Elbert Hubbard was an American philosopher, lecturer, critic, essayist and biographer born in Bloomington, Illinois. He was the son of Francis and Silas Hubbard. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/ After leaving a career in advertising for his brother-in-law's soap company, he decided to become a writer at the age of 36. http://www.buffaloah.com/h/hub/hub.htmlHubbard was inspired after claiming to meet William Morris, a leader of the Arts and Craft Movement in England and head of Kelmscott Press, during a trip in Europe. http://www.crookedlakereview.com/books/saints_sinners/martin15.htmlAfter returning to America, he moved his family to East Aurora, New York, and founded the Roycroft Press. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/

Hubbard attended Harvard University but left after three months. http://www.crookedlakereview.com/books/saints_sinners/martin15.html Though he never graduated, it was during this time that he was began to write Little Journeys, a series of biographies documenting the lives of famous individuals. http://www.buffaloah.com/h/hub/hub.html This included figures such as Charles Dickens, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Johnathan Swift, William Shakespeare and Walt Whitman. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/

In addition to his work as an essayist and biographer, Hubbard was a philosopher and entrepreneur. He founded the Roycroft Community from his home to reflect his beliefs that art and craftsmanship could be used in social reform. http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/hubbard.html In addition to a printing press, the community also included a leather shop, metal working shop and furniture making facility. http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/hubbard.html As a public speaker, he promoted the community and its ideal until his death in 1915. http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/hubbard.html

At 19, Hubbard left his family's farm to work for his brother-in-law's soap company as a traveling salesmen. http://www.crookedlakereview.com/books/saints_sinners/martin15.html He eventually moved to Buffalo, New York, where he worked in advertising for the company office. http://www.crookedlakereview.com/books/saints_sinners/martin15.html After leaving the company, Hubbard had little success as writer. It was not until he published The Philistine magazine in 1895 that he gained notoriety. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/ The magazine included his essay, "A Message to Garcia", which was given to U.S. Navy members during World War I and World War II. http://books.google.com/books?id=6UMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=a+message+to+garcia+given+navy&source=bl&ots=2KfVvmTy61&sig=UGarHR3mplq-yu7RA-hxrdj9f0w&hl=en&ei=_QYRTdSoNYeosAOwrKSjAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=a%20message%20to%20garcia%20given%20navy&f=false It has been translated to many different languages and received film adaptations in 1916 and 1936. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/

In addition to production facilities, Hubbard built the Roycroft Chapel and Roycroft Inn to hold lectures and house guests. Between 1910 and 1914, the Roycroft Community enjoyed a period of success. <ref>http://www.crookedlakereview.com/books/saints_sinners/martin15.html </ref>. However, due to the Great Depression and onset of World War I, this came to an end in 1938 and the Roycroft Community closed. http://www.crookedlakereview.com/books/saints_sinners/martin15.html

On May 1, 1915, Hubbard was traveling to Europe aboard the Lusitania when it was torpedoed by German U-Boats off the coast of Ireland. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/ According to journalist and passenger Ernest Cowper, Hubbard and his wife chose not to board the lifeboat and stay on the ship. http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/hubbard.html Three years before his death, Hubbard wrote the biographies of Isador and Ida Strauss, co-owners of Macy's department store, who died on the RMS Titanic. http://www.online-literature.com/elbert-hubbard/

"If men will not act for themselves, what will they do when the benefit of their effort is for all?" — A Message To Garcia http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17195

Every man should have a college education in order to show him how little the thing is really worth. The intellectual kings of the earth have seldom been college-bred." — Little Journeys to the Homes of Eminent Painters http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18118

"All boys and girls want to make things with their hands, and they want to make beautiful things, they want to `get along,' and I've simply given them a chance to get along here, instead of seeking their fortunes in Buffalo, New York or Chicago. They have helped me and I have helped them; and through this mutual help we have made head, gained ground upon the whole." — Introduction to Little Journeys http://www.arts-crafts.com/archive/ehubbard.shtml

• 1906: Love, Life & Work http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1910: The Mintage http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1914: A Message To Garcia: Being a Preachment http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 1: Good Men and Great http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 2: Famous Women http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 3: American Statesmen http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 4: Eminent Painters http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 5: English Authors http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 6: Eminent Artists http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 7: Eminent Orators http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 8: Great Philosophers http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 9: Great Reformers http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 10: Great Teachers http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 11: Great Businessmen http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 12: Great Scientists http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 13: Great Lovers http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228

• 1916: Little Journeys Vol. 14: Great Musicians http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&query=228