Roycroft facts for kids
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Roycroft Campus
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The Copper Shop, first building of the Roycroft Campus to be restored
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| Location | Main and South Grove St., East Aurora, New York |
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| Nearest city | Buffalo |
| Built | 1895 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001236 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 8, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | February 26, 1986 |
Roycroft was a special group of artists and craftspeople. They were part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. This movement focused on making beautiful, handmade items. Elbert Hubbard started the Roycroft community in 1895. It was located in East Aurora, New York, near Buffalo. The people who worked there were called Roycrofters. Their ideas and work, known as the Roycroft movement, greatly influenced American art and building styles in the early 1900s.
The Roycroft Story
The name "Roycroft" came from two printers in London. Their names were Samuel and Thomas Roycroft. They made books between 1650 and 1690. Elbert Hubbard thought the word "roycroft" meant "king's craft" in French. In old European guilds, "king's craftsmen" were very skilled workers. They were good enough to make things for the king!
The Roycroft symbol came from a monk named Cassiodorus. He was a bookbinder and artist from the 1200s.
Elbert Hubbard visited England and was inspired by William Morris. Morris had a special printing company called Kelmscott Press. Hubbard wanted to publish his own book, Little Journeys. Since he couldn't find a publisher, he decided to start his own. This is how he created the Roycroft Press.
Hubbard's love for the Arts and Crafts style brought many talented people to East Aurora. They formed a community of printers, furniture makers, and artists. They also made things from metal, leather, and bound books. A famous quote from John Ruskin was their "creed":
A belief in working with the head, hand and heart and mixing enough play with the work so that every task is pleasurable and makes for health and happiness.
Hubbard's inspiring leadership attracted almost 500 people by 1910. Millions more knew him from his famous essay, A Message to Garcia.
The Roycroft Press also helped publish other works. One example was The Buffalo Magazine for Arts in 1920.
In 1915, a sad event happened. Hubbard and his wife, Alice Moore Hubbard, died when the ship RMS Lusitania sank. After this, the Roycroft community slowly declined. Elbert's son, Bert, tried to keep the business going. He tried selling Roycroft furniture through big stores like Sears & Roebuck. This worked for a short time, but it wasn't a lasting success.
Today, fourteen of the original Roycroft buildings are still standing. They are located in East Aurora, New York. This area is called the "Roycroft Campus." It's a rare example of an art colony that still exists. In 1986, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
The Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum is in the George and Gladys Scheidemantel House. It's the main place to see and learn about the Roycrofters' work.
The Roycroft Inn: A Place to Stay
The Roycroft Inn is part of the Roycroft Campus. It's a hotel with a restaurant and a lobby bar. It first opened to visitors in 1905. In 1986, it became a National Historic Landmark along with the rest of the campus.
The Inn went through a big, nine-year restoration project. It was finished in 1995, costing $8 million. The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation helped pay for it. After the restoration, the Inn reopened. The Salon area inside has beautiful murals. These were painted by a Roycroft artist named Alexis Jean Fournier.
Famous Roycrofters
Many talented people were part of the Roycroft community:
- Arthur H. Cole (1899–?), a skilled coppersmith.
- Jerome Connor (1874–1943), a sculptor. He created the statue of Elbert Hubbard and the "North Wind" sculpture on the Roycroft Chapel.
- William Wallace Denslow (1856–1915), an illustrator. He drew pictures for the famous book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
- Alexis Jean Fournier (1865–1948), an American painter. He created 20 murals for the Roycroft Inn.
- William Joseph "Dard" Hunter (1883–1966), an expert on making paper by hand. He also knew a lot about printing with handmade type. He wrote many books about old ways of making paper.
- Walter Jennings, a coppersmith and jeweler.
- Karl Kipp (1882–1954), who worked in the bookbinding shop. He later started the Roycroft Copper Shop.
- Fredrick Kranz, who made beautiful leather goods.
- Victor Toothaker (1882–1932), another talented coppersmith.
- Samuel Warner (1871–1947), a book designer, artist, and illustrator for many Roycroft books.
Images for kids
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Visitor Center, June 2019
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Front of the Chapel
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Roycroft Inn
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Side of the Chapel
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The Roycroft Renaissance Logo
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Roycroft Campus welcome sign from the 1990s
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Sign about Elbert Hubbard
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Sign with Roycroft crest and lettering
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Portrait of Elbert Hubbard at the Visitor Center
