Charles M. Robinson

He was also the public school architect of the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. Many of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Name — Charles M. Robinson • Born — 3 March 1867 • Birthplace — Hamilton, Virginia, U.S. • Died — 20 August 1932 • Place of death — Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. • Resting Place — Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia, U.S. • Children — 2 • Significant Buildings — Newport News Public Library, Thomas Jefferson High School • Significant Projects — Master plans for James Madison University and Radford University

Charles Morrison Robinson was born in Hamilton, Virginia in Loudoun County, the son of Elizabeth (née Crockett) and James Turner Robinson. His father was an architect. He moved to Canada at a young age and was educated in Canadian public schools. He apprenticed with David S. Hopkins (1834–1918), of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and John K. Peebles (1866–1934), of Richmond, Virginia. In 1889, Robinson formed the architectural firm of Smith & Robinson with G. T. Smith in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1891, Robinson married Altoona native, Annie Custer (1868–1946). They had two children, Charles Custer Robinson (1892–1963) and Miriam Robinson (1895–1911). At the time of the 1900 United States census, Robinson was living at 1910 West Chestnut Avenue in Altoona. He had two live-in servants, Bridget Sheehan and Mattie Jones, at that time. In 1901, Robinson moved his architectural practice from Altoona to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1906, Robinson moved his practice and family to Richmond, Virginia. He served as the supervising architect for the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. He remained in Richmond for the remainder of his professional career. At the time of the 1910 United States census, Robinson was living at 828 Park Avenue in Richmond with his wife, Annie C. Robinson, their two children, and his parents. He also had a live-in servant, Etta Scruggs, and a live-in butler, Fred W. Smith. At the time of the 1920 United States census, Robinson was living in Richmond with his wife and his mother. In the early 1930s, Robinson's health began failing. He was hospitalized in Norfolk, Virginia, in August 1932 and died there following an operation. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

• Illustration — Robinson's Wilson Hall at James Madison University. • Illustration — Beam Hall at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. • Illustration — Clarendon School, now maintained by the Arlington Arts Center, in Arlington, Virginia. • Illustration — Old Lexington High School, built 1908, designed by Robinson • Illustration — Robinson's Monroe Hall at University of Mary Washington. Robinson's works include:

• The master plan and multiple structures at James Madison University, originally known as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, from 1908 to 1928, including Maury Hall (1908), Jackson Hall (1908), Harrison Hall (1912), President's House (1913), Spottswood Hall (1915), Alumnae Hall (1922), Sheldon Hall (1922), Gymnasium (1926), Johnson Hall (1928), and Wilson Hall (1930). • More than 20 buildings at Virginia State College (a historically black college now known as Virginia State University), in Petersburg, Virginia, between 1918 and 1930, including Eggleston Hall (1926), Seward Hall (1926), Trinkle Hall (1928), Byrd Hall (1928), and the Agricultural Building (1930). • More than 60 works as the College Architect for the College of William and Mary from 1921 to 1931, including Jefferson Hall (1920), the George Preston Blow Gymnasium (1923), Monroe Hall (1923), Old Dominion Hall (1926), Rogers Memorial Science Hall (1926), Kate Waller Barrett Hall (1926), Lake Matoaka Cottage (1927), Kappa Kappa Gamma (1927), Delta Delta (1927), Moncure Cottage (1928), Washington Hall (1928), Brown Hall (1930), Alpha Chi Omega (1929), Kappa Delta (1929), Phi Beta Phi (1929), Chandler Hall (1930), Delta Delta Delta (1931), Chi Omega (1931). • University of Mary Washington: President's Residence (1910), Frances Willard Hall (1910), James Monroe Hall (1911), Virginia Hall (1914), Chandler Hall (1928), Seacobeck Hall (1930), and Bridge to Dining Hall (Seacobeck Hall) (1930). He was the first and "Defining architect" and remained "responsible for the siting, orientation, and design of buildings from the founding until his death in 1932." • University of Richmond: Milhiser Gymnasium (1919), T.C. Williams Law School Additions at 601 North Lombardy (1924), Puryer Hall (1926), Cannon Memorial Chapel (1928), Richmond Hall (1929), Jenkins Outdoor Theater (1929), and Maryland Hall (1932). • Radford University: Master plan, Administration Building, and dormitories. • Lutheran Theological Seminary Building: Beam Dormitory, 4201 Main St., Columbia, South Carolina, built in 1911, NRHP-listed.

• Landmark Theater, formerly known as the Mosque, 6 N. Laurel St., Richmond, Virginia. With Marcellus E. Wright Sr. The theater was the most elaborate and largest (4,600 seats) ever built in Richmond. • Newport News Public Library, 2907 West Ave., Newport News, Virginia, NRHP-listed. • Grace Hospital, 401 West Grace St., Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. • Commonwealth Park Hotel, formerly Hotel Rueger and later the Raleigh Hotel, 9 North 9th Street, Richmond, Virginia. NRHP-listed as part of the Main Street Banking Historic District. • Grace Lutheran Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania. • Medical Arts Building, Newport News, Virginia (1928)

The following is established of the heading itself.

Robinson is recorded with the occupation architect. Robinson is recorded as a citizen of United States. It is also recorded that charles M. Robinson is recorded with the gender male. Institutional cataloguing adds that charles M. Robinson was born on 3 March 1867. Robinson died on 20 August 1932.