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Object Type

Oral History

Title

Interview: Katherine (Kitty) Robinson [DVD, MP4, MP3]

Author

Robinson, Katharine S.

Summary

Interview with Katharine (Kitty) Robinson, former President & C.E.O. of Historic Charleston Foundation, about her various roles at Historic Charleston Foundation, historic preservation in Charleston, and life in Charleston throughout the years. Interviewed in three parts:

Interview 1: October 23, 2017, Missroon House-KSR Office. Interviewed by Katherine Pemberton, videographer Leigh Moring.

Discussion about Mrs. Robinson's family and childhood in Montgomery Alabama, college, and meeting future husband Randal Robinson; moving to Charleston with a young family in the early 1970s; New Street residence and neighborhood in those years; her first involvement with Historic Charleston Foundation through volunteering with the Festival of Houses through the Junior League of Charleston; and her subsequent work as the Director of the Festival. Also discussed were colleagues and offices at the Nathaniel Russell House in the 1980s; people mentioned were Connie Wyrick, Jonathan Poston, Thomas Savage, and Frances Edmunds.

Interview 2: October 30, 2017, Missroon House-KSR Office. Interviewed by Katherine Pemberton, videographer Ericka Hoffman.

Discussion of HCF offices at 11 Fulton Street, and HCF shops and facilities at 108 Meeting Street and 105 Broad Street. Robinson left her position at the Foundation to take over the fundraising department at Porter Gaud School. She was added to the Board of Trustees of HCF in 1997. Discusses Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and the experience of the storm at her residence and the aftermath of the hurricane on the city, especially the Nathaniel Russell House, HCF's role in recovery and survey.

Interview 3: December 6, 2017, Missroon House-KSR Office. Interviewed by Katherine Pemberton, videographer Leigh Moring.

Discussion of Robinson's experience as a member of the City's Board of Architectural Review, changes to the BAR from then until present, remembering particular projects for better and worse. Also discusses returning to HCF as the Executive Director in 2000, the differences and changes over time since her prior work HCF's Festival of Houses. Discusses the challenges and successes during her tenure as Executive Director/President & C.E.O. such as Sgt. Jasper development, cruise ships, Charter Days, the Charleston Antique Show, etc. Interview ended with some discussion of Winslow Hastie as incoming President & C.E.O. and about the future of HCF moving forward.

Publication/Copyright Date

2017

Subjects

Robinson, Katharine S.--Interviews
Historic Charleston Foundation
Historic Charleston Foundation--Administration
Historic Charleston Foundation--Management
Historic Charleston Foundation--Employees
Oral histories
Historic preservation--South Carolina--Charleston--History--20th century

Notes

Consent form available on Media link.
Digital files (MP3/audio and MP4/video) on MyPassport1 (external hard drive).

Series

Historic Charleston Foundation Oral History Project

Object ID #

2017.002.025