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America W. Robinson (January 1855 – 23 April 1912) was an African-American educator. Robinson was in the first graduating class of Fisk University and a contralto with the Fisk Jubilee Singers. She was the first woman to graduate from Fisk University.
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Life and times
Robinson was born in January 1855 near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her parents were slaves. Her father was a carpenter and when the Civil War started, the slave’s owner opened a ammunition factory that produced guns for the Army of the South. As a carpenter, Robinson’s father worked in the weapons factory and turned out stocks for muskets.
The Battle of Stones River, 31 December 1862 – 2 January 1863 took place at Murfreesboro and Robinson was left with memories of soldiers from both Union and Confederate armies in a makeshift hospital established in her family’s house. Her father took the chance to hide the family in a Union Army wagon and they all escaped to Nashville.
In 1912 when Robinson died her address was listed as 502 West Pearl Street in Jackson, Mississippi.
Education and training
In 1866, Robinson enrolled on opening day in the Fisk Colored School at Nashville, Tennessee. Her teaching career began at the age of thirteen. She earned money for tuition and living expenses by teaching during the summer breaks each year. In 1870, the US Census recorded the Robinson family lived at Davidson County, Tennessee. Her father was Patrick Robinson, age 40, born in Virginia, occupation listed as carpenter, race listed as mulatto. Her mother was Elizabeth Robinson, age 34, born in Tennessee, race listed as mulatto. One brother was listed, Martin Robinson, age 11, born in Tennessee.
In 1875, Fisk University graduated James Dallas Burrus, John Houston Burrus, America W. Robinson, and Virginia Eliza Walker as the first class of Fisk University. These classmates were the first blacks to earn a bachelor's degree from a liberal arts college located south of the Mason–Dixon line In the late 1870s, Robinson and James Dallas Burrus were engaged, and James borrowed money from Robinson to attend graduate school at Dartmouth. However, they broke off the engagement by 1878. In 1890, Robinson earned a master of arts degree from Fisk.
Robinson married Edward Lucas, a schoolteacher, and the couple moved to Noxubee County, Mississippi. She opened a teacher’s school and dedicated her life to the education of black children.
Fisk Jubilee Singers
Robinson became a member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and was the only Jubilee singer to graduate from Fisk University. Although she was unable to attend her graduation ceremony. For the third tour from January 1875 until July 1878 she was a lead contralto with the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The group photograph of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, circa 1870s. In the photograph from left to right are the members: Jennie Jackson – soprano, Maggie L. Porter – soprano, Edmund W. Watkins – bass, Mabel R. Lewis – contralto, Ella Sheppard – pianist, Maggie Carnes – soprano, Hinton D. Alexander – tenor, Frederick J. Loudin – bass, and America W. Robinson – contralto. During her time with the singers, she asked for and won better pay and working conditions.
Robinson continued to tour with the Fisk Jubilee Singers until 1878. After touring Europe for 3 years, she stayed in Europe and studied French and German before returning to the United States to make a life as a teacher. She earned a master's degree in 1890 and became principal of the Macon Public School in Macon, Mississippi.