some history about the Roycroft campus

Around Roycroft Campus we found several plaques and monuments.  The sign below describes Elbert Hubbard as a writer, lecturer, philosopher, advertising innovator and author of the famous short story "A Message to Garcia".

sculpture of the roycroft renaissance mark.

The Roycoft Campus begun in 1895 after Elbert Hubbard's trip to England, which ignited a fire in him to bring the arts & crafts movement to America.  Although 43 years later, in 1938 the Roycroft Campus did eventually fall into bankruptcy following the stock market crash and great depression.

Roycroft shops plaque 1895-1938

On the lawn in front of the print ship is this roycroft orb statue that harkens back to medieval times.  monks used the orb to signify that they had completed their illuminated manuscripts with great care.  Expressing the expert craftsmanship that his own artisans gave to their handiwork,  Elbert Hubbard added an 'R' inside the orb to become the roycroft symbol.  After Elbert's death the symbol was edited with double 'R's by his son and then became the renaissance mark.  My guess is that it represented father and son, back to back.

Roycroft renaissance sculpture plaque dedicated 1984

This boulder has been placed on the front lawn of the town hall building, originally the Roycroft chapel.  it is a memorial to the 1915 deaths of Elbert and Alice Hubbard.

memorial boulder dedicated to Elbert and Alice Hubbard

memorial boulder plaque erected 1916
Elbert and Alice Hubbard died on the ship Lusitania
after being torpedoed by the Germans
in the Irish sea, may 7, 1915

Elbert Hubbard statue located across the street in school yard

This statue of Elbert Hubbard was made by Jerome Conner of Ireland.  He was a former Roycroft artisan and the statue was presented to the campus on Elbert Hubbard's birthday in 1930.

plaque for statue of Elbert Hubbard 1856-1915

close-up of Elbert Hubbard statue

side-view of Elbert Hubbard statue

long shot & side-view of Elbert Hubbard

looking up at the Elbert Hubbard statue

in the rain Elbert Hubbard looks down on us...what a great day!