Robison Family Papers

Ann Green Robison was a journalist, lecturer, educator, textile business executive, and philanthropist. Born in Russia, and brought up in Old Town, Maine, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maine in 1924 (Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa) and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1975. In 1935, she received a Masters Degree from Columbia University Teachers College, and, in 1959, a certificate in Hebrew from the Women's Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She married Adolph Robison on August 28, 1927. They had two sons: Peter, and Michael.

Mrs. Robison taught French, English, and Math in Lincoln, Maine for one year before teaching French, History, and Math in New Rochelle, New York for the next fourteen years. In 1941, she began her career as a textile business executive and became Vice-President of the Robison Textile Company.

From 1947 through 1952, Mrs. Robison served as the National Council of Jewish Women's Accredited Representative to the United Nations, and broadcast radio shows on Radio Free Europe from overseas under the auspices of the United States delegation to the United Nations.

In 1962, Mrs. Robison lectured throughout Israel, promoting NCJW projects. In 1969, the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Union of Jewish Women in South Africa invited her there to launch the Women's United Communal Fund. In 1968 and 1971, respectively, she accompanied her husband to South Korea and Liberia for conventions held by the International Association of University Presidents.

From 1965 to 1987, Mrs. Robison was a columnist for The Jewish Standard published in Jersey City. Her column, "On the Go", dealt with subjects on the Jewish and general community scene. Other writing included articles for the United Nations News for Women Broadcasters, while a representative at the United Nations; for organization journals, including the journal of the American Association of University Women; for the International Council for Jewish Women (ICJW) Newsletter; and for the American Lung Association.

In 1970, she was honored as the first woman to receive the "Man of the Year Award" in the history of the YM-YMHA of Bergen County, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Robison were made Honorary Fellows of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1974 during the National Council for Jewish Women's (NCJW) First Summit Conference in Israel. Other honors accredited to Mrs. Robison are "Woman of the Year" by the United Jewish Appeal of Tenneco, New Jersey in 1964; the Medal of Merit by Fairleigh Dickinson University; and the naming of a girls' dormitor-the Ann Robison House-on Fairleigh Dickinson's Rutherford Campus. The American Association of University Women named a fellowship for her. In 1972, both the Zionist Organization of America and the Jewish War Veterans of Tenneco honored Mr. and Mrs. Robison; the Jewish Federation of Bergen County honored the couple in 1976.

Mrs. Robison also served a number of terms on the National Council for Jewish Women's (NCJW) National Board of Directors, and as Chairwoman of many of its major committees. In addition, she served on the Board of the NCJW Research Institute of Innovation in Education.

Other organizations in which Mrs. Robison was active, and positions she held in these organizations, include: the American Lung Association of New Jersey, Vice-President; the YM-YWHA of Bergen County; the American Association of University Women; the Republican Women's Club of Bergen County; the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Secretary; the America-Israel Cultural Foundation; and the Community Museum of Bergen County. Mrs. Robison was elected Vice-President of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC) in 1975 and 1976. Mrs. Robison was the first woman officer in the history of the organization. Mr. and Mrs. Robison served as chairmen of the 25th Anniversary Committee of Bergen County's Salute to Israel. Mrs. Robison served on the American Committee for Israel's 25th Anniversary Celebration.

In 1972 and 1975, Mrs. Robison was elected Vice-President of the International Council of Jewish Women.

Mrs. Robison was a member of the Alumni Council of Teachers College, Columbia University; the Governing Council of American Association for Jewish Education; The Founder's Society of the American Friends of Hebrew University; and the Board of the Easter Seal Association of New Jersey, serving as Chairman of its Public Relations Committee. She was also Chairwoman of the International Relations Committee of the American Association of University Women.

Mrs. Robison died in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1995.

Adolf C. [Abraham Cohn] Robison (1904-1987), textile entrepreneur, philanthropist, musician, composer, playwright, Arctic traveler, and Haganah gun runner, was born in New York City on February 4, 1904 to Louis and Paula Cohn. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Columbia University (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1924 and honorary degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Kyung Hee University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He married Ann Green Robison on August 28, 1927.

As a businessman, he was President of Robison Industries Inc., President of Robison-Anton Export Corp, Chairman of the Board of Robison-Anton Textile Co., Chairman of the Board of Robison of Canada Limited, Chairman of Dyerite Inc., and President of Palm Beach Properties. Robison Anton Textiles supplied the majority of insignia worn by the armed forces during World War II and supplied the yarn from which the official arm patches of the astronauts who participated in the first moon landing were woven.

Robison was an officer in the Haganah underground army during the Israeli war of independence; he operated out of New York hotel, smuggling arms into Israel. From 1948-1951, he served as Chairman of the Board for Material for Israel, an organization that supplied the Haganah with supplies for the war. He was decorated by the Israeli government. Robison was a founding member of the State of Israel Bonds Committee.

Robison had a long association with Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Fellows. The university named its science and engineering building for him in 1964. In 1966, it awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law degree. He also served as Vice-President of Friends of Department of Hebraic Studies at Rutgers University. As a Representative for Fairleigh Dickinson University, he attended overseas conventions held by the International Association of University Presidents in Seoul, Korea and Monrovia, Liberia. At the Liberian conference, his piece, "The Tubman March," was performed at a memorial service for the Liberian President William V.S. Tubman.

Memberships included the American-Israel Cultural Foundation; Israel Bonds, of which he was a Founder; Histadrut; Jewish National Fund; Teaneck Jewish Community Center; Friends of Kyung Hee University; Board of Governors, Hackensack New Jersey Hospital; Teaneck City Council; and the Teaneck Community Chest. He also served as Director of the Bergen County, New Jersey YMHA.

Robison had a life-long passion for music. He composed works for symphonic band, voice, and piano, solo piano, and chamber groups. In addition to the Tubman March, he composed the National March of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; the Fairleigh Dickinson University Marching Song, and a song in a British movie. Also a performing musician, Robison held the first bassoonist chair in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra for 25 years, and was a regular member of the Friends of Chamber Music; he also wrote plays and poetry.

During his later years, Robison continued traveling; in 1982, he took part in a month long expedition to Antarctica.

Robison died in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1987.

November 19, 1904

Born, Russia.

1924

Bachelor of Arts, University of Maine.

1924-1925

French, English, and Math Teacher, Mattanawcook Academy, Lincoln, Maine.

1925-1939

French, History and Math Teacher, New Rochelle, New York.

August 28, 1927

Married Adolf Robison.

1935

Master of Arts, Columbia University Teachers College.

1941-1959

Vice-President, Robison Textile Company.

1947-1952

Accredited Observer to the United Nations for the National Council of Jewish Women.

1950-1952

Accredited Observer to the United Nations for the American Association of University Women.

1952

President, PAMA Properties.

1956

Vice-President, Robison Foundation.

1957

Director, Robison of Canada.

1959

Treasurer-Secretary, Robison Anton Textiles.

1959

Certificate in Hebrew, Women's Institute Jewish Theological Seminary in America.

1962

Lectured in Israel to University Women of Israel among other groups, promoting NCJW projects in Israel.

1964

Woman of the Year United Jewish Appeal, Teaneck, New Jersey.

1964

Medal of Merit, Fairleigh Dickinson University.

February 22, 1964

Ann Robison House, a dormitory, is dedicated on Rutherford Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

May 23, 1964

Robison Hall of Science and Engineering is dedicated on Teaneck Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

1965

Begins weekly column, "On the Go," The Jewish Standard.

1966

Vice President, Robison Industries.

1968

Delegate, International Association of University Presidents Convention in Seoul, Korea.

Spent three days as guests of the King and Queen of Sikkim.

1968

Ann Robison Fellowship named by the American Association of University Women.

1969

Co-editor of Daily Bulletin published at Convention of the International Council of Jewish Women.

1969

Speaker in South Africa, launching the biennial campaign of the Women's United Communal Fund, at the invitation of the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Union of Jewish Women of South Africa.

1970

Man of the Year Award, YM-YWHA Bergen County, New Jersey.

1972

"Couple of the Year" Award, Schweiger-Dobrow Jewish War Veterans Post 498, Teaneck, New Jersey (With husband).

1974

Honorary Fellow, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

1975

United Nations World Conference on International Women's Year, Mexico.

1975

United Nations Conference on European Security and Cooperation.

1975

Helsinki Doctor of Human Letters, University of Maine.

1976

Maimonides Award, Jewish Federation of Community Services (with husband).

1985

Award for Volunteership and Philanthropy, Fairleigh Dickinson University (with husband).

1995

Died, Teaneck, New Jersey.

Board and Committee memberships:

American Association for Jewish Education, Governing Council, Commission on Statistical Research Information; American Association of University Women, Acting Representative at United Nations; Board and National Committee on International Relations and National Speakers' Bureau; American Friends of Hebrew University, Member, Founders' Society; America Israel Cultural Foundation, Various committees; American Histadrut Cultural Exchange Institute, Board; American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, National Executive Committee, Washington Conference and Nominating Committee; American Lung Association of New Jersey, Nominating Committee, Executive Committee; Israel Advisory Committee to the President; Bergen County Symphony Society, Women's Guild; Bergen-Passaic Lung Association, Board and Executive Committee, Representative on State Board, Member of various committees; Brandeis University Women's Association, Life member; Columbia University, Teachers College, Alumni Council; Community Museum of Bergen County, Board; Dames of the Royal Legion of the United States of America, Member, member of 75th anniversary committee, speaker; Easter Seal Association, State Board, House of Delegates and Development Committee; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Advisory committee, Center for Social Work and Applied Social Research; Hadassah, Life member, National Speakers' Bureau; International Council of Jewish Women, Editor, ICJW Magazine, Member, Administrative Committee; International Program Association, Member; Jewish Federation of Community Services, Board, Committees; League of Women Voters, Member; National Council of Jewish Women, Representative at United Nations, National Board Emeritus; NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Board, various committees and task forces, National Representative for Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council; National Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry; National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, Program and plenary session committees; Republican Women's Club of Bergen County, Board, Advisory Committee; Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Board and Advisory Committees, Department of Hebraic Studies; State of Israel Bonds, Board of Women's Division, National and Teaneck; Teaneck College Club, Board; Tuberculosis-Respiratory Disease Association of Bergen and Passaic Counties, Board, Executive Committee, Representative on State Board; United Jewish Appeal, Officer of Women's Division of Teaneck, National Speaker; United Nations Association, Member; University of Maine, Development Council; Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Association of Bergen County, Board and various committees.

Offices:

American Association of University Women, Vice-President, Northern Valley Branch, Chair, various committees; American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Secretary; American Lung Association of New Jersey, Vice-President, Chair, Program Committee, Public Relations Committee; Bergen-Passaic Lung Association, Chair of Program Committee, By-laws Committee; Easter Seal Association, Co-Chair, 1979 Telethon, Auxiliary Committee; Hadassah, Chair, Education in Teaneck; International Council of Jewish Women, Vice-President, Chair, International Resolutions Committee; Israel Co-Chair with Mr. Robison, 25th Anniversary Committee of Bergen County; Jewish Federation of Community Services, Chair, First Bergen County Campaign, Vice-President; National Conference on Soviet Jewry, Chair, Nominating Committee; National Council of Jewish Women, Chair; National International Affairs Committee, Co-Chair, Second Summit Conference in Israel 1974, Chair, Priority Task Force on Israel; National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, Vice-President, Secretary, Chair of Agenda Committee for Plenary meeting, Co-Chair, Membership Committee; Republican Women's Club of Bergen County, Chair of International Affairs; Teaneck College Club, Chair, Program, Book Fair; Tuberculosis-Respiratory Disease Association Of Bergen and Passaic Counties, Chair, Program; United Jewish Appeal, Chair, Women's Division, Teaneck; Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Association of Bergen County, Co-Chair, Adult Center for Jewish and Related Studies.

Awards:

February 4, 1904

Born, New York City.

1924

Bachelor of Arts, Columbia University.

1924

Member, Phi Beta Kappa.

August 28, 1927

Married Ann Green Robison.

1941

President, Robison Industries, Inc.

1941-1966

First Bassoon, Teaneck Symphony, later known as Bergen Philharmonic.

1944

Board of Trustees, Teaneck Jewish Community Center, Past President.

1947-1949

Chairman of the Board, Materials for Israel, Haganah.

1948

New York State Executive Committee, Histadrut.

1950

Director, Israel Economic Corporation.

1955

Chairman of the Board, Robison of Canada Limited.

1955

Member, Teaneck City Council.

1963

Vice-President, Friends of the Department of Hebraic Studies, Rutgers University.

1964

Chairman of the Board, Dyerite Inc.

May 23, 1964

Robison Hall of Science and Engineering is dedicated on Teaneck Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

1966

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Fairleigh Dickinson University.

1966

Chairman, Board of Fellows, Fairleigh Dickinson University.

1967

Executive Committee, Friends of Kyung Hee University.

1968

Board of Governors, Hackensack New Jersey Hospital.

1968

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Kyung Hee University.

1971

Brotherhood Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Bergen County Chapter.

1972

"Couple of the Year" award, Schweiger - Dobrow Jewish War Veterans Post 498, Teaneck, New Jersey (with wife)

1974

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

1976

Maimonides Award, Jewish Federation of Community Services (with wife).

1977

Musical Compositions deposited in Songwriters Hall of Fame, New York City.

1985

Award for Volunteership and Philanthropy, Fairleigh Dickinson University (with wife).

August 9, 1987

Died, Teaneck, New Jersey.

Board and Committee memberships:

Bergen County Chamber of Commerce, Board; Bergen Stage Repertory Theater, Board; Columbia University, Presidents Council, Advisory Committee on Jewish Studies; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Board of Overseers; Hackensack Hospital, Executive Committee, Board of Governors; International Association of University Presidents, Member; Jewish National Fund, National Board; National Conference of Christians and Jews, Bergen County, Board; New York Cultural Center, Board of Governors; National Foundation for Jewish Culture, Executive Committee; P.E.C. Israel Economic Corporation, Board; Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Department of Hebraic Studies; State of Israel Bonds, National Board of Governors; Teaneck City Council, Councilman; Township Council, Teaneck, New Jersey, Member; United Jewish Community of Bergen County, Allocations Committee; University of Bridgeport, Council of International Fellows; Yeshiva University, Graduate Schools, Board of Governors.

Offices:

merica-Israel Cultural Foundation, Vice-President; American Friends of Ben Gurion University, Director; Bergen County Friends of Music, Director; Bergen County Symphony Society, President; Bergen Philharmonic, Director; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Chair, Board of Fellows, President, Town and Gown Society; Friends of New Jersey Network (Public Television), Treasurer; Histadrut, Director, New Jersey, State Board; Israel Speaks (publication), President; Jerusalem Foundation, Director, Material for Israel, Chair; Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Treasurer, New York Commandery of the United States; New York Cultural Center, Director; State of Israel Bonds, Founder; Sutton Ensemble, Director; Teaneck Community Chest, President; Teaneck Jewish Community Center, President; United Jersey Bank of New Jersey, Director; William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts, Director.

Honors: