A Few Minutes with John and Harriet Robb
John & Harriet Robb
A Brief Biography
Written by Marilyn Fletcher, Professor Emerita UNM Libraries and published 2019, in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust. The booklet contains interviews, correspondence, diaries, and other papers in the UNM CSWR John Donald Robb Papers, Manuscript collection.
Forward
In the forward to the booklet, Marilyn writes: "Having served as a longtime member of the John Donald Robb Musical Trust at the University of New Mexico and also as Head of Special Collections at the CSWR, I began to delve into the boxes and in the Robb Archive. Dean Robb’s papers include correspondence, lectures, scores of his compositions, interviews, photographs, recordings, and many more documents. The more that I read and listened, the more I became impressed with this enchanting man and his lovely wife and life partner, Harriet. I began interviewing family and friends. As I researched the Archives, I decided to read brief excerpts from his papers at the monthly John Donald Robb Musical Trust meeting held at UNM. The excerpts became part of a regular agenda item: ”The Robb Minute.” Trust members and guests were entertained and inspired by the readings, giving everyone a “first person” feeling for these two wonderful people and thoughts from family and friends. Many of the minutes are taken from the Dean and Harriet’s travel notes made during their trip around the world in 1957-1958. Here are a few “minutes” that reflect Dean Robb’s life, his love of music, his love of family, his humor, his inspirations, his philosophy, even a bit of his politics. Excerpts from their unpublished diary It’s Not So Far, a daily journal of their travels around the world. The excerpts in this travel diary were written by both the Dean and Harriet and give the reader a good sense of the Dean’s wife and constant companion throughout their married life together."
Read the Booklet
Written by Marilyn Fletcher, Professor Emerita UNM Libraries and published 2019, in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust. The booklet contains interviews, correspondence, diaries, and other papers in the UNM CSWR John Donald Robb Papers, Manuscript collection.
Forward
In the forward to the booklet, Marilyn writes: "Having served as a longtime member of the John Donald Robb Musical Trust at the University of New Mexico and also as Head of Special Collections at the CSWR, I began to delve into the boxes and in the Robb Archive. Dean Robb’s papers include correspondence, lectures, scores of his compositions, interviews, photographs, recordings, and many more documents. The more that I read and listened, the more I became impressed with this enchanting man and his lovely wife and life partner, Harriet. I began interviewing family and friends. As I researched the Archives, I decided to read brief excerpts from his papers at the monthly John Donald Robb Musical Trust meeting held at UNM. The excerpts became part of a regular agenda item: ”The Robb Minute.” Trust members and guests were entertained and inspired by the readings, giving everyone a “first person” feeling for these two wonderful people and thoughts from family and friends. Many of the minutes are taken from the Dean and Harriet’s travel notes made during their trip around the world in 1957-1958. Here are a few “minutes” that reflect Dean Robb’s life, his love of music, his love of family, his humor, his inspirations, his philosophy, even a bit of his politics. Excerpts from their unpublished diary It’s Not So Far, a daily journal of their travels around the world. The excerpts in this travel diary were written by both the Dean and Harriet and give the reader a good sense of the Dean’s wife and constant companion throughout their married life together."
Read the Booklet