Mead Schaeffer

Mead Schaeffer
Born	July 15, 1898 Freedom Plains, New York
Died	November 6, 1980(1980-11-06)(aged 82) New York, New York
Nationality	American
Education	Pratt Institute
Occupation(s)	Illustrator and painter

Mead Schaeffer illustration forThe Black Buccaneerby Stephen Meader, published in 1920

Mead Schaeffer(July 15, 1898 – November 6, 1980) was anAmerican illustratoractive from the early to middle twentieth century.

Biography

Schaeffer was born inFreedom Plains, New York,in 1898, the son ofPresbyterianpreacher Charles Schaeffer and his wife Minnie. He grew up inSpringfield, Massachusetts.After completing high school, he enrolled in thePratt Institutein 1916. At Pratt his teachers includedHarvey DunnandCharles Chapman.Dunn critiqued many of Schaeffer's early projects. While a student at Pratt, Schaeffer illustrated the first of seven 'Golden Boy' books written byL. P. Wyman.Mead was married in 1921. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were to be the parents of two daughters.

In 1922, at age 24, he was hired to illustrate a series of classic novels for publisherDodd Mead.His work for Dodd Mead continued until 1930. The books that he illustrated during this period includedMoby-Dick,Typee,andOmoobyHerman Melville;The Count of Monte Cristo;andLes MisérablesbyVictor Hugo.

In 1930, Schaeffer turned his attention from fictional characters to real people depicted in real settings. During the 1930s and 1940s he received commissions from magazines includingGood Housekeeping,McCall's,theSaturday Evening Post,The Ladies Home Journal,Country Gentleman,andCosmopolitan.He produced 46 covers for the weeklySaturday Evening Post.His work as awar correspondentfor thePostduringWorld War IIresulted in a well-known series of covers illustrating American military personnel.

He lived for a time inNew Rochelle, New York,but for most of his career lived inArlington, Vermont,where his studio was in a barn.Norman Rockwellwas a good friend, and Schaeffer and his family often posed as models for Rockwell'sSaturday Evening Postillustrations and paintings.

In retirement, Schaeffer lived inVermont,where Rockwell was a neighbor.Schaeffer died inNew York Cityfrom aheart attackon November 6, 1980.