YOUNG ROBIN
Robin discovered and expressed interests early in his life that he pursued all his life
YOUNG ROBIN
Way Out West / Photo Mildred Doughman
Robin Ell Doughman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Ransel Ell Doughman, came from a family that journeyed to Warren County Ohio to farm. His 5th great grandfather, Johann Hans Peter Duchmann was the first to come to the US from Alsace, France in 1725, give or take a few years. They landed in Maryland, migrated to Pennsylvania, and ended up by 1832 in Warren County, Ohio, a place called Halfmoon. Ell is the name of his dad’s maternal line running back to Germany. On our trip east in 2018 Robin was pleased to discover the old Ell Farm was still there, a rural hold out surrounded by urban sprawl. We were welcomed inside the farmhouse he knew so well with its detailed woodwork and heavy pocket doors. He took pride in the timeworn orchard, still well maintained even though Bobby, his cousin and fraternity brother at Miami, had died three years before, unexpectedly. We brought home some organic honey, vegetables, and fruit from the farm.
Robin in Stroller / Photo Mildred Doughman
Robin discovered and expressed interests early in his life that he pursued all his life. His parents supported those interests while he was young. There were family trips each summer and many of those were spent in the West. His dad drove the family car to locations all over the US, but what Robin loved the most was the time spent on a ranch in Rifle, Colorado. This spurred his interest in nature and the wilderness. His knowledge of history was fed by trips to historic places, by his parents, and by teachers who took a special interest in him because of his grasp and retention of the subject.
Robin on Carousel, Mildred in background /Photo Ransel Doughman
His mother, Mildred, was an amateur photographer and captured Robin in images from the time he was a baby throughout his childhood. Some of them are iconic images of a boy charmed by history, horses, indigenous Americans, and the West. His mom chronicled the road trips, his time at KMI, our college days, homecoming floats and parades, and our budding romance. Both his parents nurtured and supported Robin and continued on with both of us as long as they lived. Mildred Catherine Sears was born in Somerset, Kentucky. She was able to attend Berea College in an early work/study program. Her father drove her to college in a wagon. She taught school and Ransel was a vice president in charge of accounting of a Cincinnati metal shaping company.
Robin on paint horse statue out west / Photo Mildred Doughman
Robin started playing cello when he was young. His musical interest led him to the guitar.
Portrait photo of Robin
Early in Robin’s life he developed a strong interest in history. His curiosity for history led to a lifelong interest in the indigenous tribes of the Americas, particularly the tribes of North America. He joined a Pow Wow dance troupe when he was a boy. In the summer of 1964 I started beading to help him renovate his beadwork to be primarily blue. I used the Lazy Squaw style beadwork technique to make his cuffs and neck piece. I used a loom he made to make a headband. Later he used it as a hatband for one of his cowboy hats. Joe and Petey Dick managed the dance group. Petey was of the Cheyenne tribe. Robin had been adopted into the Rice family, who were Cheyenne and perhaps part of Petey’s family. Petey and Joe Dick toured the Pow Wow circuit of the Midwest and Eastern United States where their family and their three students competed and gained experience. Robin eventually won the eastern regional competition. His time with the Rice family in Oklahoma opened Native culture and history to him. He learned how to make the bustles and beadwork he needed for dancing. Fancy Dance takes you to the edge of drama. It is primal theater. Spiritual connection, grace, movement, and performance are all combined. Robin considered it a sacred connection to the spirit world. He often wore the hat with the headband when he worked with horses. His work with horses was a sacred dance.
Robin in dance costume / Photo BJ Studios
By the time I knew Robin he was comfortable in front of people. He understood what performance was. He knew the difference between theater and the ordinary. He performed in a band and also as a dancer. His spirituality expanded during his experience within the tribe. From there he knew the shaman was at the core of the realm of mystical theater, and that the medicine man had sacred power. I learned and was exposed to it through Robin. It started with the beadwork. Almost everything of importance that I know has come to me through the creative process, making things, art, writing.
Robin in dance costume / Photo Mildred Doughman
At the same time he was Fancy Dancing, Robin played bass guitar in a local band called The Corvairs. They performed locally. The other band members were Alan Taylor, on drums, and Barry and Larry Langdon on guitars along with the Stith twins. Robin’s parents were friends with Ralph and Levina Wilson. Ralph worked for WLW, the local radio and television NBC affiliate in Cincinnati. He had connections the band needed to advance. The Langdon’s parents had connections there too. The Corvairs played for clubs and private affairs. They recorded a single, a 45 rpm. The tune was Black Diamonds on one side and Slipped Disk on the other. I still have my record.
Click on 45 rpm picture to listen to Black Diamonds.
In 1962 Robin transferred to Kentucky Military Institute. He received military training there and graduated with honors in 1964. As a child he played baseball and he continued at KMI as a catcher. He headed the art editing for the school student publications.
Robin graduation Kentucky Military Institute / Photo Don Arnold and Son