Henry Darger

Henry Darger was born on April 12, 1892 in Chicago, Illinois. His early life was marred by tragedy when his mother died giving birth to a sister, whom Darger never saw as she was immediately adopted. Due to failing health, Darger's father was unable to look after his son and at the age of 8 the boy was put into care. Behavioural problems led to Darger being placed in the Lincoln Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children in Lincoln, Illinois in 1904, where Darger lived for 5 years, fully aware that he did not belong there.

Whilst at Lincoln, Darger received the news that his father had died. Darger attempted to escape from the Asylum and was successful at the third attempt, returning to Chicago in 1909, aged 17. He settled in the then largely German area surrounding St. Vincent de Paul Church, where he spent his entire working life doing so-called menial work in local Catholic hospitals.

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