Jack Lewis print collection

Jack Lewis (1912-2012) was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents moved the family to Long Island, Kentucky, and New Jersey. Jack graduated from Rutgers University in the middle of the Great Depression. In 1936 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was assigned to sketch and paint a record of daily activity at Delaware’s four CCC camps. He learned many artistic skills while at the camps including puppetry and the accordion. He left the CCC at the age of 27 and began taking painting commissions. After America entered World War II in 1942 Jack joined the Army, he continued painting even during a troop ship voyage to Papua New Guinea. He was assigned to Special Services during the war. In 1946 he married fellow artist Dorothy Harden. After leaving the service he returned to Rutgers for his master’s degree in education and began a career in teaching art education. He continued to paint, including murals, most often depicting lower Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He published several books of his works and helped illustrate books for other authors including Gilbert Byron. He died in Maine on August 19, 2012. He was survived by his two daughters Sallie and Heather, both artists like their parents.