Grandson of Hamilton Redfield Norvell, printer at the Original Roycroft, Makes a Visit and Gift

          John Norvell on a recent visit to the Roycroft Copper Shop made a gift of an original photograph of Elbert Hubbard, signed with a tribute to John's grandfather Hamilton Redfield Norvell, Roycroft printer.  Hamilton came from a newspaper family, his father, Colonel Freeman Norvell, a Civil War officer from Michigan, was the co-owner of the Detroit Free Press and his grandfather, U.S. Senator John Norvell of Michigan, was the founder of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Furthermore, Hamilton's daughter, Mary Irene Norvell, was Elbert Hubbard's secretary beginning in 1904.

          In 1960 Mary Irene Norvell wrote the following story about how it happened that she was hired for the job by Elbert Hubbard.  Below, with permission from John Norvell, is Mary's story.  "I  was 16 years old [1904] and decided I would have to go to work.  I had no training, but I was smart and quick.  I applied for work at the Roycroft, a printing and crafting establishment in East Aurora.    For $3.00 a week I addressed envelopes; meanwhile I practiced typewriting and shorthand.  One day the boss, Elbert Hubbard came into the office.  I was the only one there and was practicing typewriting.  He was a striking, formidable man and scared me.  He stopped by my desk and said, "Can you take dictation?" I answered truthfully that I couldn't.  Then he said, "Can you type?" He proceeded to pace back and forth talking and I typed it out on the typewriter.  It was easy because he took long pauses and just paced so I could catch up.  An hour later he finished and he told me, "From now on I want you to take all my dictation." This great honor overwhelmed me, but my wages remained the same. "

          Have a Roycroft story to share?  These stories are welcome on the Roycroft Campus.  Stop in the Copper Shop if you have one, we'll find a listener.  Better yet, send one via this blog.

          The Copper Shop of the Roycroft Campus Corporation is open daily from 9 am-5 pm.