Inventory of the Burr L. Robbins Papers, 1936-1975 and undated
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Creator
Robbins, Burr
L.
Title
Burr L. Robbins Papers,
1936-1975 and
undated
Language of Material
Material
in English
Extent
2.1 Linear Feet
1650 Items
Abstract
1650 Items
Burr Lamberton Robbins
was president of the General Outdoor Advertising Company (GOA).
The Burr L. Robbins Papers span the years
1936-1975, and chiefly consist of three scrapbooks containing photographs,
clippings, periodicals, memorabilia, and promotional materials. The majority of
clippings are from advertising industry publications and Chicago newspapers.
The loose materials section also includes administrative records. The
collection primarily documents Robbins' career in outdoor advertising with the
General Outdoor Advertising Company (GOA), and his involvement with
professional advertising organizations, particularly the Outdoor Advertising
Association of America (OAAA). Professional and outdoor advertising themes in
the scrapbooks include Robbins' career advancement; his public speaking
engagements on the role of advertising agencies in America; professional
meetings and conferences; the history of GOA; outdoor advertising history;
tension between citizens' groups and outdoor advertisers over billboard zoning;
and legal decisions. The scrapbooks also touch on topics of personal interest
to Robbins, including news about the Delevan Lake Improvement Association;
Robbinswood Farm sheep; and family events. Photographs in the scrapbooks are
primarily of professional meetings or conferences, or publicity events. Loose
materials include items that were once part of the scrapbooks, and separate
items. This section includes a notebook of 1942 photographs and papers about
the 13th National Contest and Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising Art. Photographs
of the three prizewinning posters, created by John DeLooy, Andrew Loomis, and
Albert Staehle, are included in this notebook. Also in this section is a
spiral-bound GOA publication,
"Image with Words,"
that documents a
1963 Chevrolet electric outdoor advertising campaign.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, collection may contain materials to which the
Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies.
Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in
Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour
delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare
Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred
to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the
Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Burr L. Robbins Papers, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Burr L. Robbins Papers were received by the Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1999.
Processing Information
Processed by Rita Johnston, November 2007
Encoded by Rita Johnston, November 2007
Accession 1999-0443 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our
local
Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical and Historical Note
Burr L. Robbins| 1902 | Born Chicago, Ill. |
| 1925 | Graduated from the University of Chicago |
| 1925 | Married Margaret Ross |
| 1925 | Employed as billposter, GOA |
| 1930 | Founded the annual National Contest and Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising Art |
| 1931 | Promoted to Chicago manager, GOA |
| 1934 | Appointed Vice-President of the Chicago District, GOA |
| 1936 | Appointed Regional Manager of the Chicago District, GOA |
| 1941-1950 | Chairman of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) Outdoor Advertising Foundation at Notre Dame |
| 1946 | Elected Executive Vice President, GOA |
| 1951 | Elected President, GOA |
| 1960 | Awarded the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award for Navy recruitment effors through outdoor advertising |
| 1980 | Died, Chicago, Ill. |
| 1925 | Burnett W. (B.W.) Robbins, father of Burr Robbins, founded GOA |
| 1925-1951 | Tenure of B.W. Robbins as President |
| 1931 | Outdoor Advertising, Inc. (OAI) spun off from GOA to manage selling and operating |
| 1951-circa 1960s | Tenure of Burr L. Robbins as President |
| 1952 | B.W. Robbins died |
| 1957 | GOA purchased Canadian firm Claude Neon General Advertising, Limited |
| 1963 | Outdoor advertising company Gamble-Skogmo, Inc. acquired control of GOA |
| 1963-1964 | GOA sold branches and ceased activity as an operating company |
Burr L. Robbins was a third-generation outdoor advertising executive whose father, Burnett W. (B.W.) Robbins, founded GOA. Robbins's grandfather, Burr Robbins, founded the American Billposting Company around 1890 to promote his popular circus, the Burr Robbins Circus.
In addition to the business interests listed above, Robbins served as an executive and director of a number of firms and organizations: the Lexington Poster Advertising Company; the Executive Committee of Outdoor Advertising Incorporated (OAI); Majestic Radio and Television Corporation; Walker and Company of Detroit; Old Colony Advertising Company; Mercantile National Bank of Chicago; and the Pittsburgh Outdoor Advertising Company.
Robbins took on an active role in varied professional, social, and charitable organizations. In addition to the organizational interests listed above, Robbins served with the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA); the Council on Medical and Biological Research at the University of Chicago; the Chicago Crime Commission; the Better Business Bureau of Chicago; the Traffic Audit Bureau; the Advertising Council; the Advertising Federation of America; the Chicago Federated Advertising Club; the Delavan Lake Improvement Association; the German Shepherd Dog Club of America; and the American Shropshire Registry Association.
Robbins enjoyed operating his family farm, Robbinswood Farm, in Delevan, Wisconsin. He consistently won awards for his Shropshire sheep, and also raised Hereford and Berkshire sheep.
[top]Collection Overview
The Burr L. Robbins Papers span the years
1936-1975, and chiefly consist of three
scrapbooks containing
photographs,
clippings,
periodicals,
memorabilia, and
promotional materials. The majority of clippings
are from advertising industry publications and
Chicago newspapers. The loose materials section
also includes
administrative records. The collection primarily
documents Robbins' career in outdoor advertising with the
General Outdoor Advertising Company (GOA), and his
involvement with professional advertising organizations, particularly the
Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA).
Professional and
outdoor advertising themes in the scrapbooks include
Robbins' career advancement; his public speaking engagements on the role of
advertising agencies in America; professional
meetings and conferences; the history of
GOA; outdoor
advertising history; tension between citizens'
groups and outdoor advertisers over billboard zoning; and legal decisions. The
scrapbooks also touch on topics of personal interest to Robbins, including news
about the
Delevan Lake Improvement Association;
Robbinswood Farm sheep; and family events.
Photographs in the scrapbooks are primarily of professional meetings or
conferences;
advertising executives; or publicity events. Loose
materials include items that were once part of the scrapbooks, and separate
items. This section includes a notebook of 1942 photographs and papers about
the 13th
National Contest and Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising
Art. Photographs of the three prizewinning posters, created by John
DeLooy, Andrew Loomis, and Albert Staehle, are included in this notebook. Also
in this section is a spiral-bound GOA publication,
"Image with Words,"
that documents a
1963 Chevrolet electric outdoor advertising campaign.
[top]
Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a
search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will
bring up other related research materials.
- Robbins, Burr L. (Burr Lamberton), 1902-1980.
- Loomis, Andrew, b. 1892.
- Staehle, Albert, 1899-
- General Outdoor Advertising Co.
- General Outdoor Advertising Co.--History.
- Outdoor Advertising Association of America.
- Advertising agencies--United States.
- Advertising agencies--Illinois.
- Advertising executives--History--20th century.
- Advertising executives--United States.
- Advertising, Outdoor.
- Advertising, Outdoor--History.
- Advertising, Outdoor--United States.
- Advertising, Outdoor--United States--History--20th century.
- Advertising, Outdoor--Law and legislation.
- Advertising, Outdoor--Congresses.
- Advertising campaigns.
- Administrative records. [AAT]
- Clippings. [AAT]
- Memorabilia. [AAT]
- Photographs. [AAT]
- Promotional materials. [AAT]
- Scrapbooks. [AAT]
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Related Material
Materials related to this collection may be found in other Hartman
Center collections, including the Outdoor Advertising
Association of America (OAAA) Archives, OAAA Poster
Design Collection, and the OAAA Slide
Library. Materials related to the commerical artist Albert Staehle may
be found in the Garrett Orr Papers.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Scrapbooks and Loose Materials, 1936-1975 and undated | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Scrapbooks and Loose Materials, 1936-1975 and undated
(4 Boxes)
Consists of scrapbooks and loose materials. Scrapbooks contain
photographs, magazine and newspaper clippings, periodicals, memorabilia, and
promotional materials. The scrapbooks chiefly document Robbins' professional
life and the history of the General Outdoor Advertising Company (GOA), but also
include items relating to Robbins' personal life. Loose materials include
scrapbook items that had been removed or had fallen out, and other materials.
Includes a notebook of 1942 photographs and papers about the 13th National
Contest and Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising Art. Also contained in this section
is a spiral-bound GOA publication, "Image with Words," that was created to
document a 1963 Chevrolet electric outdoor advertising campaign. Scrapbooks are
arranged in original page order. No order could be determined for loose
materials.
Note: This series contains pictorial materials, newsprint, and
other fragile materials. Please handle with care. Technical Services staff may
need to reformat newsprint or other brittle paper.
Box 1
Scrapbook 1,
1946-1961 and
undated
(6 folders)
Box 2
Scrapbook 2,
1936-1958 and
undated
(6 folders)
Box 3
Scrapbook 3,
1960-1963 and
undated
(9 folders)
Box 4
Loose materials,
1942-1975 and
undated
(2 folders)
