Robert William Lowry
Bob Lowry, 30 May 1947
Photo: Clifton Firth
Born(1912-11-17)17 November 1912
Paeroa, New Zealand
Died7 December 1963(1963-12-07) (aged 51)
Occupation(s)Printer, publisher, typographer and teacher

Robert William Lowry (17 November 1912 7 December 1963) was a New Zealand printer, publisher, typographer and teacher.[1]

Biography

Left to right: Ian Milner, Denis Glover and Bob Lowry at the 'Dog-box', St Elmos flats, Christchurch, in December 1933

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.

During World War II he served with the 2NZEF in New Caledonia and printed the Forces newspaper in the Pacific.[1][7]

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.

Mentioned in

Lowry has been mentioned in many publications:[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Obituary: Mr R. W. Lowry". The Press. Vol. 102, no. 30310. 10 December 1963. p. 8.
  2. 1 2 Hughes, Peter H. "Lowry, Robert William". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  3. "Scholarship Passes". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. 65, no. 19848. 19 January 1928. p. 11.
  4. "Matriculation". The Auckland Star. Vol. 60, no. 16. 19 January 1929. p. 7.
  5. "Degrees Conferred". The Evening Post. Vol. 135, no. 126. 29 May 1943. p. 6.
  6. "The Bookshelf". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. 69, no. 21165 (Supplement). 23 April 1932. p. 8.
  7. "Robert William Lowry". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. "Robert William Lowry 1912–1963 (Person)". University of Wellington.
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