Today, I wanted to share a little about my author-friend, Gabrielle Robinson. On a personal level, she’s been a mentor and friend since I moved to this area after college.
Her books are masterful explorations of real-life experiences in a historical context. Anthropology and cultural exploration aren’t limited to cultures outside of our own. Sometimes exploring our own history can yield the most powerful lessons.
Gabrielle’s Story
Gabrielle Robinson became particularly interested in history when she researched her own past after her mother passed away. She uncovered a secret that would lead to soul searching and reconciliation of her family history.
Gabrielle was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1942. Her father was a fighter pilot whose plane was shot down in 1943. Her home was bombed, and her family left Berlin as refugees in Northern Germany. Eventually, she ended up in Vienna and later in Darmstadt.
She moved to the United States in 1962, taking up residence in Urbana, IL. After winning a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, she received her MA from Columbia University. Then, she and her husband moved to London, where she completed her Ph.D. from the University of London. She returned to teach at the University of Illinois and gave birth to a son.
Eventually, following a divorce, Gabrielle settled in South Bend. It was here that she pursued her love of writing and became deeply involved in the community, helping others discover their stories.
Discovering a Family Secret
Gabrielle’s mother passed away, and she was cleaning out her possessions. As she went through the different items, she discovered diaries written by her beloved grandfather, Api.
Api was a medical doctor. During the war in Berlin, he kept a detailed account of his work with those injured in the bombing. But, as she read further, she discovered a secret about Api—he was a member of the Nazi party.
In her book, Api’s Berlin Diaries, Gabrielle describes how she hid the diaries in shame and embarrassment of her past. Api had been a kind grandfather, offering her a stable home during her early childhood. How could she reconcile the man she knew with this horrifying realization? She spent a few years grappling with her feelings until she decided to sit down and write them out.
In the book, Gabrielle explores the feelings of reckoning her family’s past. She won several awards for the memoir, which has a critical message about self-exploration into our complex and sometimes painful histories that’s highly relevant to all of us today.
South Bend History
Gabrielle also wrote Better Homes of South Bend. In this book, she explores the Black Studebaker workers who moved north, hoping for acceptance to build a better, more equitable life. When they arrived in South Bend, they discovered that racism was all too prevalent in the area. Standing up for their equality, they built over twenty homes in a white neighborhood and became a vibrant community.
However, as Gabrielle discusses in her book, many of the views remain, even today, continuing with discriminatory practices like redlining and predatory lending. The racial wealth gap continues to widen and impact South Bend. The book was extremely well-received and will be presented as a play by the South Bend Civic Theater in 2023.
In the book German Settlers of South Bend, Gabrielle explores the German history and farming prevalent throughout the area from the mid-19th century. In addition, she explores the music, culture, and rich contributions of the immigrants from Arzberg, Bavaria (South Bend’s Sister City).
Gabrielle has a unique talent for bringing history to life. She ties her own experiences to the area and the stories of others in a relatable way. Her love of South Bend is clear from her writing.
She shared, “Living by the St. Joseph River for over 20 years, I never tire of the view. What first engaged me, though, were the students at IUSB, first-generation college students for whom classes were a transformative experience.”
“I have made wonderful friends here, including Charlene, one of the many young professionals making their home in South Bend and enriching all our lives. Perhaps a sign that I have found a home, at last, is that I’m now a proud member of the South Bend Community Hall of Fame and have been awarded the keys to the city as well as a Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest honor.”
Gabrielle is a true gem of South Bend, and I highly recommend exploring her excellent books that bring such beautiful, critical insights about human nature and history to life.
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Comments & Reviews
All of Gabrielle’s books are interesting and entertaining. I highly recommend them!