Finding Aid to the Elmer E. Robinson Papers, 1935-1982 (bulk 1947-1956)
Finding aid written by Tami J. Suzuki.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Created February 2002 with revisions in 2009 and 2022.
Title: Elmer E. Robinson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1935-1982
Date (bulk): 1947-1956,
Collection Identifier: SFH 6
Creator:
Robinson, Elmer E. (Elmer Edwin), b. 1894
Physical Description:
9 boxes, 1 oversized folder
(6.58 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Reports, mayoral and campaign speeches, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and historical documents documenting Robinson's
mayoralty, which was noted for its many building programs, including the start of redevelopment. The papers provide a snapshot
of post-World War II activities and changes undertaken at City Hall.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Access
The collection is open for research, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Please call the San Francisco History
Center for hours and information at 415-557-4567.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to the San Francisco Public Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public
Library as the owner of the physical items and the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Elmer E. Robinson Papers (SFH 6), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
Transferred from City Hall. An additional accession of materials was received from Elmer Robinson's granddaughter on June
4, 2009, and subsequently folded into the collection. These included scrapbooks documenting Robinson's 1947 mayoral campaign,
the renovation of the Municipal Railway, and his court cases as a judge. Additional materials were received from the University
of the Pacific in 2018 and added to Series 1 (Box 8).
Related Archival Collections
Researchers are encouraged to see related collections at The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley:
San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photograph Archive (approximately 200 negatives of Mayor Robinson); and Stanford University Libraries: Elmer E. Robinson
Collection, 1764-1973; and Elmer E. Robinson Americana, 1765-1950 (both historical document collections created by Robinson).
Related Materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also the San Francisco History Center’s subject and biographical files, other Mayoral Papers,
and the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection; and to check the catalog holdings of the San Francisco Public Library
for related materials. The San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection houses the
San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photograph Archive, which includes photographs documenting Robinson’s time in office.
Materials Transferred
Photographs were transferred to the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection.
Materials Cataloged Separately
The following items were transferred to the book collection of the San Francisco Public Library:
Report of the Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities,1970; and
Ancestral Lines and Family History of Our Family, Including the Families of Robinson-Barrett, Pelet-Rahlves, Gould-Newcomb,
Asbill-Graeter.
Biographical/Historical note
Elmer Edwin Robinson was born October 3, 1894 to Ralph and Edith Robinson in the Richmond District of San Francisco. He spent
his youth near Fort Bragg where his father operated hauling and ice businesses. Robinson returned to San Francisco, working
his way through night law school at the now-defunct Kent College, and was admitted to the bar in 1915. He married Doris Gould
in 1917 with whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth Jane. He married twice more, to Rosemarie Kerr and later to Ora Norris.
Robinson worked as a deputy District Attorney for six years before going into private practice as a civil and criminal attorney.
In 1935, Governor Frank Merriam appointed Robinson to the Municipal Court bench and promoted him to the Superior Court within
nine months. As presiding Superior Court judge, Robinson brought the court calendar up to date for the first time in 57 years.
A member of the Republican Party, Robinson served as secretary of the state Republican Committee. He was twice defeated as
the Republican candidate for state Senate in 1922 and 1931. With the support of Republican, Mason and legal circles, Robinson
was elected San Francisco's 33rd mayor in 1947 when the city was emerging from World War II. He presided during an era that
has been described as "the last of the city’s old-time good times," when vice quietly flourished. Robinson was re-elected
in 1951 over George Christopher, a bitter opponent at the time. Term limits prevented a third run.
In his two terms as mayor from 1948 through 1955, Robinson oversaw building programs including the Cherry Valley Dam, the
International Airport, schools, branch libraries, playgrounds and recreation centers, police stations, firehouses, parking
garages, and the modernization of the Municipal Railway. He established the Parking Authority and the Redevelopment Agency,
which planned the city's first major redevelopment project. Robinson also established the children's fishing program at Lake
Merced. He lowered the tax rate three times, and left the next mayor-elect with over $100 million of bonds for further improvements.
He also built a civil defense program and served as President of the United States Conference of Mayors.
Upon leaving City Hall, Robinson returned to his private law practice. He continued to serve as president of a Colma cemetery.
A collector of original American historical documents, he was an acknowledged expert on forms of government in the United
States. Robinson lived quietly until his death on June 7, 1982 in Butte County at the age of 87.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the two-term administration of Mayor Elmer E. Robinson during the years of 1948 to 1956. The Robinson
mayoralty was noted for its many building programs including the start of redevelopment. The papers provide a snapshot of
post-World War II activities and changes undertaken at City Hall.
Materials include reports, mayoral and campaign speeches, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and historical documents. The
collection is particularly rich in speeches from 1948 to 1953, and there is good coverage on the topic of a second Bay crossing
from 1947 to 1954. Internal and constituent correspondence is limited. Subjects include civil defense, renovation of the Municipal
Railway, Radio Free Europe, the warehouse strike of 1949, growth of rapid transit, the visit of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and
Robinson’s 1947 mayoral campaign. He was a collector of original American historical documents, and a few are contained within
Series 4. Others can be found at Stanford University Libraries.
Arrangement
The material has been arranged into four series: Series 1. Mayoral Activities; Series 2. Speeches, Articles, and Commendations;
Series 3. Campaigns; and Series 4. Historical Documents. Folders in Mayoral Activities and Historical Documents are in alphabetical
order by folder title, and then by date. The other series are organized chronologically. Within folders, materials are filed
chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Robinson, Elmer E., (Elmer Edwin), b. 1894--Archives
Bridges--California--San Francisco Bay Area--Planning
City planning--California--San Francisco
Housing policy--California--San Francisco
Mayors--California--San Francisco
San Francisco (Calif.)--Politics and government--20th century
Urban policy--California--San Francisco
Urban renewal--California--San Francisco
Series 1
Mayoral Activities,
1936-1956
Physical Description:
3.73 cubic feet
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Contents
This series contains Robinson's official activity files. A highlight of this series is the subject of a second Bay bridge
crossing and particularly the Southern Crossing which Robinson advocated.
Box 7, Folder 1
Airport News Clipping,
1954
Box 1, Folder 1
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Commission,
1951-1956
Box 1, Folder 2
BART News Clippings,
1953-1955
Box 1, Folder 3
Bay Bridge, New Approaches,
1949-1950
Box 5, Folder 2
Bay Bridge Railway Terminal, Embarcadero Plan,
undated
Bay Bridge, Second Crossing
Box 1, Folder 4
Letters Received Before Inauguration,
1947
Box 1, Folder 5
Armed Services Sub-Committee Hearing,
1948-1949
Box 1, Folder 6
Bay Area Council Plan,
1950-1951
Box 1, Folder 7
George W. Burpee Statement,
[November 1, 1948]
Box 1, Folder 8
Charles E. De Leuw Statement,
May 9, 1949
Box 1, Folder 9
East Bay Committee,
1951-1953
Box 1, Folder 10
Federal, State, and Municipal Action,
1949-1953
Box 1, Folder 14
Miscellaneous Plans,
1946-1953
Box 1, Folder 15
New Approaches and Refinancing,
1951-1953
Box 1, Folder 19
Responses to Mayor's Letter,
1949-1951
Box 1, Folder 20
Shoreline Development,
1948
Box 1, Folder 21
State Legislative Committee Hearing,
1952-1953
Box 1, Folders 22-23
Statements and Press Clippings,
1948-1952
Bay Bridge, Southern Crossing
Box 2, Folders 2-3
Amendment to Public Law 695, 1 of 2,
1949-1953
Box 2, Folder 5
Information Summary,
[19--]
Box 2, Folder 7
Navy Hearing Transcript,
1953
Box 2, Folder 9
Supervisors' Resolutions,
1947-1953
Box 2, Folder 10
Post-Amendment to Public Law 695,
1953-1954
Box 2, Folder 11
Bay Bridges Map,
Call-Bulletin,
February 4, 1953
Box 2, Folder 12
Board of Supervisors Journal of Proceedings,
1950
Box 2, Folder 13
Buena Vista Park,
1950-1951
Box 2, Folder 14
California Legislative Reports,
1949-1951
Box 4, folder 25-30
Chief Administrative Officer: Real Estate Transfers
1944-1955
Box 5, Folder 2
City Officials, Board, and Commission Members Photos,
[19--]
Box 2, Folder 18
Consolidation, City and County,
circa 1949
Box 4, folder 31
Education Appointments,
1932-1955
Box 2, Folder 19
Events and Proclamations,
1949-1955
Box 4, folder 32
Fire Department,
1951-1955
Box 2, Folder 21
Gift Playing Cards,
[19--]
Box 2, Folder 22
Golden Gate Park Concerts,
1952
Box 2, Folders 23-24
International Congress of Local Authorities,
1953-1955
Box 2, Folder 25
Lapham, Mayor Roger D., Article,
1946
Box 2, Folder 26
MacArthur, Gen. Douglas, Newsclippings,
1951
Box 5, Folder 2
Map of San Francisco (Department of Public Works),
1947
Box 6, Folder 1
Municipal Railway Bus Design,
[1948?]
Box 5, Folders 3-5
Municipal Railway Progress Photographs,
[1948-19--]
Box 2, Folder 27
Orpheum Theatre Wall,
1948
Box 4, Folder 23
Public Buildings,
1953-1954
Box 4, Folder 24
Public Buildings Meeting Minutes,
1953-1954
Box 2, Folder 29
Radio Free Europe Crusade for Freedom Kit,
1954
Box 2, Folder 30
Radio Free Europe Crusade for Freedom Tour,
1954
Box 2, Folder 31
Radio Free Europe Visit,
1954-1955
Box 2, Folder 32
Rapid Transit Report,
1936
Box 2, Folder 33
Rapid Transit Reports,
1950-1952
Box 4, folder 33
Recreation and Park Department: Acquisition of Angel Island,
1952
Box 6, Folder 2
Republican Mandate Article,
1953
Box 2, Folder 34
Republican National Convention, 1 of 2,
1955
Box 2, Folder 35
Republican National Convention, Briefing Material for San Francisco Inspection Trip,
1955
Box 2, Folder 36
Republican National Convention, 2 of 2,
1956
Box 2, Folder 37
Resume of Administration,
circa 1951
Box 2, Folder 38
San Francisco Annual Report,
1955
Box 2, Folder 39
Serra, Father Junipero,
1949-[1954]
Box 2, Folder 41
Smog Correspondence, 1 of 2,
1949-1954
Box 3, Folder 1
Smog Correspondence, 2 of 2,
1954-1955
Box 3, Folder 2
United Indian War Veterans,
1948-1951
Box 3, Folder 3
United Nations Charter, 10th Anniversary,
1955
Box 3, Folders 4-5
United States Conference of Mayors,
1953-1956
Box 3, Folder 6
War Housing, Disposition Citizens Committee,
1950-1953
Box 3, Folder 7
War Housing, Disposition of,
1953-1954
Box 3, Folder 8
Warehouse Strike, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union Local 6,
1949
Box 3, Folder 9
Washington Conference of Mayors Report,
1955
Box 3, Folder 10
Youth Guidance Center,
1953-1955
Series 2
Speeches, Articles and Commendations,
1935-1982
Physical Description:
1.5 cubic feet
Arrangement
Speeches are followed by articles, then commendations. Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
This series focuses on speeches from 1948-1953 and includes Robinson's inaugural address. Also included are newspaper clippings,
especially from 1948-1955, and a couple of commendations.
Box 3, Folder 11
Speeches, Pre-Mayoral,
1936-1937
Box 3, Folder 12
Pre-Inaugural Address,
December 4, 1947
Box 3, Folder 13
Inaugural Address,
January 8, 1948
Speeches and Press Releases
Box 8, Folder 1
Pacific States Loan Co.,
1944-1946
Box 4, Folder 7
Newspaper Editorials,
1951
Box 8, Volume 2
Scrapbook of Clippings, Court Cases,
1930-1937
Box 8, Volume 3
Scrapbook of Clippings, Court Cases,
1935-1938
Box 4, Folder 8
U.S. Court of Appeals Transcript, Brandhove vs. Tenney, et al.,
[1949?]
Box 7, Folder 3
Commendations (oversized),
1935-1938
Series 3
Campaigns,
1947-1956
Physical Description:
0.66 cubic feet
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by election year.
Scope and Contents
This series contains speeches from Robinson's mayoral campaigns. Also included is Robinson's testimony before the U.S. Court
of Appeals, in which he denied any participation in branding a 1947 opponent, Franck R. Havenner, as a member of the Communist
Party.
Box 4, Folder 10
Mayoral Campaign Congratulations,
1947
Box 9, Folder 1
Mayoral Campaign Newspaper Clippings,
1947
Box 9, Volume 2
Mayoral Campaign Scrapbook,
1947
Box 4, Folder 11
Mayoral Campaign Speeches,
1947-1948
Box 4, Folder 12
Mayoral Campaign Speech Score Sheets,
[1948]
Box 4, Folder 13
Mayoral Campaign Speeches of Supporters,
1947
Box 4, Folder 15
Re-election Campaign,
1951
Box 4, Folder 16
Biography and Statement,
[1951]
Box 9, Folder 3
Newspaper Clippings,
1951
Series 4
Historical Documents,
1874-1935
Physical Description:
0.7 cubic feet
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Contents
This series contains original American historical documents collected by Robinson.
Box 4, Folder 19
Liliputian Newspaper,
1874
Box 4, Folder 20
Mexico Inauguration Souvenir,
1922
Box 4, Folder 21
Pacific Bank Centennial Statement,
1888
Box 6, Folder 4
Golden Gate Bridge Bond,
1935
Box 4, Folder 22
Stanford University Honorary Curator,
1940