Virginia Huntington Robie (October 18, 1868 – April 1, 1957) was an American writer and academic. She was the editor and author of several publications, including ''

The Century Magazine ''The Century Magazine'' was an illustrated monthly magazine first published in the United States in 1881 by The Century Company of New York City, which had been bought in that year by Roswell Smith and renamed by him after the Century Associatio ...

'' and ''House & Garden''.

Life and career

Robie was born in

Rollinsford, New Hampshire Rollinsford is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,597 at the 2020 census. The main village in town was once known as "Salmon Falls Village". History The area was once within the domain of the Newichawa ...

, to Thomas Sargent Robie and Virginia Dare Pendleton. Her mother was a native of

Camden, Maine Camden is a resort town in Knox County, Maine. The population was 5,232 at the 2020 census. The population of the town more than triples during the summer months, due to tourists and summer residents. Camden is a summer colony in the Mid-Coas ...

. Her parents married in her father's hometown of

Gorham, Maine Gorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,336 at the 2020 United States Census. In addition to its urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town encompasses a number of s ...

, on September 21, 1859. Robie was the third of their four known children, born after Thomas Sargent Jr., Lewis Pendleton and before George Pendleton. She received her preparatory education at Newberry Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts, amongst several other public and private institutions. She later attended the School of Decorative Design and Applied Ornament at the

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago's Grant Park, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 mill ...

. Robie wrote ''Studies of Art in American Life–V: An American Aristocracy'' in a 1901 edition of ''Brush & Pencil''. In 1903, she became the associate editor for ''House Beautiful'', a role in which she remained for the next decade. Between 1913 and 1924, she was the department editor for ''Keith'' magazine. Her father died in Chicago on March 25, 1906; her mother in 1929, aged 91 or 92.

Writing

Robie was the author of several books, including ''Historical Styles in Furniture'' (1904 and 1916), ''By-paths in Collecting'' (1912), ''Quest of the Quaint'' (1916–1927), ''Sketches of Manatee'' (1920), ''The New Architectural Development in Florida'' (1922), ''The Story of Coral Gavels'' (1923), ''A Century of Miniature Painting'' (1939), ''Baroque: A Second Blooming'' (1941), ''Looking Backward'' (1947) and the semi-autobiographical ''Pennyroyal'' (1953). She also wrote children's plays,

fairytales A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cult ...

, book reviews, as well as contributing to '' Country Life'', ''

'', ''

International Studio ''The Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine and Applied Art'' was an illustrated fine arts and decorative arts magazine published in London from 1893 until 1964. The founder and first editor was Charles Holme. The magazine exerted a major in ...

'', '' House & Garden'', ''

Ladies' Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In 18 ...

'', the ''

World Book Encyclopedia The ''World Book Encyclopedia'' is an American encyclopedia. The encyclopedia is designed to cover major areas of knowledge uniformly, but it shows particular strength in scientific, technical, historical and medical subjects. ''World Book'' wa ...

'' and ''Légion d'honneur.''

Education

In 1928, Robie became an associate of

Rollins College Rollins College is a private college in Winter Park, Florida. It was founded in November 1885 and has about 30 undergraduate majors and several graduate programs. It is Florida's fourth oldest post-secondary institution. History Rollins Colle ...

Winter Park, Florida Winter Park is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 30,183 according to the 2022 census population estimate. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. Winter Park was fo ...

, at the request of

Hamilton Holt Hamilton Holt (August 18, 1872 – April 26, 1951) was an American educator, editor, author and politician. Biography Holt was born on August 18, 1872 in Brooklyn, New York City to George Chandler Holt and his wife Mary Louisa Bowen Holt. His fat ...

. She later became the college's interior designer (notable of Pugsley Hall and Mayflower Hall) while doubling as its assistant professor of art between 1932 and 1938. She became associate professor of art between 1938 and 1944. Upon her retirement, she was awarded the title of Professor

Emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

of Art, an honor she held for the rest of her life. She received the

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Algernon Sydney Sullivan (1826-1887) was an American lawyer noted for his role in the business law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. Biography Early life Algernon Sydney Sullivan was born in Madison, Indiana on April 5, 1826, son of Jeremiah Sulliv ...

medallion in 1935 for her work at Rollins.

Death

Robie died on April 1, 1957, aged 88. She had been living with her last surviving brother, Thomas, in

Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...

. She is interred in Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery in

Hillside, Illinois Hillside is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 8,320. Geography Hillside is located at (41.874797, −87.900372). According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Hillside has a total ar ...

, alongside her parents.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robie, Virginia Huntington 1868 births 1957 deaths Writers from New Hampshire American architecture writers American women writers 19th-century American women 20th-century American women Rollins College faculty