Harvey Wilder Bentley was born in San Francisco, California on November 19, 1901. After he graudated from Lowell High School in San Francico, Bentley attended Yale University and the University of Michigan. From 1930 to 1933 he worked at Carnegie Institute of Technology working on his skills in fine printing. In 1932 he became an associate member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. He then moved to Berkeley, California where he established a publishing business, producing limited editions of finely printed books, portfolios, scrolls and cards.

In addition to his printing work, he was also a prolific poet, calligrapher and brush artist. In 1943, the De Young Museum exhibited his brush drawings, and from 1946 to 1956 he was professor of English and Philosophy at the College of the Pacific and Stockton Junior College. He taught at the San Francisco State College until his retirement in 1971.

He died in Berkeley on April 30, 1990.