Robbins, Matilda

Ben Legere Papers

aergas — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 09:00:42 -0400

Union activist Benjamin (Ben) Legere (1887-1972) worked in the theater as an actor, playwright, and director. He participated in both the American and Canadian labor movements as a member of the General Executive Board of the Canadian One Big Union and an organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Legere’s papers reflect his activities in the American and Canadian labor movements, California politics and the theater.

Exhibit Announcement: "Immigrant Girl, Radical Woman"

drice — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 22:09:41 -0400

The Walter P. Reuther Library is proud to announce a new installation by artist Robbin Henderson. Based on archival documents and photographs from her research at the Reuther Library and other archives, Henderson’s original scratchboard drawings tell the life story of her grandmother – Socialist, IWW organizer, writer, and activist Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins (1887-1963). read more »

Exhibit Announcement: Women of the I.W.W.

eclemens — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 12:24:14 -0400

The Reuther Library is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit in our Leonard Woodcock Gallery: Women of the Industrial Workers of the World. The exhibit celebrates the militant revolutionaries, “rebel girls,” read more »

Love Letters

drice — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 23:32:36 -0500

Whether you celebrate the 14th of February or not, the day provides a good opportunity to take a closer look at some of the intimate stories contained within the Reuther's collections. While our purpose for collecting personal papers lies in their connections to organizations or social movements that help our understanding of the history of labor, metropolitan Detroit, or Wayne State University, it is often impossible to separate the private person from his/her public accomplishments. There is perhaps no better example of this than the Matilda Robbins Papers and the story of a deep love contained within. read more »

(5210) Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins, Group Photo, 1910s

eclemens — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:19:04 -0400

Group shot of women standing in front of a building, location and occasion unknown. I.W.W. organizer Matilda Robbins can be seen in the 4th row, 2nd from the left.

Note: The photo has been identified by a family member as having been taken in Bridgeport, CT in front of one of the two corset factories that Matilda worked in--likely Batchellor Brothers or Warner's.

(5212) Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins, Group Photos, 1910s

eclemens — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:19:04 -0400

Group shot of I.W.W. members, location and occasion unknown. Matilda Robbins can be seen standing at center.

(5213) Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins, Arrest, 1910s

eclemens — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:19:05 -0400

Candid view of I.W.W. organizer Matilda Robbins, likely taken after her arrest in Detroit, Michigan.

Caption on the back of the photograph reads: "Rabinowitz on the way to the workhouse - Patrol Kindley (illeg.) by police department.

(5214) Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins, Portrait, Little Falls, New York, 1913

eclemens — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:19:05 -0400

Snapshot of I.W.W. organizer Matilda Robbins, writing at her desk. Photograph was taken in Little Falls, New York.

(33282) Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins, Family, Snapshot, 1910s

eclemens — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:50:46 -0400

Snapshot of Matilda Robbins with her brother, Herman.

Courtesy of the Matilda Robbins Papers

(33283) Matilda (Rabinowitz) Robbins, Portrait, 1910s

eclemens — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:52:44 -0400

Studio portrait of Matilda Robbins, posing with a book.

Courtesy of the Matilda Robbins Papers

(37644) Vita and Matilda Robbins

drice — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:22:13 -0500

Taken by Fred Moore in 1925, coming across country from New York to California.

(37645) Matilda and Vita on the beach, [Massachusetts], probably 1921.

drice — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:23:43 -0500

(37646) Los Angeles, California, Matilda and Vita

drice — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:25:57 -0500

(37647) Vita and Matilda, Big Tujunga.

drice — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:44:53 -0500

(37648) Matilda and Vita, August 1944

drice — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:27:15 -0500

Mother is wearing her Russian blouse. I am pregnant.

[Podcast] Immigrant Girl, Radical Woman: A Memoir of Wobbly Organizer Matilda Rabinowitz Robbins

teller — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:42:39 -0400

In a two-episode series, artist Robbin Légère Henderson discusses her exhibition of original scratchboard drawings featured in the illustrated and annotated autobiography of Henderson's grandmother, Matilda Rabinowitz Robbins, a Socialist, IWW organizer, feminist, writer, mother, and social worker. read more »