The interactive timeline below depicts important events and milestones relevant to this exhibition, from the period of the early 1930’s through today. Events are tracked across three categories:
Franklin D. Roosevelt 
Norman Rockwell 
world events
Rockwell’s “Triple Self-Portrait,” published cover
February 13, 1960 / 1960sTriple Self-Portrait, Norman Rockwell. 1960. Oil on canvas, 44 ½ x 34 ¾” Cover lllustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 13, 1960 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum ©1960 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN
Rockwell’s “Portrait of Mary Barstow Rockwell”
1960 / 1960sPortrait of Mary Barstow Rockwell, Norman Rockwell. 1951
Charcoal on paper, Portrait; 1950, C. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
Rockwell’s autobiography is published
1960 / 1960sMy Adventures as an Illustrator – Norman Rockwell
Rockwell’s “Portrait of John F. Kennedy,” published cover
October 29, 1960 / 1960sPortrait of John F. Kennedy, Norman Rockwell. 1960. Oil on canvas, 16” x 12” Cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, November 5, 1960 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum ©1960 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN
John F. Kennedy is elected president
November 8, 1960 / 1960sOne of the closest elections in U.S. history.
Photo: Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Rockwell’s “The Golden Rule,” published cover
April 1, 1961 / 1960sGolden Rule, Norman Rockwell. 1961 Oil on canvas, 44 ½” x 39 ½” Cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, April 1, 1961 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum ©1961 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN
The first man in space – Yuri Gagarin
April 12, 1961 / 1960sPhoto: Courtesy of Archive image from of the Huntsville Times
John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps
1961 / 1960sConstruction of the Berlin Wall begins
1961 / 1960s
Rockwell’s Illustration “The Connoisseur,” published cover
January 13, 1962 / 1960sThe Connoisseur, Norman Rockwell. 1961. Oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 31 ½” inches Cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, January 13, 1962 Private Collection ©1962 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN
Rockwell’s Illustration “Lincoln for the Defense,” published
February 10, 1962 / 1960sLincoln for the Defense (Abe Lincoln), Norman Rockwell. 1962. Oil on canvas, 49 ¾ x 17 ½” Story illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 10, 1962 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum ©1962 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN
Women of the Riveters iconic era – building America
1962 / 1960sWomen working on a plane in the Army Air Corps
Photo: Creative Commons
Norman Rockwell creates mural for Berkshire Life Insurance Company
Rockwell’s “Pittsfield Main Street”
1963 / 1960sPittsfield Main Street, Norman Rockwell. 1963. Mural 6 x 17.5′. Mural for Berkshire Life Insurance Company; 1963.
Oral Polio Vaccine
1963 / 1960sThe nation is encouraged to take the Polio Vaccine, with national marketing campaign supporting it
Photo: Public Domain
Civil Rights March
August 8, 1963 / 1960sA defining moment in the Civil Rights movement – a quarter of a million Americans gather in Washington D.C.
Civil Rights March – Photograph of a young woman with a banner
– Washington, D.C.
Photo: Creative Commons
“I have a dream”
August 28, 1963 / 1960sMartin Luther King, Jr. gives famous “I have a dream” speech
Washington D.C. – on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in
Rockwell’s career transitions
1963 / 1960sNorman Rockwell leaves the Saturday Evening Post & moves to Look magazine, painting about civil rights, social hardship, and the exploration of space.
President John F. Kennedy is assassinated
November 22, 1963 / 1960sJust 3 years into his presidency, JFK was assassinated, as he rode in a motorcade – Dallas, Texas.
Photo: Public Domain
Photo Credit: Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
Rockwells travel to Russia
December 20, 1963 / 1960s
“The Problem We All Live With,” Rockwell’s story illustration
January 14, 1964 / 1960sThe Problem We All Live With, Norman Rockwell. 1963 Oil on canvas, 36 x 58” Story illustration for Look, January 14, 1964 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing Company, Niles, IL
Rockwell illustrates “Poor Richard’s Almanacks”
1964 / 1960sRockwell Illustrates a Lincoln Savings ad
1964 / 1960sLincoln the Railsplitter
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is signed into law
1964 / 1960sPresident Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with Martin Luther King, Jr. amongst the many guest present.
Photo: Public Domain
“Portrait of Lyndon B. Johnson”
October 20, 1964 / 1960sPortrait of Lyndon B. Johnson, Norman Rockwell. 1964. Oil on canvas, 27” x 22” Unpublished. From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing Company, Niles, IL
“Bloody Sunday”
March 7, 1965 12:00 am / 1960sAlabama police attack marchers – demonstration for their right to vote
Photo: Public Domain
“Murder in Mississippi (Southern Justice)”
June 29, 1965 / 1960sMurder in Mississippi (study), Norman Rockwell. 1965 Oil on board, 15 x 12 ¾” Story illustration for Look, June 29, 1965 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing Company, Niles, IL
Voting Rights Act
August 6, 1965 / 1960sAfrican Americans are guaranteed the right to vote
Photo: Public Domain
Photo Credit: President Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks
Rockwell creates a poster and series of portraits for the movie “Stagecoach”
1966 / 1960sStagecoach Portraits, Norman Rockwell. 1965 Oil on canvas, 20 x 16″ Norman Rockwell Art Collection Trust
NYC Subway Strike paralyzes the City
1966 / 1960sConstruction work begins on the twin towers for the World Trade Center
The World Trade Center, was built on “Radio Row” in Manhattan, New York – designed by US architect Minoru Yamasaki
Photo: Public Domain
“The Peace Corps”
June 14, 1966 / 1960sThe Peace Corps (J.F.K.’s Bold Legacy), Norman Rockwell. 1966. Oil on canvas, 45 ½ x 36 ½” Story illustration for Look, June 14, 1966 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. ©Norman Rockwell Family Agency
“The Saturday People”
1966 / 1960sThe Saturday People, Norman Rockwell. 1966. Oil on canvas, 24 ½” x 41 ½” Story illustration for McCall’s, October 1966. From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. Norman Rockwell Paintings Trust at Old Corner House. ©Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.
“United States Space Ship on the Moon”
January 10, 1967 / 1960sRockwell’s Illustration in Look
Rockwell publishes a childrens’ book
1967 / 1960sWillie Was Different
Israel and Egypt – the “Six-Day War”
1967 / 1960sA pre-emptive air strike by Israel destroys almost all Egypt’s aircraft and launches the Six-Day War
Photo: Creative Common
“New Kids in the Neighborhood”
May 16, 1967 / 1960sNew Kids in the Neighborhood, Norman Rockwell. 1967 Oil on canvas, 36 ½” x 57 ½” Story illustration for Look, May 16, 1967 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
Rockwell’s “Stockbridge Main Street”
1967 / 1960sStockbridge Mainstreet at Christmas (Home for Christmas), Norman Rockwell. 1967. Oil on canvas, 26 ½ x 95 ½” Story illustration for “Home for Christmas” McCall’s, December 1967. From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
“Portrait of Richard Nixon”
March 5, 1968 / 1960sPortrait of Richard M. Nixon, Norman Rockwell. 1968. Oil on canvas, 22” x 14 1/8” Story illustration for Look, March 5, 1968 From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
April 9, 1968 / 1960sGarment workers huddled together listening to Dr. King’s funeral service
Photo: Creative Commons
“Portrait of Ronald Reagan”
July 23, 1968 / 1960sWhat About Ronald Reagan?, Norman Rockwell. 1968 Oil on canvas board, 26.75 x 21.75″ Story illustration for Look; 23 July 1968. ©Norman Rockwell Family Agency
Rockwell’s first solo exhibit is held in the Bernard Danenberg Gallery
1968 / 1960s
Richard Nixon becomes president
January 20, 1969 / 1960s37th President of the United States – Richard M. Nixon
Photo: Public Domain
Old Corner House opens to public featuring 35 paintings loaded by Rockwell
May 31, 1969 / 1960s© Norman Rockwell Family Agency
“Apollo & Beyond (Apollo II Space Team)”
July 15, 1969 / 1960sApollo and Beyond, Norman Rockwell. 1969 Oil on canvas on panel, 28.5 x 66″ Story illustration for Look, 15 July 1969. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
Man on the moon
July 21, 1969 / 1960sNeil Armstrong – the first person to walk on the moon
Photo: Public Domain
Woodstock
August 15, 1969 / 1960s“Three days of peace and music” – thousands gather in the Catskill Mountains for the Woodstock Festival
“The Final Impossibility: Man’s Tracks on the Moon”
December 30, 1969 / 1960sThe Final Impossibility: Man’s Tracks on the Moon (Two Men on the Moon) Norman Rockwell. 1969. Story illustration for Look, December 30, 1969. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
