A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
The Roycroft Campus in East Aurora -- a National Historic Landmark since 1986 -- dates back to the late 1800s. Today, visitors to the campus get a close-up look at a unique collection of buildings that highlight the American Arts and Crafts Movement.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Roycroft name and symbol came from the combination of two words: "royal" and "craft," symbolizing an object so well-made it was fit for royalty. The Roycroft logo design has a circle with a two-armed cross above it. Believed to be from medieval times, it was used by monks at the end of their illuminated manuscripts. Founder Elbert Hubbard put the R inside the circle to make it represent the Roycroft.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The showroom of Floyd East -Furniture for Life, Arts and Crafts furniture designed and built by woodworker Jim Cordes in the Furniture Shop & Bindery building.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Roycroft mark is stamped into the wood of a railing in the Print Shop building.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The building behind the Roycroft Inn on the Campus in East Aurora.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The original room that housed the Roycroft Press is now part of the Roycroft Inn.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Some of the creations available for sale in the Copper Shop, which today is home to the Campus artists gallery and gift shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Neil and Barbara Chur Family Gallery is a contemporary exhibition space in the Roycroft Power House. It has six exhibits that rotate throughout the year.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The large copper hood is original and one of the largest pieces produced at the Roycroft Copper Shop. It sits on the top of the fireplace in the Copper Shop, which today is home to the Campus artists gallery and gift shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Copper Shop was built in 1902 with the original front stone portion as it is seen today. Two additions were added on later: the north wing in 1912 and the west wing in 1913.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The bell on the Print Shop is original. Elbert Hubbard used to ring it to signal to his workers that it was time to take a break. He thought it had a nicer ring than a factory whistle. It was also rung when famous people came to the campus so all the workers could come out to greet them.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Copper Shop is the home to the Campus's art gallery and gift shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Campus printing operations expanded to a larger building that opened in 1901. The first floor contained 23 printing presses. The second floor was used for typesetting/composing and proofreading. The third floor housed the collating, folding, binding and mailing operations.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The window frames and doors throughout the Campus are original and are carved with quotes that Hubbard thought would inspire his workers while they were working.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Campus printing operations expanded to a larger building that opened in 1901. The first floor contained 23 printing presses. The second floor was used for typesetting/composing and proofreading. The third floor housed the collating, folding, binding, and mailing operations.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
A copy of Hubbard's most famous essay, "A Message to Garcia," has long been a staple of business and military professional reading lists.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The window frames and doors throughout the campus are original carved with quotes that Hubbard thought would inspire his workers while they were working.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
A postcard sent from New York City the day Elbert Hubbard boarded the passenger vessel Lusitania on May 1, 1915. It was the last known correspondence Hubbard had with his family before dying when a German U-boat sunk the ship off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Another Hubbard quote.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
In the top of the tower of the Print Shop was the office of Dard Hunter, the stained glass and graphic artist for the Roycroft shops.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Elbert Hubbard's original hand press in the Print Shop building.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Some of the original Roycroft printing presses located in the Print Shop on the Roycroft campus. The original purpose of the Roycroft Campus was writing, printing, illumination, and publishing.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Roycroft mark on a block in the Print Shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
A graphic made with copper on a block in the Print Shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Some of the original Roycroft printing presses located in the Print Shop on the Roycroft campus. The original purpose of the Roycroft Campus was writing, printing, illumination and publishing.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Furniture Shop & Bindery building on the Roycroft Campus. A 1981 fire destroyed the fourth floor of the Furniture Shop and Bindery building, leaving the three floors that are visible today.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Parker enjoys the Roycroft Campus Antiques shop in the Furniture Shop & Bindery building.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
People take a tour of the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The window frames and doors throughout the Campus are original carved with quotes that Hubbard thought would inspire his workers while they were working.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Furniture Shop & Bindery building left, and the Copper Shop, right, on the Roycroft Campus.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Some keys and scissors hang on the wall of the Roycroft Campus Antiques shop, which was originally the Furniture Shop & Bindery building.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Appian Way is a path that leads to the Copper Shop. It was rededicated in June 1999 in honor of the those who kept the spirit and ideas of Roycroft alive.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Appian Way leads to the Copper Shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The words carved into the main entrance door of the Roycroft Inn on S. Grove St. The 1897 country Gothic-style structure was built to house the Roycroft Press started by Elbert Hubbard.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Lights on the outdoor porch at the Roycroft Inn.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Roycroft Inn was built in 1897. The wooden country gothic-style structure was the home of the Roycroft Press. Printing, collating, binding, illuminating, shipping and office management was all completed in the what would become the first reception area for the Inn.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
An original stained glass lantern located in the library of the Roycroft Inn. It originally hung outside the main entrance to the Print Shop.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Original murals in the Salon of the Roycroft Inn were painted on canvas in 1905 by artist-in-residence Alexis Jean Fournier to represent the eight intellectual centers of the world.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Another view of the salon murals.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Another view of the salon murals.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The inn consists of a salon, 60 guest rooms, and a peristyle porch that was built to connect and unite the different architectural styles of buildings that make up the Roycroft Inn.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The chapel was the second building to be built on the Roycroft Campus.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
Rocking chairs on the porch of the Roycroft Inn.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The North Wind, a terra-cotta sculpture created by Jerome Connor is on the peak of the Roycroft Chapel. Some say it resembles the Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of Oz."
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Arts and Crafts Movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries aimed to re-establish a harmony between architect, designer and craftsman, as well as to produce handmade, well-designed, affordable, everyday objects that would enhance the lives of ordinary people.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
The Roycroft Renaissance mark, with the double Rs, was created by sculptor Paul A. Boccolucci and dedicated in 1984. This is the same mark used by the modern Roycrofters At-Large Association, which is the Roycroft Artisan Guild. It was built from reclaimed torpedo steel, which is ironic, since the Hubbards were killed when a German torpedo sunk the Lusitania they were sailing on in May of 1915.
A Closer Look: The Roycroft Campus
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