James Allen Saint John was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 1, 1872. James was the son of artist Susan St John. When quite young he sailed to Paris with his mother to study at Academy Julian. He arrived in California in 1887 and lived in the San Joaquin Valley where he further studied for three years with Joaquin Torrey and later studied at the Art Students League in New York.

He became famous for illustrating Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan books. He was professor of life drawing and illustration at the American Academy of Art before his death in Chicago on May 23, 1957.

Exh: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1898, 1909, 1920; American Watercolor Society, 1898, 1901, 1902; Art Ins

Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
City Directory; Census


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