Jefferson Davis Robinson had been an office boy for the New England Glass Works. When Edward Libbey came to Toledo in 1880 to relocate his glass company, Robinson came along, rising to be president and chairman of the renamed Libbey Glass in 1920.

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Robinson succeeded John Gunckel as president of the Toledo Newsboys Association. Robinson expanded the services of the organization to include vocational and recreational programs. Under his leadership, the Newsboys Association added classes in carpentry, drawing, shoe repair, typing, printing and journalism, as well as career guidance counseling. He encouraged many former newsboys and contributed to their education.

Robinson helped finance the Toledo Hospital and paid to remodel the Newsboys Building.