Charles M. Robinson

Charles Morrison Robinson (March 3, 1867 – August 20, 1932), most commonly known as Charles M. Robinson, was an American architect. He worked in Altoona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1889 to 1906 and in Richmond, Virginia from 1906 until his death in 1932. He is most remembered as a prolific designer of educational buildings in Virginia, including public schools in Richmond and throughout Virginia, and university buildings for James Madison University, College of William and Mary, Radford University, Virginia State University, University of Mary Washington, and the University of Richmond. He was also the public school architect of the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. Many of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Early years Charles Morrison Robinson was born in Hamilton, Virginia in Loudoun County, the son of Elizabeth (née Crockett) and James Turner Robinson. His father was an architect. He moved to Canada at a young age and was educated in Canadian public schools. He apprenticed with David S. Hopkins (1834–1918), of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and John K. Peebles (1866–1934), of Richmond, Virginia. In 1889, Robinson formed the architectural firm of Smith & Robinson with G. T. Smith in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1891, Robinson married Altoona native, Annie Custer (1868–1946). They had two children, Charles Custer Robinson (1892–1963) and Miriam Robinson (1895–1911). At the time of the 1900 United States census, Robinson was living at 1910 West Chestnut Avenue in Altoona. He had two live-in servants, Bridget Sheehan and Mattie Jones, at that time. In 1901, Robinson moved his architectural practice from Altoona to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He remained in Richmond for the remainder of his professional career. At the time of the 1910 United States census, Robinson was living at 828 Park Avenue in Richmond with his wife, Annie C. Robinson, their two children, and his parents. He also had a live-in servant, Etta Scruggs, and a live-in butler, Fred W. Smith.

At the time of the 1920 United States census, Robinson was living in Richmond with his wife and his mother.

In the early 1930s, Robinson's health began failing. He was hospitalized in Norfolk, Virginia, in August 1932 and died there following an operation. In 2006, The Virginian-Pilot called him one of "Virginia's most prolific architects." Mimi Sadler, a historic architect in Richmond, noted at the time that Robinson not only "cranked out a lot of school buildings, but they were all high quality and many have become landmarks." More than 20 buildings at Virginia State College (a historically black college now known as Virginia State University), in Petersburg, Virginia, between 1918 and 1930, including Eggleston Hall (1926), Seward Hall (1926), Trinkle Hall (1928), Byrd Hall (1928), and the Agricultural Building (1930). University of Mary Washington: President's Residence (1910), Frances Willard Hall (1910), James Monroe Hall (1911), Virginia Hall (1914), Chandler Hall (1928), Seacobeck Hall (1930), and Bridge to Dining Hall (Seacobeck Hall) (1930).

Public school buildings Thomas Jefferson High School, 4100 W. Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Considered to be Robinson's "masterpiece." John B. Cary School (renamed the West End School in 1954), 2100 Idlewood Ave., Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Appomattox Agricultural High School, a NRHP-listed building constructed in 1908, now the Appomattox Middle School. A contributing building in the Appomattox Historic District, it is located roughly along High, Church, Highland, Virginia Route 131, Linden, Lee Grant, Oakleigh and Evergreen, in Appomattox, Virginia. Highland Park Public School, 1221 East Brookland Park Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia. Converted into a residential facility for senior citizens in the 1990s, and renamed Brookland Park Plaza, NRHP-listed. Anna P. Bolling Junior High School, 35 W. Fillmore St., Petersburg, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Clarendon School, 3550 Wilson Bvd., Arlington, Virginia, later converted and renamed the Arlington Arts Center, NRHP-listed. Peabody Building of the Peabody-Williams School, Jones St., Petersburg, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Orange High School, 224 Belleview Ave., Orange, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Shea Terrace Elementary School, 253 Constitution Ave., Portsmouth, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Springfield School, 608 North 28th Street, Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Nathaniel Bacon School, 815 North 35th Street, Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Kenbridge High School, 511 East Fifth Avenue, Kenbridge, Virginia, NRHP-listed as part of the Fifth Avenue Historic District (1921). Matthew Whaley School, 301 Scotland St., Williamsburg, Virginia, NRHP-listed. William Fox School 1911, c. 1920, east and west additions, Charles M. Robinson. 2300 Hanover Ave. School suffered a devastating structural fire in 2022 and it was named to Preservation Virginia's list of Most Endangered Historic Places; it is hoped that major elements of the structure will be preserved in the rebuilding process Suffolk High School in Suffolk, Virginia (converted in 2006 into the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts). Harry Hunt Junior High School. Albert Hill School in Richmond, Virginia. Bennett School, 9300 Lee Avenue, Manassas, Virginia.

Other buildings Landmark Theater, formerly known as the Mosque, 6 N. Laurel St., Richmond, Virginia. With Marcellus E. Wright Sr. Newport News Public Library, 2907 West Ave., Newport News, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Grace Hospital, 401 West Grace St., Richmond, Virginia, NRHP-listed. Commonwealth Park Hotel, formerly Hotel Rueger and later the Raleigh Hotel, 9 North 9th Street, Richmond, Virginia. NRHP-listed as part of the Main Street Banking Historic District. Grace Lutheran Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Medical Arts Building, Newport News, Virginia (1928)