Robert William Lowry (17 November 1912 – 7 December 1963) was a New Zealand printer, publisher, typographer and teacher.[1]
Biography
Lowry was born in Paeroa, New Zealand, on 17 November 1912.[2] He was the eldest child of Janet (Jessie) Craig Forrest and Robert William Lowry, a storekeeper, farmer and carpenter from Ireland.[2]
He was educated at Auckland Grammar School,[3][4] where he first became interested in typography, and at Auckland University College (1931–1933). He was conferred a bachelor of arts degree during war service in 1943.[5] While still at university, he undertook several printing enterprises, including the printing of The Phoenix, the journal of the university's literary club.[6] At this time Lowry was an admirer of Francis Meynell, Eric Gill and Stanley Morison, as well as Tschichold.
After university Lowry set up the Unicorn Press, and later the Pelorus Press.
Further reading
Hughes, Peter H. (2002). "Lowry, Robert William". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
Thomas, Patricia (August 2007). "Beyond the Merely Good: The Typography of Bob Lowry". Parenthesis: The Journal of the Fine Press Book Association (13): 22–24.
Fairburn, A. R. D. (1966). Collected Poems. Christchurch: Pegasus Press. p. 144 – via NZETC. Poem Addressed to Mr Robert Lowry on the Occasion of the Birth of his Fourth Daughter
Mallet, A. (1950). "Craft at the Academy". Design Review. Vol. 3, no. 3, November–December. p. 72 – via NZETC.
Parsons, Peter (1 October 1965). "The Postwar Development of Industrial Design in New Zealand". New Zealand Manufacturer. Vol. 18, no. ID65. New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation (Inc.).