New Book Releases

Explore the history of the education in this cloistered community, both spiritual and cultural, offered at the Chautauqua Institution in NY State for over 125 years.

The Chautauqua Institution, located on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State, is both a cloistered community and a world-renowned educational establishment. Founded in 1874 as a summer camp for Methodist Sunday school teachers, Chautauqua is synonymous with the ideas of spiritual growth, educational study, and intellectual stimulation in conjunction with recreation in an outdoor setting. For over 125 years, Chautauqua has remained an educational and cultural mecca for the common man. Chautauqua Institution, 1874-1974 is a compendium of Chautauqua's growth from its inception at Fair Point to its centennial celebrations. Each chapter's brief introduction acquaints the reader with historic highlights followed by pages of fascinating facts and intriguing images, ranging from rudimentary tents to the grande dame of hotels, from Victorian cottages to Greek-pillared halls. This array of architecture forms the backdrop for countless individuals who were responsible for bringing the founders' vision to fruition and who were the backbone of the Chautauqua Movement.

Elbert Hubbard and his Roycrofters were one of the most influential aspects of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. Hubbard founded the Roycroft Press in 1895, and by the turn of the century, the varied and eclectic group of artisans and celebrities who flocked here had transformed the small town of East Aurora, New York, into a world-renowned utopian crafts community. In this volume of over 200 images, you will experience the Roycroft campus as never before, viewing rare images of the people who made the Roycroft dream a reality. Discover their many contributions to the area's progress and see examples of their creations, from handmade books to intricate metal works and rare furniture. All of the 14 buildings that now comprise the National Historic Landmark Roycroft Campus have been documented in
original photographs and from postcards, promotions, and their own publications; many appear within these pages for the first time in book form. The Roycroft continues to be one of the most prominent areas of international Arts & Crafts Revival. After an extensive restoration following the community's centennial in 1995, the Roycroft Inn has reopened, and the area has once again become an artistic and, now, historic mecca for visitors from all over the world.