Michael Shall

Michael Shall graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and taught high school English before moving to New York City in 1974 to try to make a living as an origami professional.

[1] Along with his mentor and colleague, Alice Gray, Shall is noted for his creation of Holiday/Christmas trees bedecked with origami.

Shall is the author of the book Teaching Origami[4]A history of the OrigamiUSA convention, which was started by Shall, describes him as a fine teacher and leader, resourceful, hospitable, energetic to the point of seeming hyperactive, but a poor planner.

In addition to teaching origami at The American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Shall "showed his dedication to spreading the magic found in a single sheet of paper by teaching in virtually every public library and countless schools in the New York City area.

"[5] Shall died on February 9, 1995, aged 45, at New York University Medical Center, from complications of AIDS.