Donor Profile: C.O. Robinson Family Trust

BY: DON PENDERGRAFT, DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL MUSEUMS

The Museum of the Albemarle is grateful for the community visionaries who believed in our museum and acknowledges the contributions of the many donors who have made a difference in the museum’s establishment.

In this edition of The Gateway , we feature the family of Charles Oakley (C.O.) Robinson Jr. for their support of the early museum and its transformation to the present site, which overlooks the Pasquotank River.

ON THE PORCH OF THE ROBINSON HOUSE

Left to right: Harry Robinson, (standing); Julie Robinson, (seated); Flora Johnson Robinson, (in middle, seated); Charlie Robinson III, (standing); Tapp Robinson, (seated). Tapp is currently serving on the North Carolina Museum of History Associates Board.

Courtesy of Barbara Putnam

Charles O. Robinson took the reins after his father’s death in 1930 and become a titan of industry. C.O. was an astute businessman and community leader, especially in the advancement of the Albemarle region.

The family’s bequest honors Charles Hall Robinson, a business innovator and giant in the Albemarle region with his many contributions to the local economy. Robinson was originally from Jefferson County, New York, and relocated to Elizabeth City in 1868 to oversee his father’s lumber interests in Pasquotank and Perquimans Counties. The museum’s lobby is named in his honor.

In 1968, with the passing of C.O., Charles O. Robinson Jr. assumed the family businesses. He and his wife, Flora, moved into the Robinson home, which was built in 1914. The house was a wedding gift from the bride’s parents. It is one of the architectural jewels on Main Street in Elizabeth City. Flora Johnson Robinson was a great friend to the museum. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 106.

Today, the Robinson family is continuing the legacy of contributing to “the greater good” to advance the people in the Albemarle region and state.

The museum operates as an educational institution to promote the history and culture of the region. We are the northeastern branch of the North Carolina Museum of History Division under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The museum is owned and operated by the State of North Carolina, which provides funding for the facility and staff.

The Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle is a 501(c)(3), a not-for-profit organization. They raise funds to sponsor and provide museum programs, including speakers’ forums, public events, educational programs, biannual magazines, exhibitions, outreach with new virtual programs, and promotional efforts.

The museum’s partnerships with other nonprofit organizations are vital to subsidize the educational opportunities for students, lifelong learners of the humanities, as well as providing a major attraction to bring tourist to the region. We follow the North Carolina Public Schools curriculum guidelines to reinforce North Carolina history and culture by incorporating teaching points into our programs and exhibits.

The Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle are a very important part of the museum and have been since the museum began in 1967.

We thank you for your continued support to keep the torches lit for future generations.