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Howard Jacob Simon (1903 - 1979)

Howard Jacob Simon
Born in New York City, New York, United Statesmap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 15 Sep 1926 (to 22 Nov 1936) in Paris, Francemap
[children unknown]
Died at age 76 in White Plains, Westchester, New York, United Statesmap
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Biography

Notables Project
Howard Simon is Notable.

Howard Jacob Simon is a notable figure due to his significant contributions as a painter, illustrator, and educator. His artistic talent and dedication to his craft earned him national recognition during the 1920s and 1930s. Simon's proficiency in various mediums, including oils, watercolors, sketches, woodcut prints, and etchings, showcased his versatility as an artist. His illustrations for numerous books, including those of his first wife, Charlie May Simon, and his second wife, Mina Lewiton, demonstrated his ability to bring stories to life visually. Simon's connection to Arkansas and his portrayal of the state's culture and people further cemented his legacy. As an artist-in-residence and faculty member at New York University, he also played a crucial role in shaping future generations of artists. Howard Jacob Simon's artistic achievements and his dedication to his craft make him a notable figure in the art world.

Howard Jacob Simon was born on July 22, 1903, in New York City, New York County, New York. His parents were Samuel Simon, a salesman of general merchandise, and Bertha (Seide) Simon. In his early years, Simon showed a strong inclination towards art and knew from a young age that he wanted to become an artist. He diligently pursued his passion by attending the National Academy of Design on a daily basis and later spent two years at the New York Academy of Arts while working as a newspaper illustrator.

By the age of 17, Simon had managed to save enough money to fulfill his dream of studying art in Paris, France. There, he enrolled at the Academie Julian and studied under the renowned artist Jacques Alexander for several years. It was during this time that he honed his woodblock technique, learning from Japanese instructors.

In Paris, Simon met Charlie May Hogue, whom he married on September 15, 1926. He began his artistic career in the French capital, where he created drawings depicting the lives of beggars living under the city's bridges. Additionally, he incorporated the woodblock technique he had mastered into his artworks.

Unfortunately, Simon's marriage to Charlie May ended in divorce on November 22, 1936, in Perry County, Arkansas. Despite this personal setback, his artistic career continued to flourish during the 1920s and 1930s. He gained national acclaim as a painter working in oils and watercolors, as well as an illustrator specializing in sketches and woodcut prints.

During the early 1930s, Simon lived outside Hollis in Perry County, Arkansas. This move was influenced by his wife Charlie May's desire to live a lifestyle reminiscent of her ancestors. The couple built a log cabin, and Simon found inspiration in the local community, creating sketches of the people he encountered. He would often barter these sketches for goods, services, or items handmade by the locals. Many of his illustrations during this period were featured in Charlie May Simon's books and Wayman Hogue's "Back Yonder, An Ozark Chronicle," Charlie May Simon's father.

Simon's dedication to his craft led him to illustrate notable works such as François Rabelais's works, François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire's "Candide," and Oscar Wilde's "The Nightingale and the Rose." His artistic contributions extended beyond Arkansas, with his work being exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Smithsonian and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He was a full member of the California Society of Etchers.

In January 1936, Simon married Mina Lewiton in Manhattan, New York. He divided his time between Arkansas and New York, where he served as a faculty member at New York University's art department for twenty years. During his time in Arkansas, Simon focused on creating woodcuts and etchings instead of oils and watercolors. He frequently traveled to participate in art shows in New York, Little Rock, and Memphis. In 1942, he resided in Laurelton, Queens County, New York, and by 1950, he lived on 73rd Street in New York City.

Despite his divorce from Charlie May, Simon maintained his ties to Arkansas throughout his life. He continued illustrating her books and even designed woodcuts for Arkansas's Centennial celebration in 1936, depicting the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto and his men.

Simon's second wife, Mina Lewiton, was also a writer of children's literature, and he often illustrated her works. The couple had one daughter, but Mina passed away in 1970. Simon went on to marry Pony Bouche, with whom he had no children.

In 1970, Simon published his autobiography, "Cabin on a Ridge," which chronicled his five years in Arkansas, the construction of his log cabin, and his experiences with the mountain people. Notably, the book did not mention Charlie May. Additionally, Simon authored "500 Years of Art in Illustration," published by the World Publishing Company in 1942, which explored art from the 1400s to the 1940s across various countries.

In 1971, Simon joined the faculty of the Barlow School in Amenia, New York, and became the chairman of the art department in 1972. He was honored in June 1979 when the Barlow School dedicated a new building, the Simon Art School, in his name. Unfortunately, Simon suffered a stroke in August 1979. Later that year, on October 15, 1979, he passed away in White Plains, New York. At the time of his death, he held the position of artist-in-residence at the Barlow School, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a celebrated artist, illustrator, and educator.

Sources

  • 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York; Roll: T624_1021; Page: 11a; Enumeration District: 0526; FHL microfilm: 1375034 Ancestry Record 7884 #110368643
  • 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 23, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1226; Page: 30A; Enumeration District: 1495 Ancestry Record 6061 #46389979
  • 1950 United States Federal Census: United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, New York, New York; Roll: 2625; Sheet Number: 6; Enumeration District: 31-1172 Ancestry Record 62308 #285407997
  • Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1972: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Divorces; Year: 1936; Film Number: 2 Ancestry Record 61776 #90380465
  • New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937: Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives. Ancestry Record 9105 #4555423
  • New York, New York, U.S., Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909: New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; New York City Birth Certificates; Borough: Manhattan; Year: 1903 Ancestry Record 61779 #2587762
  • U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947: National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York City, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147 Ancestry Record 2238 #193754424
  • U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2555; Volume #: Roll 2555 - Certificates: 434850-435349, 06 Jun 1924-06 Jun 1924 Ancestry Record 1174 #1153894
  • Newspaper Clipping, Poughkeepsie Journal, Poughkeepsie, New York, 16 Oct 1979, Tue. Page 13. "Reowned artist Howard Simon dies." Accessed 6 Jul 2023.
  • Parsons, Jody, Bella Vista, Arkansas, Encylopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 16 Jun 2023. "Howard Jacob Simon (1902–1979)." Accessed 6 Jul 2023.




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