RoycroftCampusCorporation

RCC Book Club List Announced

The book list and schedule for this winter's RCC Book Club has been announced. In selecting the books for this next session of discussions we looked for ones that would enhance the reader's knowledge of the time period of the Roycroft and / or local lore.

First, for discussion on November 15th, we have an historical novel concerning Frank Llyod Wright's romances with four very different women, The Women, by T.C. Boyle. 

On January 17th we will be discussing another historical novel, City of Light, by Lauren Belfer. This novel, set in Buffalo, may have been read by many when it was first published, but we felt is such a good read we wanted the opportunity to talk about it in our group. 

The third book in our schedule for February 21st is The Devil, In the White City, by Erik Larson, which is centered around the true story of a serial killer in Chicago at the time of the 1893 World's Fair in that city. 

Last on the agenda, for March 21st, is a book which will educate our group on the other item East Aurora was known for in the late 1800's: Standard Bred Horse Racing. The book is, Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America, by Charles Leerhsen. If you liked Sea Biscuit - the movie, book or horse - you will enjoy learning more about the racing that was a central part of life in East Aurora in the 1800's.

Join us for our discussions which are held in the historically rich Salon of the Roycroft Inn on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 PM (specific dates listed above). You don't have to commit to reading all the books and there is no charge to be a member of the group. 

Remember, Elbert met Alice, his second wife, at a book club in East Aurora. You never know what could happen....but please call to let us know if you are attending, 716-655-0261. 

- Sue

White Hyacinths book

My wonderful mother-in-law is an avid garage sale shopper. She finds the family all sorts of great treasures at great prices. Recently she brought me a Roycroft book. (it helps that she lives out-of-state where Roycroft collecting is not as common).

The book is White Hyacinths by Elbert Hubbard (first edition 1907). This is just one example of why Roycroft books are truly works of art:

Here are some pictures:

 

 

 

Have you found any Roycroft treasures at garage sales?

Julie

Roycroft Book Club - Great read!

The next book on the list for the Roycroft Campus book club is truly one of my favorites. It is "As Bees in Honey Drown" by Charles Hamilton.

 

Let me give you a little friendly advice, (since I have read this book more times than I care to tell you) - it has lots of footnotes. It is great because it shows the detailed research that went into making this book but if you are used to reading novels, the footnotes tend to get in the way.

What I have found is that if you read it once without the footnotes - just as you would a novel; then go back and read it again with the footnotes, it really helps.

It is a great complicated love story on the first read and a marvelous non-fiction history book on the second read.  I highly recommend this book.  The book is available at the Copper Shop Gallery or on-line at www.roycroftcampuscorp.com.

The Roycroft Campus Book Club has chosen this book for the next discussion to be held on Sunday March 15th from 4:00 -5:30 pm at The Roycroft Inn.  Anyone is welcome to join this lively group - reservations are appreciated by calling 716 655-0261.

Julie

Are Roycroft books valuable?

As a docent on the Roycroft Campus, the question about Roycroft books is quite common. People say "I remember my parents or grandparents having Roycroft books at home. They must be worth a lot of money".

I hate to disappoint people but because the Roycroft printed so many books, they are relatively easy to find and so the value is not as high as one may think. But the good news is there are a few select books that are more valuable then others.

How do you know that if you sell your grandfather's book, you buy yourself dinner at  McDonald's or the Roycroft Inn? You research it and ask a expert. One such expert is Paul Jackson who operates: http://www.roycroftbooks.org/.

The Roycroft Books website is a wealth of information. I know you will enjoy checking it out.

Julie

Book Club Shocked by Love Affairs

    The RCC book club had another lively discussion session this past Sunday at the Roycroft Inn. Our book this month was The Wayward Muse by Elizabeth Hickey. The book is a fictionalized account of the marriage of Jane Burden and William Morris (the father of the Arts & Crafts Movement), and her affair with Morris’ friend, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (the Pre-Raphaelite painter).  

    What our group was rather surprised at was the number of other affairs going on amongst this group of artists:  well known author Ruskin was a cuckold as was Morris, and painters Rossetti, Burne-Jones and Millais had affairs. It seems Rossetti had the longest list of mistresses to the point that his wife could no longer endure it and committed suicide because of his infidelities. 

    The book club's discussion took us back to other books we have read this winter - American Eve by Paula Uruburu and Loving Frank by Nancy Horan - as we found similarities between Jane Burden and the other heroines. Jane and Evelyn Nesbit were both models for artists and had seemingly uncaring mothers; and the struggle between propriety and love that Mamah Borthwick Cheney had leaving her comfortable life and children for her affair with Frank Lloyd Wright as compared to how Jane handled choosing between Morris and Rossetti. Our book club is learning a lot as we make these comparisons and having a good time doing it.

    Our next book selection brings us back to local Roycroft history. It is As Bees in Honey Drown, by Charles F. Hamilton.  The East Aurora author collaborated with Bert Hubbard, Elbert’s eldest son, and concentrates on the breakup and divorce of his parents, and Elbert’s affair and remarriage with Alice Moore.  The book is only available for sale at the Copper Shop or through libraries. Pick up your copy and start reading. We’ll see you Sunday, March 15th, 4-5:30pm at the Inn. Reservations appreciated, call 716-655-0261.

- Sue

Read All About It! The Crime of The Century in 1906

The NY Times review of American Eve, the RCC's book selection for January, will give you a good idea of what you will be 'in for' when you read it. Be prepared for a man's world and how little control women had over their own lives at the turn of the 20th century.

There is still time for you to read the book and join our discussion on Sunday, January 18th, 4-5:30pm at the Roycroft Inn. Call 716-655-0261 for reservations.

- Sue

RCC Book Club's January Book

    The Roycroft Campus Book Club is reading American Eve by Paula Uruburu for their January 18^th discussion group. The club is free and open to the public. It is a great way to learn more about the Roycroft, that period in history, and the Arts & Crafts Movement as those are the subjects guiding the book selections. So far we have read John D. Larkin: A Business Pioneer by Daniel Larkin, and Nancy Horan’s book Loving Frank.

    January’s book selection, American Eve, describes the love triangle between Evelyn Nesbit, America’s first child super star, her demented millionaire fan and later husband, Harry Thaw, and her lover, the famous New York architect Stanford White. The triangle ultimately leads to Stanford White’s murder. Many of the book's facts and quotes come from Evelyn’s autobiography. Author Paula Uruburu gives the reader a completely riveting story covering Evelyn's rise to fame from a child model for painters in Philadelphia to a Broadway teen actress as well as Stanford White’s obsession with child-like beauties and the precarious position women were put in at that time: being totally dependent upon men - be they fathers, brothers, uncles, husbands or ‘patrons’.

    Perhaps this book should be on your Christmas gift list! Join us for what will surely be a lively discussion of the scandal, trial, mores and more. We will meet Sunday, January 18^th, 4:00-5:30PM at the Roycroft Inn. Reservations are appreciated, call 716-655-0261.  The book was recently published in 2008 and is available in local libraries and bookstores, but we do not have it at the Copper Shop.

- Sue

Next Book Club Discussion on Loving Frank

The RCC Winter Book Club began at the Roycroft Campus Arts & Crafts Conference with the discussion of Daniel Larkin’s book about his grandfather, John D. Larkin: A Business Pioneer.

      As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the book is of particular interest to Roycroft devotees as it does much to shed light on the eventual falling out between Elbert Hubbard and his brother-in-law, John Larkin.

Linda Ulrich-Hagner, retired teacher and avid docent for the RCC and the Inn, skillfully led our discussion with many interesting anecdotes from her own research. This group was from near and far, being a cross section of conference attendees.

      Our next book, Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan, is a fictional account of Frank Lloyd Wright’s affair with married client Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Ms Horan does a beautiful job of channeling what the conversations might have been; immersing you in the time period, humanizing the famous architect and fleshing out the woman to whom he was so attracted. It captures you and takes you on a very fast ride/read through their relationship beginning in 1907 and ending with Mamah's tragic death in 1914.

      The book discussion will be Sunday, November 16^th at the Roycroft Inn, 4 - 5:30 PM, led once again by Linda who has managed to get the author to join us via telephone. The book discussion is an RCC Member event  and is free and open to the public as well. So prepare your questions and come on out for a fireside chat! Reservations appreciated, call 655-0261.

- Sue

Roycroft and Larkin Connection

      Being a volunteer with the RCC is very educational. One may start out with an interest in Arts & Crafts perhaps, but the “yellow brick road” * then leads to the charismatic leader of the Roycroft,  Larkin Soap, Frank Lloyd Wright, Darwin Martin, the suffragette movement, the Wizard of Oz and on and on.

      So for those of you with the desire to learn all things Roycroft I recommend John D. Larkin: A Business Pioneer, by Daniel I. Larkin. The RCC Copper Shop carries the book and it is featured at the upcoming Roycroft Campus Arts & Crafts Conference, The Connection 2008, in a free book discussion at the Inn on Saturday October 25, 4:30PM.

      At first blush you might think it hasn’t much to do with Elbert et al, but trust me, you get some good back story material here. There is detailed information on the settlement between John Larkin and Bert (Elbert) Hubbard. The dissolution of their partnership occurred after the panic and during the depression of 1893, so it was a difficult time financially for the Larkin Soap Company. The settlement was paid out in installments, which was not to Bert’s liking, and was not the large amount as has been reported elsewhere. It was still a good sum for starting his next venture, but not the bankroll we have all thought it was.

      So buy this book for yourself at the Copper Shop (31 South Grove St. East Aurora), dig in for more interesting tid bits and come to the book discussion October 25th to learn even more. I, for one, did not know about the panic and depression of 1893 and am going to explore that more.

* the Wizard of Oz illustrator W.W. Denslow was a Roycrofter.

- Sue

A tradegy that shaped Elbert Hubbard

One little known tragedy in Elbert Hubbard's life really shaped his childhood and maybe beyond.

Elbert was 3 1/2 years old when his nine year old brother Charlie died. Charlie had a bad fall which permanently twisted his spine. From the book, Art & Glory by Freeman Champney (Crown Publishers, 1968):

"Charlie's life had been that of an invalid child; an indoor life, frequently sick and in pain, knitting and crocheting and making baskets on his good days, or reading the sermon and theological commentaries that made much of his family library, always sustained and cherished by his mother, who was wild with grief when he died".

Because his older brother could not enjoy the outdoors, did that make Elbert appreciate nature more?  Having an older sister and three younger ones, did that make him more open to stronger women's roles in society?

What do you think?

Julie