Background
Schaeffer was born in Freedom Plains, New York, in 1898, the son of Presbyterian preacher Charles Schaeffer and his wife Minnie. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts.
illustrator Presbyterian preacher
Schaeffer was born in Freedom Plains, New York, in 1898, the son of Presbyterian preacher Charles Schaeffer and his wife Minnie. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Pratt Institute.
After completing high school, he enrolled in the Pratt Institute in 1916. Dunn critiqued many of Schaeffer"s early projects. While a student at Pratt, Schaeffer illustrated the first of seven "Golden Boy" books written by L. P. Wyman.
Mead was married in 1921.
In 1922, at age 24, he was hired to illustrate a series of classic novels for publisher Dodd Mead. His work for Dodd Mead continued until 1930.
The books that he illustrated during this period included Moby Dick, Typee, and Omoo by Herman Melville. The Count of Monte Cristo.
And Les Misérables by Victor 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 including Good Housekeeping, McCall"s, the Saturday Evening Post, The Ladies Home Journal, Country Gentleman, and Cosmopolitan. He produced 46 covers for the weekly Saturday Evening Post.
His work as a war correspondent for the Post during World World War II resulted in a well-known series of covers illustrating American military personnel.
He lived for a time in New Rochelle, New York, but for most of his career lived in Arlington, Vermont, where his studio was in a barn. In retirement, Schaeffer lived in Vermont, where Rockwell was a neighbor.
Schaeffer suffered a heart attack and died in New York City on November 6, 1980.