Register of the Robinette Family Papers, 1845-1910

Processed by Daryl Morrison; revised by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
URL: https://www.pacific.edu/university-libraries/find/holt-atherton-special-collections
© 1998
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.



Register of the Robinette Family Papers, 1845-1910

Collection number: Mss183

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library

University of the Pacific

Contact Information

Processed by:
Daryl Morrison; revised by Don Walker
Date Completed:
1994; 1998
Encoded by:
Don Walker
© 1998 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Robinette Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1845-1910
Collection number: Mss183
Creator: Robinette Fisher Lange
Extent: 0.5 linear ft.
Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
Stockton, CA 95211
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robinette Family Papers, Mss183, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Biography

Theodore Julius Robinette (1837 -ca. 1908) was a San Francisco ship's cook and nurse who made many extended voyages. In 1860 he sailed from Philadelphia to San Francisco and from there to Hong Kong. His brother, Henry Clay Robinette, attended the Delaware Military Academy (1857-1860) and joined the Union Army at the outset of the Civil War. H.C. Robinette fought at the battles of Corinth and Vicksburg (1862) and was later on the General Grant's staff (1864-1865). After the war he was court-martialed for cursing an officer in a barroom brawl (1867)but his father petitioned President Andrew Johnson on his behalf with the result that his sentence was commuted and he was promoted to brevet major for "gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Corinth and the siege of Vicksburg." Theodore married in San Francisco but his wife died in childbirth soon afterward leaving him with twins to raise on his own. His daughter Louise married Fred Dougherty of Woodbridge(Calif.).

Scope and Content

Theodore Julius Robinette's ship's log (1860) describes his voyage from Philadelphia to San Francisco on the Morning Light captained by B.A. Johnson. Robinette's log provides mileage figures, course, wind direction and other remarks, chiefly concerning the weather. Civil War era letters (1860-1868) from Henry Clay Robinette to his brother indicate a close relationship. Brother Henry advises Theodore to stay away from the war. The Dougherty family is also represented in the collection by correspondence and a scrapbook containing many invitations to social engagements.

 

BOX 1: ROBINETTE FAMILY PAPERS, 1845-1910

 

1.1: MEMORABILIA

 

-3 eyeglasses in cases: pince nez worn by Gwendolyn E. Dougherty (1905), eyeglasses ["worn by F.A. Dougherty, Sr. until his death, November 15, 1942], eyeglasses ["worn by Grandfather Robinette in early 1800's"]

 

-Allen McLair Robinette's "Extra's to Fountain Pens, Eversharp Penics, Leads and Pen Points"

 

-Holy Bible. [on front cover in gold: "Louisa"; property of the late Gertrude Louise Robinette Dougherty from age 5, 1870]

 

-Silver Mirror. ["Grandpa Robinette's hand mirror (can trace back to 1881). He carried it with him when he was hired as cook for threshing crews and always when doing special duty Male nursing. He learned practical nursing in the 1840ies Crossed Atantic 16 round trips, and Pacific 3, sailing vessel."]

 

-Babcock, Rev. Wm. R. Sacred Melodies: A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Dansville, A. R. Knox, 1845

 

-Holograph card: "H.A. Robinette"

 

-"Red Ribbon Welcome Home!"

 

-Clippings

 

-Fay Reception

 

-17 ball invitations, dance cards, theater cards & miscellany

 

-Exhibition of the Delaware Military Academy, June 28th, 1860. Programme.

 

-Wooden cribbage board

 

-Masonic apron and gloves

 

1.2: PHOTOGRAPHS

 

-Theodore J. Robinette, father of Gertrude Louise Dougherty [6 portraits on cartes de visite]

 

-Theodore Julius Robinette ["Owner of the sea chest. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware, July 3, 1837. He died in Lodi, California some time between 1905-1908. He was my great-grandfather." (On Robinette Lange stationary & envelope imprinted "Mrs. William John Lange, 3 Atherton Island, Stockton, Cal.")]

 

-Other Family Photographs

 

-Man in top hat [carte de visite; Eradore Goff People's Art Gallery]

 

-Allen M. Robinette, Philadelphia [c. de v.]

 

-Group of men. Robinette in military uniform? [c. de v.; Bradley and Rulofson, photographers, SF, Cal.]

 

-Woman in male attire with cards. [c. de v.; Geo H. Johnson's photograph gallery, SF]

 

-David Robinette.["papa's oldest brother;" c. de v.; Hamilton & Shew, S.F.]

 

-Woman and child. ["Aunt Mary Williams (Papa's sister) and son Allen Robinette Williams, Wilmington, Delaware"; c. de v.]

 

-Woman ["M. A. Preton (?), S.F., Cal., Sept 17, 1863. Papa Robinette's old girl"; c. de v.]

 

-Woman [tintype]

 

-Man [tintype]

 

-Susan Graham Robinette, ["Mother of Henry Clay Robinette"; photograph]

 

-Henry Clay Robinette and officers, 1863 ["Robinette Fisher Lange's great uncle"]

 

-Henry C. Robinette ["brother of Theodore Robinette. Fought in Civil War. Fort Robinette at Corinth, Mississippi, named for bravery."; photograph]

 

-William Robinette, 1862 [photograph]

 

-Allen McLain Robinette ["Father of Henry Clay Robinette, better known as Harry"]

 

-[Henry C. Robinette] ["Robinette Fisher Lange's great-uncle, very truly your affect. Brother Harry to Bro-Theo. 1863"]

 

1.3: CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY C. ROBINETTE, 1857-1868

 

-letter fragment 1 sheet

 

-Henry C. Robinette from school, Wilmington DE to "Father" (12-23-1857) 1 sheet

 

-HCR, St. Joseph MO to "Brother" (10-24-1861) 2 sheets

 

-HCR, Camp at Milliken Bend LA to "Brother" (4-12-1863) 1 sheet

 

-Do. (12-2-1863) 3 sheets

 

-Do. (10-4-1864) 2 sheets

 

-Do. (2-6-1865) 2 sheets

 

-Do. (7-25-1865) 1 sheet

 

-Do. (2-13-1867) 4 sheets

 

-Do., Jackson Barracks, New Orleans LA (1-19-1868) 2 sheets

 

-3 envelopes [ca. 1860]

 

1.4: THEODORE J. ROBINETTE. SHIP'S LOG and CIVIL WAR SCRAPBOOK ( Philadelphia to San Francisco aboard "Morning Light" January-June 1860, San Francisco to Hong Kong July 1860. Civil War scrapbook, esp. Battle of Corinth (1862); also one page of holograph notes on Dougherty and Robinette family names; property of Frederick Allen Dougherty, Jr. and then the property of Robinette Fisher Lange]

 

1.5: DOUGHERTY SCRAPBOOK, 1884-1908. [Printed on front: "...complements of the 181 store, square to a cent, one price to all. Clothing, furnishing Goods... M. Goldberg, Proprietor, El Dorado Street, Stockton, Cal.; envelopes pasted into printed scrapbook; documents inside envelopes]

 

-Invitations ca. 1884-1908

 

-wedding announcements

 

-Knights of Stockton events, 1901

 

-Cooper Medical College Commencement Exercises,

 

-San Joaquin Valley College Commencement Exercise, 1889

 

-Invitation to Mr. J. Robinette and ladies, 1887

 

-One page of business cards, including: W. B. Dougherty, Accountant, San Jose; Theo J. Robinette, dealer in Wines, Liquors and Cigars, San Francisco; Miss Anna Dougherty; F. A. Dougherty

 

-Programs, many Metropolitan Theater, Sacramento, ca. 1880-1909

 

1.6: DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENCE

 

-Sacramento, August 12, 1883. [Address at Woodbridge, Note on envelope: "Papa Robinette, letter written to me August 1883 the year I was married To Dear Lou from Father T J Robinette"]

 

-Eva Lee Dougherty (a child?) to "Aunt Lew and Allen" Lodi, Cal.

 

-Invitation to Cooper Medical College commencement, Nov. 1885,

 

-Envelope notes invitation from George.

 

1.7: MISCELLANEOUS

 

-Unident. travel notes, Sept 11, 1880 to Oct 3, 1880.

 

-Small print of house [note on back: "Drawn by Mamie C. Bryant"]

 

-Misc. literary clippings

 

-"How to Order Goods, Ehrich Brothers, New York"

 

-["Louise. Composition, Sacramento Grammar School, May 25, 1879"]

 

1.8: THEATER PROGRAMS

 

-Sacramento, Lodi, San Francisco. 1880s-1920s

 

1.9: GENEALOGY NOTES AND PHOTOCOPIES