Donald and Rhena Robson Fonds

Fonds number

2191

Name of Creator

Robson, Donald Oakley

Name of Creator

Robson, Rhena Victoria

Dates of Material

1925-1976

Title

Donald and Rhena Robson Fonds

Extent

17 cm of textual materials
81 b&w photographs

Administrative History

DO Robson was a respected Professor of Classics, born in Fenelon Falls, Ontario and raised there and in Toronto. He completed his undergraduate degree at Victoria in 1928, winning the Edward Wilson Gold Medal in Classics. Upon graduation he was named a Fellow and continued with his education, earning his MA in 1929 and PhD in 1932 (his thesis was "The Samnites in the Po Valley").
Robson taught at Western for seventeen years before returning as an Associate Professor of Latin at Victoria in 1947. He retired in 1975. Robson was not known for publishing, but instead believed that his most important function was teaching. In 1971, when he retired as Chairman of the Department of Classics, he said, "The greatest reward a teacher can reap is the love and trust of his colleagues and students."
Generous to Victoria, Robson made many financial donations to the University. In 1931, Robson married Rhena Victoria Kendrick, also a Victoria graduate.
Victoria University Positions Held:
Fellow in Classics 1928-1930
Associate Professor of Latin 1947-1956
Professor of Latin 1956-1960
Professor of Latin; Chairman of Department of Classics 1960-1971
Professor of Latin 1971-1975
Professor Emeritus of Classics 1975

Administrative History

Rhena Robson (nee Kendrick) was a Victoria University graduate, class of 1923, and gold medalist. Robson continued her education at Bryn Mawr and the University of Chicago before returning to Toronto to teach in Classics at Victoria. Rhena married Donald Robson in 1931.
Awards won as a graduating student in 1923:
Governor-General's Gold Medal
The Edward Wilson Gold Medal in Classics
Teaching Positions held at Victoria:
Instructor in Ancient History, 1928-1929
Lecturer in Classics, 1929-1931

Custodial history

2023.07V: Records were inherited by the donor from the creator where they remained until being donated to Victoria University.
2023.19V: Unknown. Transferred from Victoria University Library Special Collections in 2023.

Scope and Content

Contains correspondence, postcards and travel and academic photographs, travel diaries, family research, as well as scholarly research and lectures.

Note(s)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Larry Pfaff
2023.07V

Transferred from Victoria University Library Special Collections
2023.19V

Arrangement

Arranged by Archivist.

Box/File List

Identifier Title Date
2023.07V1-1 Research Notes and Lectures
1941-1973
2023.07V1-2 Letters to Larry Pfaff, 1972
1972
2023.07V1-3 Letters to Larry Pfaff, 1973
1973
2023.07V1-4 Letters to Larry Pfaff, 1974
1974
2023.07V1-5 Postcards
1929-1973
2023.07V1-6 Travel Diaries
1929-1932
n.d.
2023.07V1-7 Travel Ephemera
1929
2023.07V1-8 Blank Postcards
n.d.
2023.07V1-9 Travel Photographs
n.d.
2023.07V1-10 Photocopies of Family History Research
n.d.
2023.07V1-11 Memorabilia
1976
1930
n.d.
2023.19V1-1 Thesis Work: The Samnites in the Po Valley
1932
2023.19V1-2 Lectures
1938-1973, predominant 1950-1965
2023.19V1-3 Correspondence and Offprints
1934-1940
2023.19V1-4 In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus Donald O. Robson
1976
2023.19V1-5 Photographs: Classics Club
1954-1955
1949
2023.19V1-6 Essays by Rhena Kendrick Robson
1930
1925