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Robert George Robinson, who was originally named Sigmund Robinson, is a native Chicagoan. He was born on June 12, 1901 and thereafter was raised as an orphan, living at a variety of different orphanages. In 1916, Robert graduated from Lake Bluff Grammar School, and the following year (1917) at the age of 16, he moved to Highland Park with a job as an errand boy for department stores. A local Highland Park family took Robert in, and he graduated from Deerfield-Shields Township High School in 1923 at the age of 22.

In high school, Robert developed a skill and passion for poetry, which continued into his adult years. These skills also allowed Robert to attend the University of Illinois, where he graduated in 1927 with a major in journalism. After graduation, Robert returned to Highland Park and began working an apprenticeship under Leon Harris at the Yorktown Shop and later at the Red Shutters. Here he developed his interior decorating skills and developed his love and passion for antiques. 25 years later in 1968, Robert opened his own store, Robert G. Robinson and Associates, dealers in antiques and interior decorating.

Robert would often talk with local groups about antiques and interior decorating. His knowledge was highly respected and nationally recognized as an antique expert. Some of his collections and remakes have even been on display at the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) in New York. Through his love of the past and the objects it held, Robert felt that Highland Park needed its own museum to house its own specific treasures. With this idea, he became one of the founding members of the Highland Park Historical Society in 1966. He was also a President and Curator.

Robert began collecting the first day of his apprenticeship. He would buy pieces he liked, thought were interesting, and felt would have value. One of his prized collections is the valentine collection. He began the collection because the valentines were unique items that had value to them. They were also a testament to their time, a way of life, and allowed Robert to reflect on a period that he preferred to the present. Robert was not a fan of modern styles and thought processes, so he put a lot of value into his prized valentine collection and would often put them on display at the local flower shop during February. Only one other Highland Park native collected and placed value on old valentines, Mrs. Lawrence McClure. Mrs. McClure and Robert often discussed their collections, shared their joys, and kept a friendly competition while hunting for additions.

Born in Waynesville, Ohio in 1871, Harry Burton Roberts attended medical school in Chicago, Illinois (Jenner Medical College, 1902; College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, School of Medicine of the University of Illinois; 1903). Roberts married Caroline Gertrude Brown of La Grange, Illinois on October 17, 1905. They lived in home designed by architect John VanBergen in Highland Park, Illinois. Roberts served in the Medical Corps of the United States Army in World War I after being drafted in 1917. Upon his return from service, he served as a lead physician at Highland Park Hospital; he also served a term as hospital president. JAMA, 1957;164 p. 788.

Norman Rivkin was CEO and owner of Saf-T-Guard, founded by his parents in 1936. He served in the United States Army during the World War II.

Amateur photographer Chaplain George D. Rice was born in Brighton, Massachusetts, on January 23rd, 1861, married on February 25th, 1883 to Elizabeth Fells, with no children, and educated at Tufts College. He was a chaplain of the 6th Massachusetts Volunteers in the Spanish-American War in 1898, and was appointed a first lieutenant in the 26th Regiment, United States Volunteers, organized to serve in the Philippine Islands, July 5th, 1899. He served the 27th Infantry Regiment, one of the ten new Regular Army regiments authorized for the Philippine-American War, organized on February 2, 1901. Chaplain Rice served at the battle of Bayan (May 2, 1902) ministering to the sick and wounded. He documented the assault on the cotta of the Sultan of Bacolod on April 6, 1903, known as the Battle of Bacolod, Philippines, with his Kodak Brownie camera, and turned it into a souvenir booklet for sale at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

Rice was cited for heroism in the Spanish-American War.

The Ravinia Woman’s Club originated as the Woman’s Civic Club of Ravinia in 1911. (Until 1899 Ravinia existed as a village.) The goals of the Club focused on maintaining the needs and friendships of the small community. Throughout its years of service, the Club focused on families, friendship, and civic engagements that benefited those living in Ravinia. General Federation of Women’s Clubs, did not exclude men; and men did join and participate.. The Ravinia Woman’s Club was both state and nationally recognized. These records end in 1969 after the Club voted to be absorbed into the Highland Park Woman’s Club.

Despite their growth and annexation to Highland Park, Ravinia citizens expressed a need for organization that would continue to focus on their small community. In 1911 the Woman’s Civic Club of Ravinia organized and held its first meeting. The original thirty-three charter members held education as their primary concern.

In 1912 the Ravinia Woman’s Club Ravinia Commission was established the Ravinia Commission to focus on the civic needs of the community. Two years later, in 1914, the Commission separated from the Club due to government restrictions. Yet, they continued to work closely with each other for the betterment of the community. From 1914 until 1925, the a Library Committee formed and collected books which it then gave to the local school and Highland Park Hospital. It subsequently changed the Committee name to Civics and Philanthropy.

The different commissions vied for the most unique way to design the meeting house (an old schoolhouse previously used as a community building) to be honored with a dedication ceremony held every November 22. The ceremony, initially known as the “lighting of the fire” in building’s hearth and the designing competitions became known as remodeling and furnishing “The Village House” in honor of having the old schoolhouse given to the Club in 1913.

The Woman’s Civic Club of Ravinia joined the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs and the 10th district Federation of Illinois in 1914. Due to their increased size and activities level, they created many committees to assist with various projects and programs. In 1921 the Education Committee which as become so large and compartmentalized that it renamed itself the Arts Committee and focused on bringing drama, art, and music to the “twilight teas” events. These events included children and adults both associated and not associated with the Club.

By 1928, the Woman’s Civic Club of Ravinia changed its name to the Ravinia Woman’s Club and had 222 active members. Throughout the years of the Ravinia Woman’s Club retained its main focus has always remained the same, a focus on the betterment of the community through sociable, educational, and cultural events that promoted friendship and the beatification of the area. The Club’s information runs until 1969 when the membership voted to became absorbed by the Highland Park Woman’s Club. For more information on the intermittent years, look in the history section of the various Member Directories.