Oliver H. Statler: Huntley Native Renowned Author on Japanese Art

It’s a long way from Huntley to Yokohama, Japan. But for one man, both were close to his heart.

From his small-town, Midwestern roots, Huntley native Oliver Hadley Statler found his life’s passion in Japan and became an internationally acclaimed author and interpreter of Japanese art, culture and history.

Today, nearly 10 years after his death, Statler’s vast collection of modern Japanese art is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, and much of the collection can be viewed online.

Oliver H. Statler was born in Huntley on May 21, 1915. His father, Dr. Oliver I. Statler, had come to Huntley in 1908 after graduating from medical school, and in 1911 he married Alice Mae Hadley, the daughter of early village settlers. Oliver I. Statler served the community as a physician and surgeon for more than 40 years, practicing from his home on Woodstock Street.

Oliver Hadley Statler, an only child, attended public school in Huntley before graduating from Elgin Academy as an outstanding scholar and leader in his class. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and worked there in the Business Department until he went into the Army in 1941.

His service in Japan during World War II would change his life and fuel his passion.

Not having been able to tour Japan as he had wished during the war years, Statler returned to Yokohama from Huntley in April 1947. He said of himself at that time that he was “very ignorant of Japan but at once fascinated by it.”

He took a civil service job with the Army, living and working in Yokohama and Tokyo, and remained four more years to do research and to write.

Statler had said, “Early in my stay I saw a small exhibition of contemporary Japanese prints, mostly woodblocks. I fell in love with them, came to know many of the artists and began a collection which now numbers well over a thousand prints.”

That collection today is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Some of the collection can be seen in his book Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn, published in 1956. A copy of the book can be viewed at the Huntley Area Public Library.

Statler published his best-selling Japanese Inn in 1961. The book made the best-seller list that year. He later wrote The Black Ship Scroll, detailing a 1963 expedition to Japan. He continued his writing from his Huntley home, and in 1969 Random House published his book Shimoda Story.

Statler’s love of Japanese art and culture led him to a friendship with author James Michener, who had encouraged Statler to write Japanese Inn. Statler dedicated the book to Michener, who in turn wrote the introductions to several of Statler’s books.

In the introduction to Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn, Michener wrote, “Mr. Statler has personally collected what is probably the world’s finest collection of modern Japanese creative prints.” He added, “As a scholar, Mr. Statler probably knows more about modern Japanese prints than anyone not a Japanese.”

From November 2008 to January 2009, Statler’s collection was on special display at the Art Institute. An overview of the collection stated, “Collector and scholar of Japanese art Oliver H. Statler was devoted to the advancement of modern Japanese prints at a time when the movement had few advocates, even in Japan.

“Through his personal association with the artists, Statler accumulated the most comprehensive collection of modern Japanese prints in the world.

“Through his efforts, Statler was responsible for educating his fellow Americans about the Japanese artists that he so admired.”

Although the artwork is not on display at the Art Institute, much of it can be viewed online at the Art Institute website.

For a quick view of some of these prints see: http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/87223?search_id=1
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/87216?search_id=268

Leaving his Huntley home, the quiet, soft-spoken Statler moved permanently to Hawaii in 1977 to write, research and to serve as an adjunct professor and a fellow in Asian studies at the University of Hawaii. Over the years, Statler led tours to Japanese shrines and wrote a travel column about Japan for a Honolulu newspaper. He became an authority on Japanese culture and history.

In August 2001, just six months before he died, Statler returned to his native Huntley to visit friends and relatives. He spoke to a group gathered at the Huntley Library and graciously signed copies of his books.

Statler died Feb. 14, 2002 at the age of 86 in Hawaii. Although his parents are buried in the Huntley Cemetery, Oliver H. Statler did not join them there. Being a man who loved to swim in the ocean every day, Statler’s ashes were scattered off the coast of Waikiki, in accordance with his wishes.

A collection of Statler’s books can be seen at the Huntley Area Public Library. Japanese Inn is available for loan. The other books are available for in-library reference only.