roycroft-hubbard_papers This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 26, 2021. English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester Rush Rhees Library Second Floor, Room 225 Rochester, NY 14627-0055 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.rochester.edu/spaces/rbscp roycroft-hubbard_papers Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical/Historical note .......................................................................................................................... 3 Scope and Contents note ............................................................................................................................... 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 5 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 5 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Series I: Correspondence ............................................................................................................................. 6 Series II: Manuscripts and essays ............................................................................................................... 7 Subseries I: Manuscripts written by Elbert Hubbard ............................................................................... 7 Subseries II: Manuscript essays by others about E. Hubbard and Roycroft ............................................ 9 Subseries III: Miscellaneous related material .......................................................................................... 9 Series III: Printed ephemera ..................................................................................................................... 10 Series IV: Photographs and engravings .................................................................................................... 12 - Page 2 - roycroft-hubbard_papers Summary Information Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester Creator: Roycroft Shop Creator: Hubbard, Elbert, 1856-1915 Title: Roycroft-Hubbard papers ID: D.77 Date [inclusive]: 1887-1965 Physical Description: 4 boxes, 1 package, 1 boxed bound volume Language of the English Material: Language of the English Material: Preferred Citation (Name of item, if applicable), Roycroft-Hubbard Papers, 1887-1965. Dept. of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical/Historical note Elbert Hubbard was born in Bloomington, Illinois in 1856, the second son and third child of Silas Hubbard, a doctor. He was educated in the district school, and at the age of 16 began selling soap for his cousin Justus Weller. In 1875 Weller split the business with his partner John Larkin, and Hubbard followed Larkin to Buffalo, where he became the junior partner in the Larkin Soap Company and was responsible for introducing the system of credit and premiums used to sell products. He married Bertha Crawford in 1881, and they had three sons and one daughter. In 1884 the Hubbard family moved to East Aurora, New York. Hubbard was very successful in business, but in 1892 he decided to leave Larkin in order to write novels. He had published his first novel in 1891, which was followed by three others in 1893 and 1894. The following year he attended Harvard University as a special student for a term, then in 1894 went to England for the summer. - Page 3- roycroft-hubbard_papers In England he met William Morris and was impressed by Kelmscott printing and by Morris' ideas on design. Upon his return he wrote a series of "Little Journeys" based on places he had visited during his English trip. These were published by Putnam, at the rate of one per month. In June 1895 Hubbard began to publish "The Philistine," which was issued monthly until his death in 1915. At the same time, Hubbard began to print a book, The Song of Songs, in his barn, on a handpress. By the end of 1895 he owned a print shop, where for the next 20 years he produced The Philistine, the series of 15 "Little Journeys," and about 30 individual books. The Roycroft venture expanded rapidly into a semi-communal business with an inn for paying guests, a large force of employees, and a line of products that included handcrafts, furniture, gifts and candy. A Roycrofter's Annual Convention was held every summer. In 1899 he published in The Philistine the essay which became his best known, "A Message to Garcia" , and which doubled the circulation of his periodicals. Hubbard became a public figure, and began to make lecture appearances, speaking about the Roycroft Community. About 1889 Hubbard had met Alice Moore, an East Aurora school teacher. Their daughter Miriam was born in 1894, and in 1901 Bertha Hubbard obtained a divorce. Alice Moore and Elbert Hubbard were married in 1904, and thereafter Alice Hubbard was a partner in managing the Roycroft enterprises. In 1908 Hubbard began to publish The Fra, which was a large format monthly magazine with a roster of contributors and regular commercial advertising pages. At about this time he became more and more identified with large business interests in his writings, and the last series of "Little Journeys" was to the Homes of Great Business Men. Elbert and Alice Hubbard were lost on board the Lusitania, May 1915. After their deaths, Elbert Hubbard II carried on the Roycroft enterprise until the Depression. The shops were sold in 1938. Elbert Hubbard II died in 1970. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Contents note The collection consists of correspondence, manuscript essays by and about Elbert Hubbard, printed ephemera relating to Roycroft enterprises and photographs and engravings of the Hubbards, Roycroft personalities, and the subjects of "Little Journeys." The correspondence is in four series. The first consists of letters from Elbert Hubbard, Alice Hubbard and Elbert Hubbard II to various people. The second series consists of 85 letters from Lyman Chandler, who was Hubbard's secretary, to Miss Florence Irvine. The letters concern events at Roycroft, visitors and residents, as well as Hubbard himself. The third series consists of 145 letters exchanged between the Hubbards and William Morris Delsher of Reading, Pennsylvania. Delsher was an insurance agent who admired Hubbard. He arranged two speaking engagements in Reading for him. The final series consists of correspondence between George Ferrell of Liberty, Missouri, a Hubbard collector and admirer, and Elbert Hubbard II, from 1962 to 1965. - Page 4- roycroft-hubbard_papers ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Publication Statement Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester Rush Rhees Library Second Floor, Room 225 Rochester, NY 14627-0055 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.rochester.edu/spaces/rbscp Restrictions on Access The Roycroft-Hubbard Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification. Immediate Source of Acquisition note Gift of Robert L. Volz, June 1977. Purchased from The Rendells, May 19, 1978, NEH Fund. Postcards purchased at Swann Auction, April 29, 1993, Bowerman Fund. Restrictions on Use In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. ^ Return to Table of Contents Controlled Access Headings • Correspondence • Photographs - Page 5- roycroft-hubbard_papers • Roycroft Shop • Hubbard, Elbert, 1856-1915 Collection Inventory Series I: Correspondence, 1895-1965 Title/Description Instances Hubbard correspondence, 1895-1898 Box 1 Folder 1 Hubbard correspondence, 1899-1915 Box 1 Folder 2 Hubbard correspondence, 1916-1968 Box 1 Folder 3 Lyman Chandler correspondence, January-April 1900 Box 1 Folder 4 Lyman Chandler correspondence, May-June 1900 Box 1 Folder 5 Lyman Chandler correspondence, July-August 1900 Box 1 Folder 6 Lyman Chandler correspondence, September-December 1900 Box 1 Folder 7 Lyman Chandler correspondence, January-February 1901 Box 1 Folder 8 Lyman Chandler correspondence, March 1901 Box 1 Folder 9 Lyman Chandler correspondence, April-May 1901 Box 1 Folder 10 Lyman Chandler correspondence, June-October 1901 Box 1 Folder 11 Deisher-Hubbard correspondence, 1902-1909 Box 1 Folder 12 Deisher-Hubbard correspondence, 1910-1911 Box 1 Folder 13 Deisher-Hubbard correspondence, January-March 1912 Box 1 Folder 14 Deisher-Hubbard correspondence, April-December 1912 Box 1 Folder 15 Deisher-Hubbard correspondence, 1913-1914 Box 1 Folder 16 Deisher-Hubbard correspondence, 1915-1942 Box 1 Folder 17 George Ferrel correspondence, 1962 Box 2 Folder 1 George Ferrel correspondence, January-May 1963 Box 2 Folder 2 George Ferrel