Guide to the Francis Robb Photo Collection
Record Group 133
Extent: 1 image
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Francis Robb is as a social, cultural, and art historian, and has served as a
consultant for libraries and museums, an exhibition curator and an author. Also,
she is the author of Shot in Alabama: A History of Photography in a Deep South State, 1839-1941 which will be published by the University of Alabama Press in 2013.
Dr. Robb received a B.A. in English Literature from Birmingham-Southern College, a
M.A. in English Literature, from the University of North Carolina, a M.A. in Art History
from Yale University and her PhD in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin.
he has taught at University of Texas at Arlington, 1970-72 as an instructor in art
history; Texas Christian University, 1970-1985 as a special appointment in art history
and coordinator of two-year Honors Humanities course; North Texas State University
(now UNT), 1972-1984, special appointment in art history; and University of the South,
Sewanee, Tennessee, visiting appointment in art history.
She has served as a speaker for many occasions, including events for the Alabama Historical
Association, the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the Association of Alabama
Historians, the Southern Quilt Conference, Huntsville, and the Birmingham Public Library.
(source: http://www.florenceal.org/Community_Arts/Event_Calendar/francesrobb2012.pdf)
Scope / Content: Contains one cabinet card, titled "Barefoot Boy," used in Ms. Robb's book Shot in Alabama: A History of Photography in a Deep South State, 1839-1941.
Provenance: Dr. Robb purchased the photograph ca. 1997 from Sister's Antique Emporium, Millbrook,
AL. Robb believes Sister's acquired the cabinet card at an estate sale in the Montgomery
area. She donated the photograph to the Wiregrass Archives in 2012. The Wiregrass
Archives temporarily acquired Mrs. Robb's workshop teaching materials but replevined
those to the Univeristy of Alabama at Huntsville Archives upon her death.
Contact Us
Wiregrass Archives
Troy University Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu