FINDING AID FOR THE

LILLIAN ROBINSON (nee CHASE) COLLECTION

Prepared by Dawn Morin

December, 2008

VOLUME:  (1) One Linear Foot in one document box.

 

DATES:  About 1930s – 1985.

 

ACCESS:  Access to materials by appointment.

 

COPYRIGHT:  Request for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Special Collections Librarian.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

Notes on the Collection

Historical Notes

Materials Description

Box and File Listings

 

Abbreviations key:

NAPL = North Adams Public Library

OPAC = Online Public Access Catalog

 

NOTES ON THE COLLECTION:

 

Found in the archive collection of the North Adams Public Library.

 

HISTORICAL NOTES:

 

Lillian E. Robinson (nee Chase) was born March 20, 1896 in Brockton, MA and was the daughter of Edward and Ella CHASE.  She moved to North Adams with her family in 1916.  She was employed at the former Gale Shoe Co., in North Adams for many years and had been a resident of Pownal, VT since 1989.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in North Adams.  She died on April 24, 1997 and is buried in the Eastlawn Cemetery in Williamstown, MA.

 

She was first married to Clarence CHILSON in 1916.  He died in 1957.  They had two sons, Robert D. CHILSON and Howard P. CHILSON both of North Adams.  Two other sons are deceased:  Harold C. CHILSON who died in 1974 and John CHILSON who died in his youth.

 

LILLIAN ROBINSON (nee CHASE) COLLECTION

Page 20

 

Her second marriage was to George O. ROBINSON who died on November 30, 1973.  George was born in Bennington, VT on May 10, 1894.  He was assistant scoutmaster for  Boy Scout Troop 5 in North Adams.  He was also a private during World War I in Company E, 417tr Telephone Brigade, Signal Corps.  George and Lillian did not have children together.  His first wife was Bessie (nee MOORE) Robinson died October 13, 1971 and they had no children.

 

MATERIALS – GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

 

This collection contains personal items, many portraits and photographs and tax return documents.  Many of the photographs are not identified.  One folder contains research on the family that was conducted in order to help identify items in the collection.

 

ONE BOX CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING:

 

One wooden box containing Boy Scout badges and pins of George O. Robinson.  Engraving on top of box:  “Owned & Exhibited by Asst Scoutmaster, G.O. Robinson, Troop 5, No. Adams, Mass.”

 

One wooden encased knife about 6 ½” long with a color etched dragon on it.

 

One File containing research information on Lillian (CHASE) Robinson and her family.

 

One File of photographs (many unidentified) including:

 

Picture of Edward H. Chase

Pictures of George O. Robinson

Many wedding and family portraits believed to be of her sons.

Picture – “Future Sparks” of the U.S. Coast Guard Radio School, Dec. 1942 contains many autograph signatures on the back.  (Lillian’s son Robert Chilson attended the navy radio school in Atlantic City, NJ starting in August, 1942).

 

Two unidentified framed pictures.

One File of tax returns for Lillian Robinson (1975 – 1985).

 

One handwritten page of notes on the name Penniman containing obituary and real estate information.

 

Two photograph albums of family pictures (most unidentified).