James Daugherty
James Daugherty was a prominent twentieth-century American author and illustrator, celebrated for his artistic representations of notable figures in U.S. history. Born in 1889 in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised in Lafayette, Indiana, he developed a passion for art and literature early in life, inspired by his parents, who valued education and the arts. After relocating to Washington, D.C., Daugherty honed his artistic skills at the Corcoran Gallery and later at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the London School of Art. His creative talent flourished during World War I, where he contributed to the war effort by designing camouflage for ships and creating war posters for the U.S. Navy.
In the mid-1930s, Daugherty shifted his focus to writing and illustrating biographies of prominent Americans, with his most acclaimed work being "Daniel Boone," which earned the Newbery Medal in 1939. He was also involved in illustrating for various magazines, including The New Yorker, and collaborated with his wife, Sonia Medvedeva, a children's author, illustrating her works as well. Daugherty's legacy continued through his son, Charles, who also became a writer. He passed away in February 1979 at the age of eighty-nine, leaving behind a rich contribution to American literature and illustration.
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James Daugherty
Writer
- Born: June 1, 1889
- Birthplace: Asheville, North Carolina
- Died: February 1, 1979
Biography
James Daugherty, a twentieth century author and illustrator, was best known for his depictions of famous figures in United States’ history. He was born in 1889 in Asheville, North Carolina, and spent his early childhood in Lafayette, Indiana. His parents, Charles Michael Daugherty and Susan Peyton Telfair Daugherty, were farmers who respected books as fervently as they respected the land on which they farmed. Daugherty attributed his childhood contentment to his love of art and literature.
In the mid-1890’s, Daugherty’s father became a statistician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the family moved to Washington, D.C. During this time, evenings at home were spent with his mother, who read aloud classic works of literature by William Shakespeare, William Makepeace Thackeray, Charles Dickens, and Edgar Allan Poe. During these readings, Daugherty drew illustrations to accompany the poems and stories he was hearing. His parents recognized his talent as an illustrator, and in 1903 they enrolled him in classes at the Corcoran Gallery’s Free School of Art. At the same time, he was attending Central High School, where he spent most of his study time drawing illustrations for the school newspaper.
After graduating from high school in 1905, Daugherty began studying professional illustration at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. However, later in 1905, Daugherty’s father accepted a position as an agent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in England, and the family moved to London. There, Daugherty continued his studies at the London School of Art, refining his graphic skills and further developing his talents as an illustrator. He was especially interested in mural painting.
During World War I, Daugherty served his country by camouflaging war ships and designing war posters for the U.S. Navy. After the war, he created illustrations for books and magazines, illustrating books for the Doubleday publishing company and contributing to the The New Yorker, Forum, and other magazines. In the mid-1930’s, Daugherty began to write and illustrate biographies of famous Americans. The most noted of these works was his biography Daniel Boone (1939), which won the Newbery Medal in 1939.
In 1913, Daugherty married Sonia Medvedeva, a well-known author of children’s books, and he illustrated some of her works. Their son, Charles Michael Daugherty, also wrote books for young adults, some of which James Daugherty illustrated. Daugherty died in February, 1979, at the age of eighty-nine.