Diaries, 1873-1952
The Robins' diaries series includes bound diaries, diary pages, notebooks, passports, yearbooks, some typescripts of parts of diaries, and some printed material. Through the diaries, engagement books and notebooks in this series, it is possible to trace many of Robins' movements and thoughts over the years 1873 to 1952, all but the earliest years of her long life. There are notebooks dating back to 1873, when she was eleven years old, composition books from her time at the Putnam Female Seminary in Ohio, records of books she read, a drawing book from 1879-1880 and thirty three volumes of small notebooks ranging in date from 1877-1940. Robins regularly kept records of her daily life at home and she wrote extensively while she traveled. Notable among her travel records are her 1880 "Summit, Rocky Mountains" diary which she kept while visiting her father at the Little Annie Gold Mining Company; her 1900 diary from her journey to the Klondyke; and her 1905-1906 Chinsegut diary which she wrote while in Florida. She often used her diaries as sources for her literary works and also wrote about the books she was working on. Moreover, she recorded the names of visitors who came to her home and wrote of her outings with friends; these records indicate the support network of women Robins developed through the years
Archival Material, English, 1873