Camping Out

5 June 1919 – 30 April 1994

Richard Scarry was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of shop owners. He disliked school, refusing to pay attention in and often skipping classes. It took him five years to complete high school and his grades were poor. After graduating and at his father's request, he enrolled in a business college, but he disliked it very much and left after his first year. In 1939 he began study at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where remained until 1942 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. He served as an art director, editor, and writer of Army information publications in North Africa and Italy. After the war, he worked in art departments at various magazines…