RoyCroftCampusCorporation

Women of the Roycroft

Last Thursday evening (May 22), I had a lovely evening absorbed in great stories about Roycroft women past and present. Jill Peters, a doctoral candidate, presented "The Untold Story of the Roycroft Women" at the Roycroft Inn.  The women she highlighted ranged from Alice Hubbard and Eleanor Douglass to Kitty Turgeon and the Roycroft Campus Corporation's Executive Director, Christine Peters.

Here is a photo from that night. It was great to see a huge turn out for this presentation. Stay tuned for information on more upcoming lectures. I'll be sharing some interesting facts I learned in upcoming blog posts also.

If you are interested in learning more about the Roycroft women, men and the Roycroft products they made, come to the Copper Shop, 31 Grove Street, East Aurora, NY.  We have numerous unique handcrafted items created by talented women artistians.  The large display of reading materials has many informative books that include stories about Roycroft women of the past.

Julie

Elbert Hubbard Would Be Riding in Front to Celebrate Our Equine History

      Elbert Hubbard loved his horses and rode daily for both exercise and enjoyment. Horses were important to everyone as a source of transportation and as valuable farm animals for plowing fields, harvesting and bringing food to market. East Aurora also had a well established “horsey” reputation as a center for harness racing.

      For those persons sharing Hubbard’s and East Aurora’s equine interest, this summer in neighboring Cattaraugus County there will be a 180 mile Wagon Train & Stage Coach Run. It is an educational living history commemoration of the county’s bicentennial and a  celebration of the role horses have played in our history.

      Beginning in Ellicottville on August 9^th, the wagon train - consisting of horses, oxen, mules and ponies pulling a variety of wagons including an authentic chuck wagon and sheepherders wagon -  will travel through the county’s communities along their 2 week tour using normal roads and traveling at a speed of about 3 miles an hour. The final stop is in Little Valley on August 22^nd. Overnight stops are scheduled for the towns of Cattauraugus, Randolph, Otto, West Valley, Delevan, Franklinville, Hinsdale, Portville, Allegany, Salamanca and Little Valley.

      The Equine Advisory Committee is encouraging public participation at a cost of $10.00 per day per wagon or rider. Children between the ages of 8 and 18 can enter a drawing that will select five winners to spend and day and night on the Wagon Train with their parent or guardian, helping to feed the horses and dining by the campfire. At the end of each day of travel, when the Wagon Train is settled into their campground there will be educational demonstrations, music, and story-telling for the public to view as well.

      For information to volunteer or travel with the Wagon Train, Call Dolly Little at 716-938-6313 or email jimdolly@webtv.net.

     For more information on the youth contest drawing and to enter to travel with the Wagon Train call Leah Leising at 716-532-3357or email lleising@netsync.net.

Happy Trails To You,

- Sue

Will Your Resolutions Last 'Till February? Elbert Hubbard Helps You Stay on Track

     The first month of 2008 is nearly over and so are many of our resolutions. No matter what yours are, we could all use a little inspiration to keep going. Elbert Hubbard writes in his famous Credo:

"I know:

That I am here, in a world where nothing is permanent but change. And that, in degree, I myself can change the form of things."

"That a certain attitude of mind and habit of action on my part will add to the peace, happiness and well-being of other people." 

     If one of your resolutions is to help out, why not volunteer at the Roycroft Campus Corporation. We welcome volunteers in a wide range of opportunities.

Email croot@roycroftcampuscorp.com or call us at 716-655-0261 and help us reach our 2008 goals along with you!

-Amanda

                                                                         (photo: Gardens at the Copper Shop- Amanda Dembik)

Take a Break from Work with the Roycroft

       Many of our readers enjoyed holiday time off from work and are just settling into the groove between Christmas and a spring vacation. Elbert Hubbard also thought this was an opportune time for business.

      Here is an advertisement from The Philistine in 1909:

    Hope your week isn't too bleak! Stop into the Copper Shop Gallery in East Aurora, NY for a little break.  We are open 10-5 seven days a week. The dedicated staff is always working hard to find a unique handcrafted item just perfect for you.

-Amanda

Would the Roycrofters have used computers?

Have you ever had a week that no matter what  computer you touched it crashed?  I am having that type of week. I needed to borrow a computer to make this blog entry and I hope I haven't put the whammy on this machine too.

I have been using good ol' pencil and paper a lot lately just as Mr. Hubbard did a hundred years ago. It made me think...Do you think Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters would have embraced the computer or stayed true to the spirit of the arts and craft movement and not used them?  They had state of the art buildings with new fangled electricity and elevators. They used trendy printing presses. But also promoted hand made items. Umm. What do you think?

I would love to hear your opinion.

Julie

Gift Certificates - Roycroft Campus has 'em!

How is your holiday shopping going? Still looking for gifts for those last minute hard-to-buy-for people in your life?

Roycroft Copper Shop has a simple answer: a gift certificate!

They can choose from lots of fabulous one-of-a-kind gifts ranging from jewelery to chairs. Your loved one or friend can choose from quality hand made artisan goods like hand carved kitchen utensils, cards, stationary, and stemware.

Stop by and pick up a gift certificate at the Roycroft Cooper Shop 31 South Grove St in East Aurora, NY.   Open seven days a week between 10 and 5!   We also offer a selection of items available on-line at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com

Give them what they want - the ability to choose with a gift certificate!

Julie

Tired of all those Department Store Christmas Ads? Check Out This One from The Roycroft...

                   Artisan Goods from the Roycroft

                           Are Always in Style

    This advertisement is taken from a copy of the Roycroft magazine published in 1919. We all wish we could snap up some of the goods in this vintage ad (especially at those prices) but, today, we have even more gift ideas to choose from!

    

     Elbert Hubbard took pride in selling quality hand made artisan goods for the holidays. So do we ... at the Copper Shop Gallery! Stop in at 31 South Grove St in East Aurora, NY.   Open seven days a week between 10 and 5! We have a special selection of unique gift ideas for everyone.

     If you can't get in to see us in person, we now have a selection of books, fonts, cards, glassware and apparel for sale on our newly improved Roycroft Campus Corporation website!  Take a few minutes out of your holiday schedule to browse the changes on our site and find the perfect present!

-Amanda

Emerson's Essay, The American Scholar, Read at Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff

          Elbert Hubbard would have been pleased, I think, at the annual reading of Emerson's The American Scholar on August 31st, 2007.  It was first delivered by Emerson before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge, August 31, 1837.  Frank Lloyd Wright, Hubbard's friend, established an annual reading for his apprentices. The tradition, is now carried on at Graycliff, the summer home of Elbert Hubbard's very close friends Darwin and Isabelle Martin.  All, including Emerson, were revered and important influences in Hubbard's life.

          To close the month of August the public may hear this free, public reading of Emerson's essay The American Scholar on the lawn at Graycliff, the Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in Derby, New York, Wright-on-the-Lake.  The reading begins at 6 pm.  Bring your own blanket or chair.

          Support the Roycroft Campus with your membership. Check the website for how to do it.  www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com.

          Watch this space for the Second Roycroft Blogger. 

Lewiston-Porter School Teachers Have a Roycroft Experience

           Thirty some Lewiston-Porter Teachers recently spent a summer holiday at the Roycroft Campus having a true Roycroft experience.  Starting bright and early in the morning they toured the Roycroft Campus buildings and the Roycroft Inn.  Knowledgeable guides shared the rich history of the Roycrofters and its founder Elbert Hubbard.  Following the tour and a lunch in the library of the Roycroft Inn, they were escorted back to the Copper Shop where, in small groups, they had hands on activities.  Here, with Roycroft artist Sandra Bartz, they learn the basics of water coloring and each created his/own painting. 

           Moving on and into the old Finishing Room of the shop, each created a self portrait or caricature to be included in the Copper Shop Mosaic.  Over the summer many have participated in this fund raising project.  All of the contributed portraits will be used by the artist to create a mosaic of the Copper Shop.  These mosaic prints will be for sale later in the fall.  If you have not yet contributed yours check our web site for more information.

The third mini class was taught by teacher and Master Roycrofter-at-Large, Tom Bojanowski, who demonstrated the procedure of setting up the old hand press, currently on loan from the Historical Society.  Once set up, each visitor had the opportunity to make his own Roycroft Motto card to take home.

The day seemed to be a big success, many commented on enjoying learning the fascinating history of the Roycroft.  If you have a group who would be interested in such a crafty, historical, and tasty lunch day, contact the Roycroft Campus Corporation by phone at 800-655-0261 or visit our website at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com.

The Copper Shop is open daily from 10 am-5 pm on South Grove Street in East Aurora, NY

Juniata College Magazine Mentions the Roycroft Campus Blog

          The centerfold of the spring issue of Juniata Magazine announces the news that a member of the graduating class of 1944 "moderates a blog on the Roycroft Campus Corporation's Web site that attracts visitors from around the world.  The motivation behind the blog is to encourage correspondence and provide information to promote tourism."

          Of course that is only a small notice about the wonders of the Roycroft Campus Corporation, the Copper Shop and the goal of creating a community of working artisans as it was in Hubbard's Day.

          Juniata College is located in Huntingdon, PA, already mentioned in our blog regarding the visit of Elbert Hubbard and his daughter Miriam and their stay at Huntingdon's Leister House (Penn Hunt Hotel) in  December 1907.

          We will take all the publicity we can, whatever to make everyone aware of the jewel in the middle of East Aurora, New York.

          Visit our website at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com and our Roycroft Campus and Copper Shop.  Open daily 10 am to 5 pm.