Robinette Family Papers, 1845-1910

Summary

Title:

Robinette Family Papers,

Dates:

1845-1910

Creators:

Robinette Fisher Lange

Language:

English.

Preferred citation:

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

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.).

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Physical description:

0.5 linear ft.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Processed by Daryl Morrison; revised by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker

Date Prepared:

© 1998

Date Encoded:

Machine-readable finding aid derived from paper by means of scanning and OCR; OCR file edited for typographical errors before encoding. Date of source: 1994; 1998.

Restrictions:

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

Location of this collection:

University of the Pacific

University of the Pacific, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University Library

Stockton, CA 95211, US

Contact:

(209) 946-2404

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