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Historical society seeks help finding artwork By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings To amass one of the largest Regina Dorland Robinson exhibits ever assembled, Southern Oregon Historical Society is seeking the help of private collectors. Dorland Robinson, as she typically went by, was considered one of the most talented artists of her era before she took her own life in 1916 at the age of 25. While her life was short-lived, an estimated 100 charcoals, watercolors, pastels and oil paintings remain - many in the hands of local residents and private collectors scattered throughout Oregon. Southern Oregon Historical Society Curator Steve Wyatt on Tuesday unwraps a century-old charcoal drawing by Rogue Valley artist Regina Dorland Robinson for an exhibit. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA SOHS Curator Steve Wyatt hopes that with a little luck and community support, the entire collection will be displayed. "When you look at her artwork, she really was a gifted person between her natural talent and professional training," Wyatt said. "Anyone who's lived in the valley, whose family goes back a generation or two, knows about Robinson." Robinson was born in 1891 - the daughter of Dr. James W. Robinson of Jacksonville - shortly after her older brother and sister died from a diphtheria epidemic that swept through the small town in 1890. "In those days, it was common for something to sweep through and take mostly children," Wyatt said. Living as an only child, Robinson led a privileged life, taking art lessons at St. Mary's High School in Medford before studying with Peter Britt, a well-known Jacksonville photographer and artist. "Her interest in art was sparked by her father," Wyatt said, noting that Dr. Robinson was an amateur artist. Robinson's training continued at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia before she went to San Francisco shortly after the 1906 earthquake. Most of the nearly 50 works collected by SOHS are dated after 1906 until shortly before Robinson's demise 10 years later. Following her death, Robinson's family donated approximately 25 works to the University of Oregon's Women's Building in Eugene. "In the 1950's the university donated the collection to the SOHS. Probably half our collection is from that," Wyatt said. An additional 25 pieces were amassed over the years from private collectors. However, no one has come forward with an authentic Dorland Robinson painting in nearly two decades, Wyatt said. The society last ran a Robinson exhibit in 1995, prompting several area residents to come forward to acknowledge they also possessed Robinson's work. Wyatt said that over the years a list was developed to keep tabs on who privately owns Robinson's art. However, that list has become outdated as many have moved or died leaving questions as to where the art is. The society is hoping that collectors will bring forth Robinson's paintings so that the entire collection of framed works can be displayed in an exhibit slated to open Feb. 14, and run for a year. However, private donations will be accepted for any length of time. Anyone with information on a Dorland Robinson painting should contact Wyatt at 773-6536. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -