James Roebuck diplomas and memorabilia, 1969/2019

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

MSS 16937, James Roebuck diplomas and memorabilia, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Summary

Extent:
0.16 Cubic Feet One large oversized flat file folder; one letter sized file folder
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 16937, James Roebuck diplomas and memorabilia, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the University of Virginia diplomas and memorabilia of James Randolph Roebuck, Jr. (1945-2024), politician and UVA alumnus. The collection contains Roebuck's two University of Virginia diplomas, a printed copy of a 2019 article commemorating fifty years since his History in 1969 and a Doctor of Philosophy in History in 1977. In 1969, while a student at the University of Virginia, Roebuck became the first Black member of the Student Council. Following his matriculation from the University of Virginia, Roebuck worked as an assistant professor of history at Drexel University. In 1985, Roebuck was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 188th district. He was subsequently reelected 17 times, serving until 2020. In the House, Roebuck served as the Democratic chairman of the House Education Committee and as a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. He died on May 16, 2024.

Acquisition information:
This collection was a gift from Gideon Adegbile to the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 18 November 2025.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard