CONCORD, Ma. (April 27, 2022) – The Robbins House has received a generous gift of $25,000 from Barbara Elliot, beloved Concord Public Schools teacher. The donation will help the Robbins House continue to expand our work on the African American and Antislavery history of Concord, and preserve The Robbins House as an African American and Antislavery Interpretive Center.

Concord: Its Black History 1636-1860, was written Barbara K. Elliott and Janet W. Jones of the Concord Public Schools in 1976. A book written for children to learn about the history of black people who lived, worked, and died in Concord, Massachusetts from 1636 to 1860. Illustrated by Laraine Armenti and Carolyn King

Barbara was born in Providence, RI on August 15, 1926. A resident of Concord for 43 years, she also enjoyed summers in her historic home in Chatham, Ma. Most recently she lived in Tiverton, RI and wintered in Naples, Florida. A 1948 graduate of Brown University, she later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Northeastern. She pursued further graduate studies at B.U., Tufts, Simmons, Radcliffe, Leslie and Cambridge University.

Barbara’s teaching career began in the DOD schools overseas, followed by 29 years in the Concord Elementary Schools as a Reading/Language Arts teacher. A longtime volunteer for the Concord Museum, she became a member of the guiding staff following her retirement and was recently named a trustee. She was also a summer volunteer at the Atwood House Museum in Chatham. Memberships included Historic New England, the Concord Garden Club, Society of Mayflower Descendants, the DAR, and a number of family genealogical associations including the Willard Family Association. Barbara was a descendant in the 9th generation of Simon Willard, cofounder of Concord.