Table of Contents


Collection Overview

Administrative Information

Restrictions

Biographical History

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Subject and Genre Headings

Related Material

Inventory

Series I. Research, circa 1899, 1927-1983, undated

Series II. Audio, circa 1972-1976, undated

_____________________

Finding Aids Home

BECPL Home

Finding Aid for History and Bibliography of the Roycroft Printing Shop: Papers of Paul McKenna, circa 1899, 1927-1983, undated


Collection Overview

Creator: McKenna, Paul
Title: History and Bibliography of the Roycroft Printing Shop: Papers of Paul McKenna
Inclusive Dates: circa 1899, 1927-1983, undated
Call number: Roycroft 1899 .M3 H5
Extent: 2 manuscript boxes, 2 audiotapes + 10 audiocassettes (2 linear feet)
Abstract: Contains research materials of author Paul McKenna used in the creation of his book, A History and Bibliography of the Roycroft Printing Shop. Includes photographs, audio materials, correspondence, printed publications, and photocopies of journal articles.
Language: Collection materials are in English.
Repository: Rare Book Room, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

[Description and dates], Box/folder number, History and Bibliography of the Roycroft Printing Shop: Papers of Paul McKenna, Central Library: Rare Book Room, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Collection materials were donated to the Rare Book Room by Paul McKenna, circa 1986.

Processing Information

Collection processed by: Amy Vilz, February 2009

Finding aid encoded by: Amy Vilz, September 2010

Return to the Table of Contents


Restrictions

Access Restrictions

History and Bibliography of the Roycroft Printing Shop: Papers of Paul McKenna is open for research.

Use Restrictions

See librarian for information on reproducting materials from this collection, including photocopies, digital camera images, digital scans, as well as copyright restictions that may pertain to these materials.

Return to the Table of Contents


Biographical History

Paul McKenna's A History and Bibliography of the Roycroft Printing Shop was first published in 1986, with a second edition published 10 years later. The materials in this collection document McKenna's research for the first edition of this book. In the preface, McKenna states:

The Roycroft Shop had its day, but its day, unlike that of Currier and Ives, has not been documented. What the Roycroft Printing Shop accomplished was important in the history of American book making and graphic design. However, its efforts have been ignored or belittled until recently so I hope that this work will generate a greater interest in, and an appreciation of, its place in our graphics art history.*

*McKenna, Paul. A History of the Roycroft Printing Shop, "Preface to the First Edition," pp.v.

Return to the Table of Contents


Scope and Contents

Many of the records in this collection are photocopies of original correspondence, journal articles, and manuscripts. Primary source documentation includes photographs of Elbert Hubbard and family, Roycroft employees, and views of buildings on the Roycroft Campus.

Additionally, audio materials capture Roycroft employee interviews as well as other research conducted by McKenna pertaining to the Print Shop.

Return to the Table of Contents


Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series.

Return to the Table of Contents


Subject Headings

Persons

Hubbard, Elbert, 1856-1915
McKenna, Paul

Corporate Bodies

Roycroft Shop--History

Subjects

Arts and crafts movement--New York (State)--East Aurora
Book design--History
Publishers and publishing--New York (State)--East Aurora--History

Places

Roycroft Campus (East Aurora, N.Y.)

Genres and Forms

audiocassettes
audiotapes
correspondence
manuscripts
notes
photographs

Return to the Table of Contents


Related Material

Related Material

Ernest E. Simmons Papers, circa 1894-1966, undated. Call number: RBR Roycroft 1894 .S56

Harry Persons Taber Papers, 1881-1945. Call number: RBR Roycroft 1881 .T33

In Memorium, Elbert and Alice Hubbard [scrapbook] Call number: RBR Roycroft 1915 .S515

Return to the Table of Contents


Inventory

Series I. Research, circa 1899, 1927-1983, undated
Subseries A. General research, 1899, 1938, 1963, 1983, undated
Scope and content: Consists mainly of printed publications, and photocopies of correspondence and photographs. Quoted folder titles were taken directly from the material.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by title.
Box 1.1 "The Art of Samuel Warner 1872-1947," 1983; includes catalog of exhibition held March 24 to April 7, 1983 at Soenen/Wilmoth Booksellers, Clearwater, Florida.
Box 1.2 Correspondence, undated; includes photocopies of 3 typewritten letters, dated 1896: between Elbert Hubbard and W.W. Denslow, to Elbert Hubbard from Walter Blackburn Harte.
Box 1.3 "Federation of Churches of Infinite Science, Inc.," 1938; includes Federation conference program held September 3, 1938 at Roycroft Campus, East Aurora, New York.
Box 1.4 "E.H. and Axel Sahlin 1914," undated; includes 2 duplicate photocopy images of Elbert Hubbard and Axel Sahlin.
Box 1.5 Rudyard Kipling, 1899, undated; includes New York Times newspaper clipping: "Kipling, Elbert Hubbard, and Lawyers in the Case," typewritten note.
Box 1.6 Little Journeys to the Homes of Roycrofters, 1963; includes booklet by Charles F. Hamilton, East Aurora, New York: S-G Press.
Subseries B. Scrapbook, circa 1927-1976, undated,
Scope and content: Consists of records removed from 3-ring binder. Records are mainly photocopies of journal articles and correspondence. Quoted folder titles were taken directly from McKenna’s description of the material.
Arrangement: Original order of records was retained.
Box 1.7 "Hubbard bio information," undated; includes photocopies of newspaper articles [1 dated February 28, 1940].
Box 1.8 "Hubbard/Taber," undated; includes list of published issues of The Philistine (vol. 1 no. 1 . vol. 5 no. 3, 1895-1897); journal articles; typewritten manuscript: "Not that it matters...;" contract: "Memo of agreement between Harry P. Taber and E. Hubbard." [photocopies]
Box 1.9 "Hubbard/Harte," 1962; includes correspondence from Melvin H. Schoberlin, Commander of US Navy, to Elbert Hubbard II regarding relationship between Elbert Hubbard and Walter Blackburn Harte; photocopy: "Walter Blackburn Harte in The Philistine."
Box 1.10 "Hubbard and S. Crane," circa 1927-1969, undated; includes correspondence of Elbert Hubbard II with Melvin H. Schoberlin and Professor R.W. Stallman, regarding Stephen Crane; article: "The Real Stephen Crane" (The Step Ladder, January 28); transcriptions of 2 letters from Crane to Elbert Hubbard; photocopy: letter from Elbert Hubbard to H.G. Wells regarding Crane, note, clippings.
Box 1.11 "The Roycroft Press-beginning," undated; includes articles, typewritten outline: "Roycroft Shop and Roycrofters;" typewritten manuscript: "The Philistine and Roycroft."
Box 1.12 "Roycroft Shop 1900-1915," undated; includes Roycrofters stock certificates, journal articles, Roycroft Corporation meeting minutes. [photocopies]
Box 1.13 "The Phil and Fra," undated; includes articles: "The Philistine" and "Ephemeral Bibelots." [photocopies]
Box 1.14 "Equipment in Print Shop," undated; includes articles. [photocopies]
Box 1.15 "Message to Garcia," undated; includes articles. [photocopies]
Box 1.16 "Roycroft employees," 1976, undated; includes lists: "illuminators," employees; notes, articles, typewritten manuscript regarding Elbert Hubbard and W.W. Denslow.
Box 1.17 "Symbol and symbol usage," undated; includes photocopy of 1948 letter from Harry Taber to "Billy."
Box 1.18 "Roycroft authors," undated; includes letter to Roger Butterfield regarding Dipsy Chanty, clipping, journal articles. [photocopies]
Subseries C. Photographs, 1964, 1983, undated,
Scope and content: Consists of images of Roycroft Campus buildings, typefaces, correspondence, mechanicals, and Roycroft employees. All photos are black and white.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by subject.
Box 1.19 Chapel, circa 1964; includes exterior images of Roycroft Chapel. [note on verso: "Old Chapel was owned for few years and used by Baptist, now Town Hall 1964".] [3 photos]
Box 1.20 Correspondence, 1983; includes image of contract: "Memo of agreement between Harry P. Taber and E. Hubbard." [3 photos: duplicates]
Box 1.21 Mechanicals, undated; includes images of Roycroft publications. [7 photos]
Box 1.22 Negatives, undated; includes images of 1898 European trip [Elbert Hubbard, D. Mitchell, and Ralph H.], East Aurora streetscape, print shop, bindery, "Ali Baba." [7 envelopes: 18 negatives]
Box 1.23-1.24 People, undated; includes images of employees on Print Shop steps, Ali Baba? [Anson Blackmon], St. Jerome [Jerome Connor], Elbert Hubbard II at time clock; candid images of Elbert Hubbard, Alice Hubbard, unknown couple, unknown man. [10 photos]
Box 2.1 Roycroft Print Shop and Bindery, undated; includes images of printing department business office, bindery. [4 photos]
Box 2.2 Roycroft publications, undated; includes images of The Motto Book, Pig-Pen Pete. [2 photos]
Box 2.3 Typefaces, undated; includes images of McFarland Series Inland Type Foundry, Monotype Bookman, Monotype Kennerley, Monotype Caslon Old Style, Bruce Roman, Monotype Cushing, Barnhart Bros. and Splinder Old Style Antique, American Type Founders Wayside. [8 photos]
Series II. Audio, circa 1972-1976, undated
Scope and content: Contains audiotapes and cassettes of interviews of Roycroft employees and other research. Audiotape player is listed at the end of this series. Quoted folder titles were taken directly from McKenna’s description of the material.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by title.
Box 2.4 "Cliff Awald Roycroft", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.5 "Mrs. Brady- 10/10/72- catalog notes", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.6 "C. Hamilton 3/10", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.7 "Interviews: H. Williamson/B. Knights", undated [5" audiotape]
Box 2.8 "Message to Garcia", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.9 "Mother Goose", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.10 "Newspaper extracts" [side 1] and "L.J. and wages, etc." [side 2], undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.11 "Pamphlets", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.12 "Rosen sisters interview 6/4/76", 1976 [5" audiotape]
Box 2.13 "Roycroft pamphlets", undated [audiocassette]
Box 2.14 "RR 2/14/75 #3", 1975 [audiocassette]
Box 2.15 "F. Weylee"?, undated [audiocassette]
Box 3 Audiotape player, undated

Return to the Table of Contents