Manuscript Register

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: June 2003

Acquisition Note: This collection was donated to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1979 by Frank R. Thornton.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

Biographical Note

Thomas John Bright Robinson (1868 -- 1958) moved from Wisconsin to Iowa with his parents when he was only two years old. They settled in Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa. He attended public schools and Hampton High School. He was involved in agricultural pursuits for awhile before entering the banking business. Robinson was president of the Citizens National Bank of Hampton from 1907 to 1923. He also took part in community affairs, he was a member of both the city council and the board of education. He was also active in the Methodist Church and was a delegate to many conferences here and abroad.

Robinson was elected as a Republican to the state senate and served from 1913 to 1917. He was also a delegate to numerous Republican state conventions. During World War I, Robinson was the chairman of Franklin County's war activities. In 1923, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a five term Congressman, losing his bid for re-election in 1932. Robinson was in the real estate and investment business from 1933 until his death in 1958.


Scope and Contents

The papers of Thomas J.B. Robinson are comprised of 163 items dating from 1905 to 1957. Arranged chronologically within an alphabetical sequence this small collection includes subject files, speeches, and correspondence. The subject files include materials concerning his 1928 political campaign, a record book from the Citizens National Bank of Hampton dating 1905 -- 1918, and a file regarding the Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa. Correspondents include Guy M. Gillette, Hugh C. Gruwell, and William F. Kopp.

Inventory

Campaign literature, 1928

The Citizens National Bank of Hampton, Iowa, record book, 1905 -- 1918

Correspondence, 1926 -- 1957, including letters from Guy Mark Gillette, Hugh Clifton Gruwell, and William Frederick Kopp

Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa, 1905 -- 1957, subject file

Speeches, 1918 -- 1933

Speeches, undated