Content Description

The Phillip Austin Roberts Engineering Collection was donated Lillian S. Koone, President and Owner, of Koonce, Noble, and Associates, Incorporated, an engineering firm in Lumberton, North Carolina. The collection contains maps, architectural drawings, blueprints, correspondence and more from the office of P. A. Roberts during his time as he worked to create and expand infrastructure through rural Robeson County. Phillip A. Roberts was born in Red Springs, North Carolina in 1894. He attended North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now part of North Carolina State University) in Raleigh, North Carolina, graduating in 1916. He went on to work various jobs in the engineering field including working as an engineer in the United States Army after being drafted during the First World War. Later, he along, with his wife, Frances, and his daughter Martha, moved to Lumberton, North Carolina in 1935 where he began doing contract work throughout Robeson County, but spent much of his time working on the infrastructure of the City of Lumberton until 1949, when he left Lumberton for Gastonia, North Carolina and was elected Assistant to the City Manager, and later City Manager. He held that position until he became ill in 1952. Mr. Roberts passed away in Lumberton in 1953.

Acquisition Type

Gift

Provenance

Donated by Lillian Koonce, Owner and President of Koonce, Nobles, and Associates, Incorporated in 2018-2019.

Restrictions Apply

No

Use Restrictions

Gloves must be worn to handle items within this collection.