
Norman Rockwell in the Collections of The Henry Ford
19 artifacts in this set
This expert set is brought to you by:
The staff at The Henry Ford
"Over There," 1918
Sheet music
Norman Rockwell captured the camaraderie of Army life in an image created for the cover of the January 1918 issue of Life magazine -- it proved appropriate for this song sheet as well. Sixteen of the twenty-eight Life covers Rockwell created from 1917 to 1924 depicted scenes of military life and soldiers' eventual return to civilian life.
Advertising Poster for Edison Mazda Lamps, "Electric Light Bids a Cheerful Welcome," 1925
Poster
One of Norman Rockwell's earliest and most successful advertising campaigns was for the Edison Mazda lighting division of General Electric. The company commissioned images by Rockwell and other illustrators, including Maxfield Parrish. Rockwell created no fewer than twenty-four images depicting the power of light during the seven-year-long campaign.
Advertising Poster for Edison Mazda Lamps, "Electric Light Brings Beauty and Comfort," circa 1925
Poster
The illustrations that Norman Rockwell created for Edison Mazda lighting campaign appeared as advertisements in magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Ladies' Home Journal. They were also reproduced on posters and point-of-purchase materials.
Advertising Poster for Edison Mazda Lamps, "Electric Light Banishes Gloom and Glare," 1925
Poster
One of Norman Rockwell's earliest and most successful advertising campaigns was for the Edison Mazda lighting division of General Electric. The company commissioned images by Rockwell and other illustrators, including Maxfield Parrish. Rockwell created no fewer than twenty-four images depicting the power of light during the seven-year-long campaign.
Advertising Poster for Edison Mazda Lamps, "The Mazda Lamp of Today, the Sun's Only Rival," circa 1925
Poster
The illustrations that Norman Rockwell created for Edison Mazda lighting campaign appeared as advertisements in magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Ladies' Home Journal. They were also reproduced on posters and point-of-purchase materials.
"Handbook for Boys, Boy Scouts of America," 1944
Book
In 1913, Norman Rockwell began illustrating covers for Boys' Life Magazine--a periodical geared to young readers. Eleven years later, Rockwell began a 52-year relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, creating works for the organization's yearly calendars. Many of these illustrations were later repurposed--the image on the cover of this 1944 Handbook for Boys first appeared in the 1939 calendar.
Henry Ford, The Boy Who Put the World on Wheels, by Norman Rockwell, 1951-1952
Oil painting (Visual work)
Norman Rockwell created eight paintings for Ford Motor Company's 50th Anniversary calendar project. Four of the paintings highlighted Henry Ford's past and his impact on the larger world, while the others focused on Ford Motor Company's present and future. In this painting, the young Henry Ford shows a skeptical village blacksmith his concept for an automobile.
Advertising Poster for Crest Toothpaste with Norman Rockwell Illustration, "Look Mom-No Cavities!," 1957
Poster
One of Rockwell's most iconic advertising campaigns was Crest's "Look Mom-no cavities!" series in the late 1950s. His illustrations featured wholesome kids holding notes to mothers touting the child's good dental health. These were published in the Ladies' Home Journal, Reader's Digest, McCall's and other magazines popular with women. This poster was likely made for a drug or specialty store display.
Official Program for the 43rd Inauguration, 1957
Program (Document)
From 1952 through 1972 Rockwell created portraits of the major party candidates for the presidency. By the mid-1950s his images became so iconic that he was commissioned by the Republican Party to illustrate the cover of the 1957 inaugural program, featuring President Dwight Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon.
Christmas Card with Image of Norman Rockwell's "The Christmas Dance," 1950
Christmas card
Hallmark Cards, Inc. commissioned Norman Rockwell to produce a series of Christmas cards from 1946 to 1957. The sentimental imagery depicted scenes of an idealized Christmas. Here, a man plays a tune on a cello while a young girl--perhaps his daughter--dances with her pet dog. In the corners, mice cavort and provide accompaniment--adding to the holiday merriment.
Christmas Card with Image of Norman Rockwell's "Christmas Caroler," 1950
Christmas card
In the "Christmas Caroler," Norman Rockwell depicts a young choirboy in mid-song. The wide-mouthed and enthusiastic soloist is surrounded by cherubs fancifully arranged and accompanying him with musical instruments.
Christmas Card with 1948 Image of Norman Rockwell's "Santa and his Helpers," 1953
Christmas card
In this card, a group of industrious elves help an exhausted (and sleeping) St. Nick finish a toy to be delivered on Christmas morning.
Unistrut Corporate Christmas Card with Illustrations by Norman Rockwell, 1956
Christmas card
Seasonal images in this Unistrut Corporate Christmas card were previously used in the 1956 Brown and Bigelow calendar.
Print Showing Norman Rockwell's "Henry Ford as a Boy"
Print (Visual work)
As part of their seventy-fifth anniversary in 1978, Ford Motor Company commissioned a set of four posters representing the life of Henry Ford and the impact of the automobile. These scenes were originally created by Norman Rockwell as part of Ford’s fiftieth anniversary celebration in 1953. In this image, the young Henry Ford shows a skeptical village blacksmith his concept for an automobile.
Print Showing Norman Rockwell's "Henry and Clara Ford with Quadricycle"
Print (Visual work)
This print presents Norman Rockwell's vision of Henry Ford creating his first automobile--the Quadricycle. In the early 1950s, Rockwell visited a reconstruction of Ford's Bagley Avenue garage in Greenfield Village. That building became the inspiration for the setting of the original painting. Rockwell incorporated numerous period-appropriate artifacts and recruited models from the staff of the nearby Dearborn Inn where he stayed.
Print Showing Norman Rockwell's "Henry Ford in First Model A on Detroit Street"
Print (Visual work)
This print depicts the impact of Henry Ford's newfangled automobile. The proud owner cruises down the street to the surprise of all who view him. A horse rears up on its hind legs; bystanders are literally hanging out of the windows; children and dogs chase the car, while a boy shouts at the viewer to look at the new innovation.
Print Showing Norman Rockwell's "Model T on the Farm"
Print (Visual work)
In this image, Norman Rockwell captured the pride of ownership in--and the public's curiosity about--the Ford Model T. It depicts an average American family happily seated in their new Model T. The proud owners are showing off the car to an admiring farm family who appear amazed by the new contraption.
1980 Appointment Calendar with Illustrations by Norman Rockwell
Calendar
Norman Rockwell died in 1978 – but his illustrations live on. Many of his works express a positive vision of American daily life and traditions that resonate with his admirers. This calendar produced in 1980 showed that Rockwell’s works endured and continue to do so.
Norman Rockwell Christmas Tree Ornament, 1989
Christmas tree ornament
Hallmark Cards Inc. reproduced two Saturday Evening Post covers by Norman Rockwell for this 1989 Christmas ornament. The scenes depict a holiday favorite--Santa Claus. Originally created in 1926 and 1935, both attest to the longevity and popularity of Rockwell's images. Even today--whether Santa, presidents, Boy Scouts, singing soldiers, or a proud grinning girl--people are still mesmerized by Rockwell's illustrations.