#roycrofters

[cimness]

Roycroft ceiling sconce designed by Dard Hunter

[uwlmvac]

Thanks to Jim Theler for this week’s post –

Historic Solstice-Marking Petroglyph in Perrot State Park

The petroglyph shown here is located on a bluff in Perrot State Park. Research by Alton Fisher (1987) and Bill Green (1992) indicates that this petroglyph was almost certainly carved by Towne L. Miller, who was the cook on the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) archaeological expedition working in Trempealeau County in 1928.  

Fisher nicely summarizes the petroglyph’s origin in his Abstract (Fisher 1987:388):

“A petroglyph carved on the face of a sandstone outcrop on the east shore of Trempealeau Bay within Perrot State Park is believed by some to be a prehistoric solstice marker. Competent archaeologists familiar with the locale did not report its presence prior to mid-summer 1928. The petroglyph shares many graphic elements with the logo of the Roycroft Shop, which existed in the early decades of this century. The chef of the Milwaukee Public Museum’s archaeological field camp which was located in the Trempealeau area in 1928 had been a member of the Roycrofters before World War I and sometimes used their logo to mark his personal possessions. It is very probable that he carved the petroglyph.”  

The Roycrofters were artists and craftspeople associated with the Arts and Crafts movement that greatly influenced American design in the early 1900s. The Roycroft community was founded by Elbert Hubbard, who was an interesting character. An online search will bring up all kinds of information on the movement, its participants, and their lasting impression on American culture. The lasting impression on a bluff in Perrot State Park is one we wouldn’t condone today! But it gives us an unusual and interesting glimpse into events nearly a century ago.

Fisher, Alton K. 1987 Probable Origin of the Solstice-Marking Petroglyph in Perrot State Park. The Wisconsin Archeologist 68(4):388-395. 

Green, William 1992 Additional Information on the Recent Origin of a Wisconsin Petroglyph. The Wisconsin Archeologist 73(3-4):237-244.  

[shushmuckle]

From the back cover of "Get Out Or Get In Line," a preachment by Elbert Hubbard. Published in 1902 by The Roycrofters of East Aurora, New York.

[msulconservationlab]

Yesterday Bexx and Linsey attended an excellent workshop on Roycroft Suede Bindings with Fran Kovac at @morganpaper ... here’s a shot if the bindery before class began. More photos to follow! #bookbinding #handbookbinding #bindery #professionaldevelopment #artsandcraftsmovement #roycrofters (at The Morgan Conservatory)

[alidaisinthevalli]

Roycroft was a reformist community of craft workers and artists which formed a part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. Elbert Hubbard founded the movement in 1885 in East Aurora, New York, near Buffalo. Participants were known as Roycrofters. The work and philosophy often referred to as the Roycroft movement, had a strong influence on the development of American architecture and design in the early 20th century.

Elbert Hubbard had been influenced by the ideas of William Morris on a trip to England. His championing of the Arts and Crafts approach attracted a number of visiting craftspeople to East Aurora, and they formed a community of printers, furniture makers, metalsmiths, leathersmiths, and bookbinders. A quotation from John Ruskin formed their "creed":

A belief that working with the head, hand and heart and mixing enough play with the work so that every task is pleasurable and makes for health and happiness. (From Wikipedia.

Roycroft - Wikipedia

[detroitlib]

Elbert Hubbard (June 19, 1856 – May 7, 1915)

American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher. Hubbard is known best as the founder of the Roycroft artisan community in East Aurora, New York, an influential exponent of the Arts and Crafts Movement. (Wikipedia)

From our stacks: Cover detail and title page from So here then cometh Pig-Pen Pete or Some Chums of Mine. Being stories truthfully related by Elbert Hubbard about some of our Dumb Brothers to whom we are much beholden for needed examples of love, loyalty, honesty and virtue. Printed by the Roycrofters their Shop which is in East Aurora, Erie County, New York, 1914.

[msulconservationlab]

Linsey and I had so much fun in Fran Kovac’s workshop on Roycroft Suede Bindings! We each made two small books covered in limp suede. It was great to learn more about this structure! #roycrofters #artsandcraftsmovement #bookbinding #bookstagram #professionaldevelopment (at The Morgan Conservatory)