Interview no. 800

Interview covers his life and his literary and artistic careers in detail. Topics include: El Paso history, the Mexican Revolution when his father, Tom Lea, Sr. was mayor of El Paso, 1915-1917; formative years in El Paso; major influences on his art; his years at Chicago Art Institute, 1923-1933; mural competitions sponsored by WPA during the Depression; experiences as war correspondent, 1941-1945, for Life magazine; description of research, writing, and illustrating his books, 1949-1968; reflections on his work as a studio painter, 1960-1994. A complete outline of interview accompanies transcript