What to do with John Donald Robb?

What am I going to do with John Donald Robb (1892-1989)? What am I going to do with his wife Harriet? What am I going to do with the numerous New Mexican folk musicians like Jr. Daugherty that Robb feverishly recorded between the 1940s and 1960s?


So far, I've spent almost four happy, happy, weeks digging around Robb's 147 boxes of personal papers and recordings, housed at the University of New Mexico's Center for Southwest Research archives. I've only looked at a fraction of his materials, but this fraction has been more than enough to make me deeply enthralled. It feels like he's a character I'm reading about in an extremely disorganized novel. And—disorganization notwithstanding—I love that, just like in a novel, there are all these plot and character development twists and turns waiting for me inside each archival folder I look in.

Born in Minnesota, John Donald Robb became a hyper-successful New York City corporate lawyer in the 1920s and 1930s. On his spare time (what spare time!?), he studied cello and composition with world-renowned musicians. His dream was to devote his life to music. So in 1941, at 49 years old, he decided to take a leap toward his dream. And he came to New Mexico as head of UNM's Music Department.

O.k., so that's definitely the point in the story where I got hooked! Despite the differences in our time periods, careers, gender, ethnicity, affluence, political views... I so wanted to peer into the hazy mirror that I suspected Robb could hold up for me as a fellow NYC professional who shifted his focus into a New Mexico-based dream. But it wasn't just the spots where I could identify with Robb that called to me. I was also lured by our drastic differences.

And only a few weeks after getting started on my archival happy snooping efforts, it was time to give a public presentation at UNM. That was last Monday.

I was terrified. It had been a long time since I had to present on a topic that I was just getting acquainted with. But the audience seemed receptive and I actually had fun.

And now what? Do I keep going down this Robb-ly road? It seems like a shame not to when I've already invested a good amount of love and time on this project. And when it has been such a fascinating process and learning experience.

I have to confess this project intimidates me. A lot. John Donald Robb is a complex character in the midst of a New Mexican context that I'm barely begining to get to know. What's more, Robb seems to inspire quite strong feelings—in others, as well as in myself. I get by turns inspired, exasperated, puzzled and incensed by him.

I've run into many who openly idealize him and his work. I've run into a few that have pointed, fascinating, and seemingly fair criticisms. But there's also an undercurrent of ugly rumors and strong resentment against him that when I was first exposed to them, they made me want to jump back and run away.

But that would be cowardly, considering that this is FUN work that I want to do and considering that Robb is a complex character that I'm itching to explore more.

So, it seems that the best thing I can do is to keep digging and sifting through his papers, as well as through the strong and mixed feelings and thoughts that Robb brings up in me.

It's looking like, together, down this road we go. Are you ready John Donald Robb? May I call you John?