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Personal statement of Wm. H. Johnson to George E Haynes 12/29 William H. Johnson March 18, 1901 •studied under Chas. W. Hawthorne - Nat'l Academy of Design •5 yrs at NAD - Cannon & Hall Garten prizes + others •Hawthorne raised $1,000 for study in Europe-lasted yr. •next 2 yrs $1,000 raised by Hawthorne •did not attend definite school in France •visited museums •worked on his own in Paris & in nearby countryside •worked as porter in hotel, stevedore fall & winter of 20 & 21 while studying in N.Y. •Relatives in NY - came to live w/them in 1919 •"Mr. Johnson feels that he had the impulse to draw & paint and he could not do anything else." A man who has talent doesn't ask anybody whether he has it but goes ahead and does what he does because he can't help doing it. •France in 1926-29 [[left margin]] 9/24/37 Letter to MBB Alain Locke [[/left margin]] x I must say that you shall demand a higher price for my paintings for I am no ordinary Am. Neg. painter or no ordinary Am. painter. I am recognized by known Americans and Europeans as a painter of value, so I must demand respect.