My Mom the model

by Paul Thwaite
(West Bloomfield, MI)

Yes, I know the model in the blue housecoat - she is my mom!

Mom was 13 at the time and lived in New Rochelle, NY where Norman Rockwell's studio was at the time. One of Rockwell's photographers had taken a picture of my mom that Rockwell picked for this cover.

She posed twice in his studio while he sketched the outlines of the cover. She remembers it well because there was a plywood board under that patchwork quilt which made kneeling for too long quite uncomfortable.

She never got Rockwell to sign a copy of the cover, however, which she later regretted once he had grown in popularity. The original of this cover sold at auction last year for over $1 million, so my mom is a million dollar cover girl!!

From Keith: Thanks for this lengthy explanation. Do you have a photo you can post? We would all love to see one!