Biographical Information

LYNN BOGUE HUNT
American 1878-1960

One of America ’s greatest periodical wildlife artists, Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960). Hunt was born in Honeoye Falls, N.Y. , but moved to Albion, MI at the age of 12 were he received his education. His artistic genius became quite apparent here, even as a youth. Lynn was an 1897 graduate of Albion High School, and then went on to Albion College for two years where he studied under Professor Franklin C. Courter and learned to depict wildlife on canvas. He designed several posters and programs for various events in Albion as well as drawings for the college yearbook. Another student at Albion in those days was Miss Jessie Bryan of Wyandotte, Michigan, whom Mr. Hunt later married. They had two sons: Lynn Bogue Hunt, Jr., and Bryan. Lynn Born into a well-off family, he grew up poor, raised by a single parent: the tattered coat worn to his high school graduation was patched and let out; his mismatched pants second-hand. Money mattered to Hunt the rest of his life.

Lynn left college to draw for the Gale Manufacturing Company, and then for the Fulton Engine and Iron Works of Detroit. He began a three year stint as a sketch artist for the Detroit Free Press in 1899, and soon became noticed by New York magazines. He moved to New York, and joined the staff of the magazine Field and Stream. The August 1904 issue cover features a drawing by Hunt portraying two Indians in native dress performing a snake dance, snake and all. Lynn later became the magazine’s staff artists, and drew more than 100 covers for this publication, plus numerous illustrations for the articles therein.

His works also appeared in such publications as Outers’ Recreation, the Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Better Homes and Gardens, Natural History, Boy’s Life, the Woman’s Home Companion, Country Gentleman, American, Rotarian, Elks Magazine, and others. He printed the 1939 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, 10 National Wildlife Federation stamps, and illustrated more than 50 books in his lifetime.