"Mallette (Harold) Dean was a painter, printmaker, muralist, and illustrator, was born in Spokane, Washington on March 7, 1907. After graduating from high school he worked in a Spokane bank and saved his money toward tuition. He enrolled at the California School of Fine Arts in 1927 and was greatly influenced by Ray Boynton. Dean was awarded the Anne Bremer scholarship and studied at the school for over three years. According to Arthur C. Painter, Dean also studied at the Art Students' League in New York where he received a scholarship."