William Jacob Robbins records

In 1937, William J. Robbins was appointed Director of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). He was the first plant physiologist appointed NYBG Director. Robbins was also the first Director not to hold the position of Secretary of the Board of Managers during his directorship.

When Robbins arrived at NYBG, the institution was experiencing financial difficulties. He found that New York City’s failure to maintain public buildings had resulted in the deterioration of NYBG's facilities and that private financial support had greatly declined. Additionally, NYBG staff received no benefits, and many employees worked more than the legal work week. The men who operated the Power House, for example, worked a seven day week during the winter months. Robbins found that it was difficult to keep young "strong" staff who would leave to pursue employment elsewhere in search of benefits after only a short stay at NYBG.

Robbins’ early years at NYBG concentrated on gaining tighter financial control over the institution's budget. He began to improve the working conditions for employees on the city payroll. Robbins was able to recruit additional workers from the Parks Department. Although Robbins was against unions, he assisted in negotiating a contract for city employees who wanted to unionize. Robbins became involved with the Works Progress Administration (WPA). NYBG was assigned approximately 180 WPA workers to maintain the grounds and participate in construction and repair programs.

When Robbins was invited to become Director of NYBG, he specified as a condition of his acceptance that he be provided with a laboratory for the study of Plant Physiology, in order to pursue his specialties. Under his directorship, the Carpenter Shop was moved to the Snuff Mill and the ground floor of the Museum Building was converted to a laboratory. During the Robbins Administration, five additional laboratories were constructed in the east end of the Museum Building. First class research in plant physiology, mycology, virology, and biochemistry related to plants was conducted in these laboratories.

In 1950, Robbins obtained substantial private funds for the construction of a new research laboratory. It was completed in 1956, and in 1975, it was named the Charles B. Harding Laboratory. The laboratory supported a variety of botanical disciplines as well as bio- and organic chemistry. As a result, important and rare interdisciplinary research was carried out there. The laboratory, which survived Robbins' retirement and continued beyond, helped to make NYBG unique among botanical gardens during his time. The records show that Robbins spent the majority his time with NYBG affairs and that his own research suffered. He had a very full social schedule raising money for improvements and construction projects. He was constantly involved in planning, renovation, and construction programs to expand on NYBG’s facilities and bring them up to date. Due to NYBG's location in the North Bronx, Robbins also found himself very involved with the Bronx Restoration Program. As a result, a great deal of Robbins' time was devoted to communicating and battling with Robert Moses, Commissioner of New York City Department of Parks.

Overall, Robbins was able to win new private financial support for NYBG and increase the institution's endowment. Robbins helped to increase the size of the staff and the quality of the scientists. He assisted the scientific staff in obtaining research grants, even after his departure. Robbins was also able to re-establish NYBG's previously strained relationship with Columbia University.

Robbins retired from NYBG in 1958 due to poor health. William Campbell Steere followed Robbins as Director of NYBG (1958-1972). After Robbins retired, he moved to Washington, D.C. in 1962 to become the Assistant Director of the International Science Foundation, National Science Foundation. He returned to New York in 1964 and established a laboratory at Rockefeller University, where he worked until his death on October 1, 1978.