The Burr L. Robbins Papers span the years 1936-1975, and chiefly consist of three scrapbooks containing photographs, clippings, periodicals, memorabilia, and promotional materials. The majority of clippings are from advertising industry publications and Chicago newspapers. The loose materials section also includes administrative records. The collection primarily documents Robbins' career in outdoor advertising with the General Outdoor Advertising Company (GOA), and his involvement with professional advertising organizations, particularly the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). Professional and outdoor advertising themes in the scrapbooks include Robbins' career advancement; his public speaking engagements on the role of advertising agencies in America; professional meetings and conferences; the history of GOA; outdoor advertising history; tension between citizens' groups and outdoor advertisers over billboard zoning; and legal decisions. The scrapbooks also touch on topics of personal interest to Robbins, including news about the Delevan Lake Improvement Association; Robbinswood Farm sheep; and family events. Photographs in the scrapbooks are primarily of professional meetings or conferences; advertising executives; or publicity events. Loose materials include items that were once part of the scrapbooks, and separate items. This section includes a notebook of 1942 photographs and papers about the 13th National Contest and Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising Art. Photographs of the three prizewinning posters, created by John DeLooy, Andrew Loomis, and Albert Staehle, are included in this notebook. Also in this section is a spiral-bound GOA publication, "Image with Words," that documents a 1963 Chevrolet electric outdoor advertising campaign.
Burr L. Robbins
| Date |
Event |
| 1902 | Born Chicago, Ill. |
| 1925 | Graduated from the University of Chicago |
| 1925 | Married Margaret Ross |
| 1925 | Employed as billposter, GOA |
| 1930 | Founded the annual National Contest and Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising Art |
| 1931 | Promoted to Chicago manager, GOA |
| 1934 | Appointed Vice-President of the Chicago District, GOA |
| 1936 | Appointed Regional Manager of the Chicago District, GOA |
| 1941-1950 | Chairman of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) Outdoor Advertising Foundation at Notre Dame |
| 1946 | Elected Executive Vice President, GOA |
| 1951 | Elected President, GOA |
| 1960 | Awarded the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award for Navy recruitment effors through outdoor advertising |
| 1980 | Died, Chicago, Ill. |
General Outdoor Advertising Company (GOA)
| Date |
Event |
| 1925 | Burnett W. (B.W.) Robbins, father of Burr Robbins, founded GOA |
| 1925-1951 | Tenure of B.W. Robbins as President |
| 1931 | Outdoor Advertising, Inc. (OAI) spun off from GOA to manage selling and operating |
| 1951-circa 1960s | Tenure of Burr L. Robbins as President |
| 1952 | B.W. Robbins died |
| 1957 | GOA purchased Canadian firm Claude Neon General Advertising, Limited |
| 1963 | Outdoor advertising company Gamble-Skogmo, Inc. acquired control of GOA |
| 1963-1964 | GOA sold branches and ceased activity as an operating company |
Burr L. Robbins was a third-generation outdoor advertising executive whose father, Burnett W. (B.W.) Robbins, founded GOA. Robbins's grandfather, Burr Robbins, founded the American Billposting Company around 1890 to promote his popular circus, the Burr Robbins Circus.
In addition to the business interests listed above, Robbins served as an executive and director of a number of firms and organizations: the Lexington Poster Advertising Company; the Executive Committee of Outdoor Advertising Incorporated (OAI); Majestic Radio and Television Corporation; Walker and Company of Detroit; Old Colony Advertising Company; Mercantile National Bank of Chicago; and the Pittsburgh Outdoor Advertising Company.
Robbins took on an active role in varied professional, social, and charitable organizations. In addition to the organizational interests listed above, Robbins served with the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA); the Council on Medical and Biological Research at the University of Chicago; the Chicago Crime Commission; the Better Business Bureau of Chicago; the Traffic Audit Bureau; the Advertising Council; the Advertising Federation of America; the Chicago Federated Advertising Club; the Delavan Lake Improvement Association; the German Shepherd Dog Club of America; and the American Shropshire Registry Association.
Robbins enjoyed operating his family farm, Robbinswood Farm, in Delevan, Wisconsin. He consistently won awards for his Shropshire sheep, and also raised Hereford and Berkshire sheep.
