J. Duncan Gleason (1881-1959) was born in Los Angeles. He worked as an illustrator for the Union Engraving Company and later for New York magazines, including Ladies' Home Journal. He also painted impressionist style landscapes and worked as a studio artist for Warner Brothers and MGM. He became interested in yachting, and was active in the U.S. Power Association; wrote Islands of California (1950) and Islands and Ports of California(1958). The collection consists of scrapbooks including photographs and studies of his work, three guest books, original manuscripts of two proposed books, two additional scrapbooks on the conservative art fight and about 50 letters of his ancestors, dating from the 1840s.

Gleason was born in 1881 and brought up in Los Angeles; in 1894 he began working at the Union Engraving Company as an illustrator; attended art schools in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and the Art Students League in New York from 1903-04 and spring 1906; illustrator, 1903-14 for New York magazines, including Ladies' Home Journal; returned to Los Angeles after outbreak of World War I, and painted impressionist style landscapes; married Dorothy Ferguson and moved back to New York to do magazine illustrations; about 1924 moved to San Pedro, California; in 1932 moved to Los Feliz Hills near Hollywood, and from 1938-44 worked as a studio artist for Warner Brothers and MGM; became interested in yachting, and was active in the U.S. Power Association; wrote Islands of California (1950) and Islands and Ports of California(1958); he died in 1959.

2 boxes (1 linear ft.)

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