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Fonds/Collection Description

Title Ralph Robinson fonds
Description Level Fonds
Fonds No. IH 2001.26
Creator Robinson, Ralph
Material Type graphic material
Date Range 1900-1973
Title Source Title based on content of fonds.
Physical Description 1301 photographs
History/Biographical Ralph Robinson (b. June 5, 1864 - d. September 1, 1944) was the Park Superintendent in Queen's Park for 31 years from 1901 to his retirement in 1931. Born on the estate of the Duke of Northumberland in Remington, Northumberland, England, Ralph Robinson remained in this region until the age of seventeen and received his education in public schools. In 1881 he went to Scotland, spending about six years in Edinburgh and other cities. During this time he worked as a gardener. In 1887 he married Annie Spiers of Mugdrum, Fifeshire, Scotland and they later became the parents of six children: Edward Lewis (who worked as a machinist at the Schaake Iron Works of New Westminster); Daphne; Gertrude; Ruth; Stella May; and Alice Eleanor. In 1888 Ralph Robinson and his wife left Scotland for the United States and lived for three years in St. Albans, Vermont. The Robinsons then moved to New Westminster in 1891 at which point Ralph Robinson worked for the B.C. Electric Railway Company for several years. In 1901 the Robinson family moved into the caretaker's lodge in Queen's Park when Ralph Robinson became the Park's Superintendent. The caretaker's lodge no longer exists though there are several photos of it in the Robinson family photo albums. As Park Superintendent, Ralph Robinson was able to put his previous horticultural experience to good use as he was responsible for the design and maintenance of the gardens in Queen's Park. Under Robinson's direction the park became one of the most beautifully landscaped areas in the lower mainland: the gardens surrounding the Exhibition Buildings and the park's Third Avenue entrance displayed an especially high standard of horticultural design with clipped topiaries, intricate pathways, specimen trees, and herbaceous borders. Robinson's English background manifested itself in his approach to garden design: his preference for manicured topiaries and his use of specific plants such as yew and holly made some portions of Queen's Park highly evocative of the kind of aristocratic English country estate Robinson had been born on. Robinson's gardens were widely admired throughout his years as Park Superintendent and during the 1919 holiday season he was compelled to request police protection for the holly trees in Queen's Park because of the number of people who were clipping evergreen boughs for use as decorations in their own homes. Much of Queen's Park still reflects Robinson's planning including several trees that were planted by him. Robinson was responsible for many tree-planting ceremonies which were performed by royalty and notable figures including the Duke of Windsor, the Duke of Connaught, and several Governor-Generals of Canada. During the 1919 visit of the Duke of Windsor (who was at the time known as the Prince of Wales), Mr. Robinson gave personal instruction to the Duke regarding the proper way of handling a spade. The Robinson family photos include photos of the Duke of Windsor and Ralph Robinson planting a tree in the park. Upon his retirement Mr. Robinson and his family moved from the caretaker's lodge in Queen's Park to 698 Twentieth Street in New Westminster and the gardens at this property were extensively developed by Robinson. At the time of his death he had five grandchildren: Earl Robinson; Lieut. David Leedham; Daphne Leedham; Genevieve Reid; and Dorothy Reid. Ralph Robinson belonged to the Blue Lodge of New Westminster, the Royal City Lodge No. 3, I.O.O.F., and the Presbyterian Church. Ralph Robinson died on September 1, 1944: he was 80 years of age.
Acquisition Source The Ralph Robinson fonds were donated to the New Westminster Archives by Mr. Robinson’s granddaughter Genevieve Matheson (nee Reid).
Scope & Content Fonds contains a large number of photographs that pertain to Ralph Robinson's career as the Park Superintendent of Queen's Park in New Westminster. Many photographs document the beautiful gardens at Queen's Park which were designed and skillfully maintained by Mr. Robinson. There are also some photos of the caretaker's house in Queen's Park which is where the Robinson family lived. Some photos also show the Robinson family in New Westminster and at other locations in British Columbia including Boundary Bay, where the Robinson family had their summer home.
Accession No. IH 2001.26
Name Access Robinson, Ralph
Subject Access Parks