Records of the Roycroft Community (SC-08)

In 1897, Elbert Hubbard founded the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, NY. For more than 20 years, it was a center of entrepreneurship, creativity and learning. It was a hub of the American arts and crafts movement, drawing visitors from faraway places with over five hundred working artisans and craftsmen.

In 1905 the Roycroft Inn opened to accommodate visitors and artisans interested in experiencing this emerging community and style. The Inn became a center of activity for this community. When did it close/why? In 1986, The Inn received National Historic Landmark status. With support from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, The Inn meticulously underwent an $8 million dollar restoration and was re-opened for guests in 1995. (from roycroftinn.com/history)

Hubbard chose the name "Roycroft" from the 17th century English book-makers, Samuel and Thomas Roycroft. Additionally, the word roycroft had a special significance to Hubbard, as the word means “King’s Craft.” In early modern Europe, king's craftsmen were guild members who had achieved a high degree of skill and therefore made things for the King. The Roycroft insignia was borrowed from the monk Cassidorius, a 13th-century bookbinder and illuminator.

In 1915 Hubbard and his wife, noted suffragette Alice Hubbard, died in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the Roycroft community went into a gradual decline. Following Elbert's death, his son Bert attempted to keep his father's business afloat, proposing to sell Roycroft’s furniture through major retailers. Sears & Roebuck agreed to carry the furniture, but this was only a short lived success.

Source: Roycroft