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
The First Earth Day
April 22, 1970 / 1970sThe Iroquois Native Americans understand the symbiotic relationship between man and the earth and how to preserve its integrity.
Photo: Courtesy of Library of Congress
Photo Credit: “Iroquois Indians,” ca. 1914
Kent State University
May 4, 1970 / 1970sFour students are killed by National Guards during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration at Kent State University in Ohio
“Uneasy Christmas in the Birthplace of Peace”
December 26, 1970 / 1970sChristmas Eve in Bethlehem, Norman Rockwell. 1970. Oil on canvas, 33” x 51” Story illustration for Look, December 29, 1970. From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
“Gee, Thanks Brooks!”
1971 / 1970sGee, Thanks Brooks!, Norman Rockwell. 1971. Oil on canvas, 37 x 27″ Advertisement for ATO, Inc. 1971. Private Collection
Voting Age Lowered to 18 in the United States and United Kingdom
1971 / 1970s
“Springtime in Stockbridge”
June 1, 1971 / 1970sSpringtime in Stockbridge, Norman Rockwell. 1971 Oil on canvas, 32” x 68” Story illustration for Look, June 1, 1971 Norman Rockwell Museum Collections. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency
Walt Disney World Resort opens in Florida
October 1, 1971 / 1970sPhoto: Creative Common
Norman Rockwell: a 60-Year Retrospective opens at the Brooklyn Museum
March 22, 1972 / 1970s
Electronic Digital Watches
1972 / 1970sThe Hamilton Pulsar P1 – The first electronic digital watch to reach the market for retail at $2,100
Photo: Creative Commons
Photo Credit: A Pulsar LED watch (1976)
Watergate Scandal
June 17, 1972 / 1970sFive burglars are arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee HQ at the Watergate office building in Washington
71-day siege – AIM
February 27, 1973 / 1970sActivists of the American Indian Movement (AIM) survive a ten-week siege at Wounded Knee, winning international attention
- – Wounded Knee, South Dakota
- Photo: Public Domain
“From Concord to Tranquility”
1973 / 1970sFrom Concord to Tranquility, Norman Rockwell. 1971. Oil on canvas, Boy Scouts of America, 1973. Collection of the National Scouting Museum of the Boy Scouts of America, Inc.
Rockwell leaves his personal collection of art in trust to the Norman Rockwell Museum
1973 / 1970s
Nixon is pardoned
September 8, 1973 / 1970sPresident Ford pardons ex-president Nixon for his part in the Watergate affair, thus removing the possibility of criminal charges
Photo: Public Domain
The Terracotta Army
1974 / 1970sMore than 7000 life-size terracotta solders are unearthed at Xi’an, placed to guard the tomb of the third century BC Chinese emperor Shi Huangdi
Photo: Creative Commons
Rockwell paints portraits of numerous celebrities
1974 / 1970sPortraits include John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, & Arnold Palmer
Microsoft
April 4, 1975 / 1970sBill Gates and Paul Allen create the company Microsoft
Photo: Public Domain
Vietnam War – ENDS
1975 / 1970sAmerican and Vietnamese civilians in U.S. helicopter evacuations, termed “Operation Frequent Wind”
Photo: Public Domain
Rockwell places his studio in trust to Norman Rockwell Museum
1976 / 1970s
“Soweto Uprising”
1976 / 1970sHundreds of deaths and casualties result from police firing on a demonstration by schoolchildren in the black township of Soweto
Photo: Fair Use
(photo by Sam Nzima became an icon of the Soweto uprising)
Rockwell’s last cover
1976 / 1970sLiberty Bell (Celebration), Norman Rockwell, 1976. Oil on canvas, 45″ x 33″. Cover illustration for American Artist, July 1976. Collection of Billboard Publications.
Rockwell awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ford
1977 / 1970s
“Star Wars”
1977 / 1970sGeorge Lucas writes and directs a science fantasy, Star Wars, launching a narrative that will be expanded into further films
Photo: Public Domain
President Carter signs the ERA
October 20, 1978 / 1970sThe Extension of Equal Rights Amendment – equal rights for all citizens, regardless of sex
Photo: Creative Common
Photo Credit: Jimmy Carter Signing Extension of Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Ratification
Norman Rockwell dies at home
November 3, 1978 / 1970sNorman Rockwell’s funeral
November 11, 1978 / 1970sFuneral held at St. Paul’s Church, and Norman is buried in Stockbridge, Massachusetts Cemetery
First female Prime Minister
1979 / 1970sThe Conservative party wins the general election and Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s first female prime minister
Photo: Creative Commons
China’s Population Plan
1979 / 1970sChina institutes the one child per family rule
Photo: Creative Common
Photo Credit: Mother and son in Jiayuguan, China
