Humber, Robert Lee, 1898-1970

Variant names

Hide Profile

Robert Lee Humber, Jr. (1898-1970) was a lawyer, legislator, business executive, cultural leader, and founder of the Movement for World Federation. Dubbed as "Greenville's greatest contribution to the world," Humber was a native son of Greenville, graduated from Wake Forest, attended Harvard University and Oxford University, volunteered for World War I, and was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar. After the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, Humber and his family returned to Greenville from Europe where he single-handedly launched a "movement" for World Federation. Because of that movement, the NC General Assembly passed his resolution in 1941, becoming the first legislative body in history to endorse World Federation. Humber traveled to other states over a period of ten years, and as a result, his resolution was adopted by 16 more states. Humber was also involved local politics serving as the Democratic state senator from Pitt County, N.C. for a period. In his studies abroad and at home, Humber developed an appreciation for the arts, and established the NC Museum of Art. He served on dozens of councils and commissions, helped establish the NC Community College system, the NC Symphony, and was President of the Pitt County Historical Society from 1964 to 1968. Humber was also heavily involved in the Southern Baptist denomination, and he married to Lucie Berthier. The couple had three children: Marcel B., John L., and Eileen Genivieve.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn William Baskerville Hamilton Papers, 1700-1975 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Humber, Robert Lee, 1898-1970. Correspondence with Johan Thorsten Sellin, 1933. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn John Davis Humber Oral History Interview, October 25, 1983 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
referencedIn Smith, Charles Lee, 1865-1951. Hoch family collection : Charles Lee Smith papers, 1774-1951. North Carolina Division of Archives & Hist
creatorOf Humber, Robert Lee. International law : Government 15, May 27, 1919. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Robert Lee Humber, Jr., Papers East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
memberOf American Academy of Political and Social Sciences corporateBody
memberOf American and Foreign Christian Union corporateBody
memberOf American Church in Paris corporateBody
memberOf American judicature society corporateBody
memberOf American legion corporateBody
memberOf American society of international law corporateBody
memberOf Century Association (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
memberOf Democratic Party (N.C.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Duke University corporateBody
associatedWith Hamilton, William Baskerville, 1908-1972 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Harvard University corporateBody
sibling of Humber, John Davis, 1895-1991 person
memberOf International Platform Association corporateBody
memberOf Meredith College. Board of Trustees. corporateBody
memberOf North Carolina Arts Council corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina Baptist State Convention. corporateBody
memberOf North Carolina. General Assembly. Senate corporateBody
memberOf North Carolina literary and historical association corporateBody
founderOf North Carolina Museum of Art. corporateBody
memberOf North Carolina Society for the Preservation of Antiquities corporateBody
memberOf North Carolina State Art Society corporateBody
memberOf North Carolina Symphony Society corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Oxford University corporateBody
memberOf Pitt County Development Commission. corporateBody
memberOf Pitt County Historical Society corporateBody
memberOf Roanoke Island Historical Association corporateBody
memberOf Rotary international corporateBody
associatedWith Samuel H. Kress foundation corporateBody
memberOf Southern Council on International Relations corporateBody
memberOf Tryon Palace Commission. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army corporateBody
memberOf United World Federalists (U.S.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of North Carolina (1793-1962) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Paris corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Wake Forest College corporateBody
memberOf Watauga Club corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Oxford ENG GB
Pitt County NC US
Cambridge MA US
Pitt County NC US
Raleigh NC US
Paris A8 FR
Subject
Education
Baptists
Pacifists
Peace movements
Politicians
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Art patrons
Businesspeople
Lawyers
Politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1898-05-30

Death 1970-11-10

Male

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jh48jz

Ark ID: w6jh48jz

SNAC ID: 9848136