Dr. Harry Robinson: SUPERHERO OF THE YEAR “The Greatest Gift – Our History”
My Day by Dr. J. Ester Davis
There are sincerely no words to say to Dr. Harry Robinson for his supreme dedication, his meta dream for America, and the special gift designed exclusively for the people of Dallas.
On December 14, 2024, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the African American Museum and the Retirement of Dr. Harry Robinson. Few people missed the appropriately styled Founder’s Ball 50th. In attendance were 850+glamourous citizens gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Anatole Hotel for a glimpse of the ‘superhero.’ A sellout… knockout best-dressed list of who’s who. Posted on my social media pages were pictures of ‘what I am wearing to the Founder’s Ball’.
I vividly remember the earlier days in the Basement of Bishop College (nee Paul Quinn College). Dr. Robinson joined Bishop College’s Staff as a librarian and museum director in 1974. The ultimate champion of history in Dallas at that time was one force, Mable Chandler, a renowned history teacher counselor at Lincoln High School. Mable Chandler was also my Sunday School Superintendent. I saw her every Sunday morning as a young church musician, and I might add that she was on time. Chandler was well connected, belonged to several educational organizations surrounding the richness of black history and culture, and was a walking encyclopedia of the Bible and Dallas History. Dr. Robinson attended graduate school at Atlanta University and majored in Library Science. He was primarily a researcher. When I look back on his career, factoring in a degree in 1965 from Atlanta University and a return to Southern University to continue work as an Archivist, a cataloger at Kentucky State University and a short stay at the University of Florida, it is easy to see where all of these boxes came from. As the news got around, more boxes arrived to catalog and find a home for.
With Mable Chandler and Julia Jordan to guide him….(ooh, let me stop calling names; that is not a good idea), several black librarians, all legends in their fields, came together and formed “this ad-hoc circle” around Dr. Harry Robinson. These were educators from across the spectrum of several churches near and far. What is most etched in my mind is that this group of ‘helpers’ for Dr. Robinson brought in a second layer of “junior helpers” to sort through the mounds of papers/boxes assembled by Dr. Robinson from his many collections for the museum. I was in that category. During these appointed times, there was little conversation and lots of organization in the “midst of a promise-to-be.”
Tremendous thanks to those who stayed the course. I have to mention the unstoppable Helen Giddings. (Stop calling names JED). OK! To the teams of professional organizers, splendid sponsors, media professionals, mighty, mighty influencers.
Now, where are the new visionaries? Who are the new innovators? Where are the dedicated ‘helpers’?
Esterdavis2000@gmail.com
