America W. Robinson

America W. Robinson (January 1855 – 23 April 1912) was an African-American educator. Robinson was in the first graduating class of Fisk University and a contralto with the Fisk Jubilee Singers. She was the first woman to graduate from Fisk University.

Robinson was born in January 1855 near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her parents were slaves. Her father was a carpenter and when the Civil War started, the slave’s owner opened a ammunition factory that produced guns for the Army of the South. As a carpenter, Robinson’s father worked in the weapons factory and turned out stocks for muskets.

The Battle of Stones River, 31 December 1862 – 2 January 1863 took place at Murfreesboro and Robinson was left with memories of soldiers from both Union and Confederate armies in a makeshift hospital established in her family’s house. Her father took the chance to hide the family in a Union Army wagon and they all escaped to Nashville.

In 1912 when Robinson died her address was listed as 502 West Pearl Street in Jackson, Mississippi.

In 1866, Robinson enrolled on opening day in the Fisk Colored School at Nashville, Tennessee. Her teaching career began at the age of thirteen. She earned money for tuition and living expenses by teaching during the summer breaks each year. In 1870, the US Census recorded the Robinson family lived at Davidson County, Tennessee. Her father was Patrick Robinson, age 40, born in Virginia, occupation listed as carpenter, race listed as mulatto. Her mother was Elizabeth Robinson, age 34, born in Tennessee, race listed as mulatto. One brother was listed, Martin Robinson, age 11, born in Tennessee.

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