It stands, resolute, in Charles Curtiss’ library within the Farm House Museum. It’s not the centerpiece of the room, but it certainly draws the attention of anyone who walks in. The Roycroft Magazine Stand is made from oak and features a simple design that was common at the turn of the 20
Two things really deserve some
attention. First, the front of the stand is engraved, “C F C – 1901.” This is
what makes this stand really special for the Farm House. This magazine stand
was gifted to Charles F. Curtiss by the ISU class of 1901. Recognize that name?
Yes, Charles Curtiss was the second Dean of Agriculture at Iowa State and he
lived in the Farm House from 1897 to 1947. The second thing is the Roycroft
logo carved into each side of the stand.
What is Roycroft?
A man named Elbert Hubbard began
the legacy of the Roycroft brand. His inspiration came from the Arts and Crafts
movement that was happening in Europe at the time. The Arts and Crafts movement
was a widespread response to industrialization. People were tired of the
soulless products that came from factories and they drew inspiration from many
medieval styles. Elbert Hubbard, along with many Americans, began following
that trend. Hubbard started the Roycroft Press in East Aurora, NY in 1895. His
community grew to be a safe haven for other Arts and Crafts artists, artisans,
writers, and philosophers.
The
Roycroft Shops produced many pieces of furniture made out of wood and other
objects for the house made from stained glass, copper, and leather. The key
feature behind all of their products was the simple design, which was
indirectly inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. The straight lines of the
Roycroft Magazine Stand show this in addition to the piece of furniture being
made entirely of wood and using mortise and tenon joints instead of glue or
nails
The
Roycroft community valued hard, hands-on work, fueled by passion for the trade.
They sought after a life where work and pleasure could be had all at once.
Their motto was a quote from John Ruskin, a prominent figure in the Arts and
Crafts movement:
“A
belief in 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.”
How does this connect to Iowa State?
I think
this Roycroft Magazine Stand connects to Charles Curtiss in two ways. Obviously
the fact that he owned the piece of furniture, but also because he emulated similar
values to the company that crafted it. Charles Curtiss worked hard to grow Iowa
State’s agriculture programs by expanding research opportunities, designing a
four-year curriculum in agriculture, and supporting competition teams from the
school. Curtiss clearly saw the value in hard work that people were passionate
about and included enough fun to make a healthy campus environment. In a big
way, you can still see the fruits of Curtiss’ labor. Iowa State supports
hundreds of student organizations, thousands of student jobs, and rigorous
classes in any area that students can get excited about.
When you
visit the Farm House Museum, take a minute to look at the Roycroft Magazine
Stand and admire the craftsmanship while thinking about what type of work you
engage in that combines the head, hand, and heart.
