James Daugherty

American author James Daugherty (1889-1974) is known for his self-illustrated works about important figures from American history, particularly his biography of Daniel Boone. As a child, Daugherty was brought up listening to his grandfather's tales about the famous American frontiersman, while living a quiet country childhood in Indiana and Ohio. He later pursued art studies in London, which led him into his career as a book illustrator. The beloved stories of Daniel Boone followed Daugherty through his first assignment of his profession, which was to illustrate Stewart Edward White's Daniel Boone, all the way through the release of his Newbery Award-decorated juvenile biography of the American Frontier hero. Daugherty's singular work garnered applause from many reviewers for its uniqueness in style and concept, and its authenticity respecting Boone and his world. Following this triumph in 1939, inspired by his taste for the poetry of Walt Whitman, Daugherty proceeded to illustrate and edit the poet's work, America. This too was praised by critics; as with Daniel Boone, James Daugherty had captured the spirit of his subject, interpreting with freshness the already lively world of yet another American.

James Daugherty's works include:

• Daniel Boone (1939)
• Of Courage undaunted (1951)
• Walt Whitman's America (edited and illustrated, 1964)
• The Magna Charta
• Poor Richard