James William Robb Collection, 1912-1946
Title
James William Robb Collection, 1912-1946
Description
Documents the life of James William Robb, born 1912 to Rose Robb (née Tucker) and James Robb Sr. James W. Robb is best known for his heroic service in the U.S. Navy during the WWII era. He was a graduate of Wagner College. Robb was killed in a military training accident on the island of Culebra in April 1946.
Date
1912/1946
Subject
Military pilots
Coverage
Staten Island, Richmond County, New York
Hawaii, United States
Culebra, Puerto Rico, United States
Source
Private collection of Ellen Robb, Harvey Cedars, NJ. Additional materials from the private collection of James and Susan Robb, San Antonio, Texas. Some materials retrieved from publicly accessible research sites on the web.
Rights
Copyright varies; SEE individual document records
Format
black-and-white photographs; postcards; scrapbooks; photo albums; census records; newspaper clippings; newspaper articles; telegrams; correspondence
Language
eng
Type
Image; Text
Collection Items
James W. Robb with mother Rose and father, James Sr., 1944
James William Robb with mother Rose Robb (née Tucker) and father James Robb Sr., 1944. Names: Robb, Rose Elizabeth (née Tucker), 1881-1957; Robb, James William, 1912-1946; Robb, James, 1879-1947.
James William Robb, Navy portrait, circa 1937-1942
James William Robb. Undated photograph; estimated at circa 1937-1942. Names: Robb, James William, 1912-1946.
James William Robb, U.S. Naval portrait, circa 1937-1942
James William Robb. Undated photograph; estimated at circa 1937-1942. Names: Robb, James William, 1912-1946
James William Robb in naval pilot's uniform, circa 1937-1942
James William Robb. Undated photo; estimated at circa 1937-1942. Image caption: "Skipper Jim". Names: Robb, James William, 1912-1946.
James William Robb beside plane, U.S. Navy, circa 1937-1942
James William Robb standing beside fighter plane, presumably taken in Pensacola, FL or Hawaii. Undated photo; estimated at circa 1937-1942. Names: Robb, James William, 1912-1946.
Letter from Mary Pickford to James W. Robb, April 3, 1945.
Letter from Mary Pickford to James W. Robb, dated April 3, 1945. Transcript: "Dear Jimmy: You have been much in our thoughts and conversations. The other night saw Billy McDonald who said he had recently received a letter from you and that you had…
Postcard from James W. Robb to younger brother and sister-in-law, April 1946
Postcard written by James W. Robb to Henry and Christine Robb, postmarked April 1, 1946, shortly before he was killed in an accident on Culebra, Puerto Rico. It is very likely that this postcard was received after the April 4 telegram to his parents…
Telegram regarding the accidental death of James William Robb, April 4, 1946
A Western Union telegram to James and Rose Robb regarding the death of their oldest child, James W. Robb. The document header reads: "CCY92 133/132 GOVT PRIORITY=WUX NEWYORK NY APR 4 1150P PRIORITY JAMES ROBB SR= 167 HARRISON PLACE STATEN ISLAND NY:"…
Bereavement letter from Production Dept. to family of James W. Robb, 1946
Bereavement letter/card/document for the family of James W. Robb. Signed by the members of "The Production Department". This was presumably a Navy theater production group (all names are male), although it could be related to Wagner College. The…
James W. Robb circa 1937-1942
Studio portrait photograph of James W. Robb in white U.S. Navy officer's uniform. The photo studio's signature is illegible. Undated photo; estimated at circa 1937-1942
James W. Robb receives the Navy Cross, 1942
Written on back: "Navy Cross - Jim Robb. Given by James Forrestal, Sect Defense for Navy, 1942." Robb received the Navy Cross for his heroic acts during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Note: the man pinning the medal to Robb's lapel does not…
Cmdr. James W. Robb, newspaper clipping about accidental death, April 9, 1946
Newspaper clipping. Staten Island Advance, Tuesday, April 9, 1946. Brief article about the accidental death of Cmdr. James W. Robb. Transcript: "Cmdr. James W. Robb. Death came suddenly, unexpectedly from the skies for "Jimmy" Robb, one of Staten…
Naval hero is killed in Caribbean, accidental bombing causes death of Cmdr. Robb
Newspaper clipping. Article likely from Staten Island Advance. Undated clipping; almost certainly April 1946. Describes the circumstances of the death of James W. Robb, as well as his military service. Transcript: "Nine Navy men, including…
Nine Navy men killed by practice bomb from U.S. carrier
AP article about the accident that killed James William Robb on April 4, 1946. Transcript: "A bomb accidentally dropped on a group of observers in aircraft carrier training exercises in the Puerto Rican area killed nine men and wounded another. The…
Doris Duke Cromwell's beau is plain Lt. (j.g.) James W. Robb
A "Society Today" gossip column from the New York World-Telegram describing James William Robb's relationship with heiress Doris Duke Cromwell, and rumors of their possible marriage.Transcript: "Current beau of Doris Duke Cromwell is Lieut. (j.g.)…
Elizabeth McManus presents the Robb Memorial Trophy to Wagner College athlete, Chet Selitto, 1949
Clipping from the December 1949 issue of the Wagnerian. "Mrs. Elizabeth McManus, sister of the late Jimmy Robb, presents the Robb Memorial Trophy to Chet Selitto, most valuable player in the Homecoming game." Names: McManus, Elizabeth "Bess" Marie…