Robert William Lowry was born in Paeroa, Thames/Coromandel, New Zealand on 17 November 1912. Robert was the eldest child of his mother Janet (Jessie) Craig Forrest and Irish father Robert William Lowry, a storekeeper, farmer and carpenter.
He was educated at Auckland Grammar School, where he first became interested in typography, and at Auckland University College (1931-1933).
While still at university, he undertook several printing enterprises, including the printing of Phoenix, the journal of the university"s literary club At this time Lowry was an admirer of Francis Meynell, Eric Gill and Stanley Morison. Also of Tschichold. After university Lowry set up the Unicorn Press, and later the Pelorus Press.
Lowry has been mentioned in many a publication.
Below is a list:
A Book in the Hand: Essays on the History of the Book in New Zealand Preface Eleven: Bob Lowry and the Pelorus Press, 1945-531
Design Review: Volume 3, Issue 3 (NovemberDecember 1950) Craft at the Academy
Indirections: A Memoir 1909-1947 Chapter Eight — Hallenstein Bros
Kōtare 1998, Volume One, Number One ‘Red Hot Gospels of Highbrows’: R. A. K. Mason and the demise of Phoenix
Kōtare 1999, Volume Two, Number One A bibliographical description and nominal index to The Phoenix, Auckland University College, 1932-1933
Kōtare 2007, Special Issue — Essays in New Zealand Literary Series One: ‘Women Prose Writers to World War I’ Elsie Locke, 1912–2001
Kōtare 2008, Special Issue — Essays in New Zealand Literary Series Three: ‘The Early Poets’ R. A. K. Mason, 1905–1971 Charles Brasch, 1909–1973 Denis Glover, 1912–1980
Kōtare 2008, Special Issue — Essays in New Zealand Literary Series Two: ‘Early Male Prose Writers’ Frank Sargeson, 1903–1982 Roderick Finlayson, 1904–1992
The Home Front Volume II CHAPTER 23 — The Arts Survive.
