This collection contains one scrapbook, photographs, an obituary, master's thesis, copies of a speech, and excerpts of an oral history regarding Effie Robinson, a San Francisco based social worker who was a pioneer for championing minority children in need of adoption, and educational leadership programs for minority youths. A majority of the scrapbook contains clippings regarding her work with MARCH! Adoption program, Junior Leaders Program at Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, and various honors Robinson received because of her work with the community.

Effie Robinson (1920-2003) was born to Jessie C. Robinson, a gardener at the City Golf Links, and Elzora Harper in Healdsburg, California. Robinson attended elementary and high school in Healdsburg and would go on to attend Santa Rosa Junior College before relocating to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University (SFSU). While at SFSU Robinson worked at a nursery school. After graduation in 1943, Robinson attended the University of California School of Social Welfare and graduated in 1945 as the first African American graduate. In 1945, Robinson joined the Family Service Agency of San Francisco (formerly, the Family and Children's Agency) where she worked as a case worker for families, and for sometime, was the only African American on staff. She would go on to become acting director in 1956. In 1954, Robinson started working for MARCH! (Minority Adoption Recruitment of Children's Homes) a project for children of national and racial minority groups. Robinson would continue her work to educate San Francisco to the needs for adoptive homes for minority children, as well as her commitment to fostering the education needs of minority children through her membership with Black women's service organizations such as Bay Area Service League, and Links, Inc. Through a co-sponsorship between Links, Inc. and the YWCA, Robinson led the Junior Leaders Program, established in 1961 at Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, which aimed to foster leadership potential for children. Because of her work, Robinson received various awards and attended recognition events such as: San Francisco Woman of the Year, Zeta Phi Beta (National Service Sorority); being named one of the Ten Most Distinguished Women in San Francisco; Woman of the Month August 1975 for Ladies Home Journal; the Koshland Award for a senior citizen program; participation in the Golden Anniversary of the White House Conference on Children and Youth, and others. Other positions Robinson held during her career was her appointment as the Director of Human Relations and Tenant Services at the San Francisco Housing Authority starting in 1964; and Director of Senior Programs and Social Services, as well as being named to the Advisory Committee on the Human Rights Commission, Curriculum Committee of the San Francisco Board of Education, and a board member of a United Nations program for the San Francisco School District. Robinson passed away at the age of 83 in 2003 after an apparent fall.

1 box (one scrapbook; twenty-two photographs; master's thesis; loose documents)

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