Nathan Lerner (American, 1913-1999) was born in Chicago. He attended the National Academy of Art and Art Institute of Chicago. Lerner was also one of 33 original students at New Bauhaus in 1937 and one of five of the first B.S. graduates of School of Design in 1941. Lerner went on to serve as the Head of photography department at the School of Design (1941-43) and then as the Head of the Production Design department and Dean of Faculty and Students at the prestigeous institution (1945-49). Closely tied to academia, Lerner also served as Professor of Art at the University of Illinois (1967-72).