-4a03-8339-5efb650646ee
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2010-13-1

Robe

Maker:
Kom artist  Search this
Medium:
Cotton, dyes
Dimensions:
H x W (laying flat): 112.4 × 142.9 cm (44 1/4 × 56 1/4 in.)
Type:
Textile and Fiber Arts
Geography:
Laikom, Cameroon
Date:
1973
Topic:
Leadership  Search this
Adornment  Search this
Male use  Search this
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of The Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication in memory of Warren M. Robbins
Object number:
2014-32-1.1
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys705a2d76a-9a52-4a2a-8ad4-17ecbc7332ec
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2014-32-1.1
Online Media:

Hat

Maker:
Kom artist  Search this
Medium:
Cotton, dyes
Dimensions:
H x W: 8.9 × 22.2 cm (3 1/2 × 8 3/4 in.)
Type:
Textile and Fiber Arts
Geography:
Laikom, Cameroon
Date:
1973
Topic:
Leadership  Search this
Adornment  Search this
Male use  Search this
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of The Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication in memory of Warren M. Robbins
Object number:
2014-32-1.2
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7d59fc794-8e6b-42f0-8ceb-4a1d3138ac26
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2014-32-1.2

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