Harold Lukens Doolittle was born in Pasadena, California on May 4, 1883. An etcher, furniture maker and civil engineer, he studied at Cornell University and Throop Polytechnic Institute. Doolittle worked for many years as chief design engineer for the Southern California Edison Company.

A bit of a Renaissance man, he worked in all the graphic processes including photography and collotype but he is most noted for his aquatints. Doolittle built his own press, mezzotint rocker and preferred to make his own linen paper. He also was a woodworker and furniture maker.

He was a member of the Pasadena Society of Artists, Chicago Society of Etchers, Society of American Graphic Artists, California Society of Etchers and the California Print Makers. He served as president of the California Print Makers in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Dootlittle is represented in the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, California State Library, Dayton Art Institute and Brooks Memorial Gallery. His furniture and aquatints are featured in California Design 1910.

Harold Doollittle died in Temple City, California on January 9, 1974.