Born in 1900 and diagnosed with diabetes at age 14, Rochester, New York artist James Dexter Havens was ill for much of his childhood. At age 22, he was the recipient of the first insulin injections in America when his father, a lawyer, Eastman Kodak executive and former U.S. Congressman, learned of insulin research being done in Canada and procured a supply to save his son. Havens studied with artists, developing the unique, nature-inspired style seen in his wood and linoleum prints, as well as in his oil and watercolor paintings. Havens' work won numerous prizes and earned him the title Associate National Academician by the National Academy of Design. His work is represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Library of Congress, the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, and the New York Public Library. The Strong National Museum of Play® currently holds a collection of over 400 items created by Havens, including oil and watercolor paintings, wood blocks, linoleum cuts, and prints.
From the description of James Dexter Havens collection, 1915-1964. (The Strong). WorldCat record id: 231758440
