Norman Rockwell Magazine Covers
Complete List - Part Six: 1940 to 1980

Norman Rockwell's artwork, including his many magazine cover illustrations, were crucial to becoming America's favorite illustrator...
(continued)

His paintings from this period also showcase his talent honed by years of experience. As told in My Adventures As An Illustrator, brainstorming and executing cover after cover was no mean feat. Rockwell sometimes agonized and deliberated for months over a cover idea before finally getting it settled in his mind.

This partly explains what would otherwise be a mystery. In Norman Rockwell A Definitive Catalogue, there are often 4 or 5 different versions of some paintings. Some of them are completely finished while some are only finished in varying degrees.

Norman Rockwell Magazine Covers 1940 - 1950

Within this section of the list of Norman Rockwell magazine covers, Rockwell covers a wide range of topics.

Rockwell focuses on the human side of World War II for the first half of this decade, the 1940's. He concentrated, as he always did, on Americans, at home, at work, and at play.

During this time period, Norman Rockwell magazine covers featuring Private Willie Gillis appeared on The Saturday Evening Post eleven times. Rockwell's model, Robert Otis Buck, eventually enlisted in the Navy. Since his model was no longer available, Rockwell had to rely on his memory and photographs. The public was still clamoring for more Willie Gillis!

Some of the Willie Gillis covers only showed Willie in a photograph on the wall. Rockwell had to strech his creative muscles to include Willie in some of those covers. The last Willie Gillis painting Willie Gillis Goes To College appeared in 1946.

If you should notice any errors or omissions in the list of Norman Rockwell magazine covers, please let me know.

Also, if you know the name of any unnamed work or have scans of works that I don't show, please, please let me know.

Norman Rockwell
Magazine Covers 1940 - 1980

1940

• February - Boy's Life - A Scout is Reverent
• March 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Decorator (Woman with Fabric Samples and Chair)
• April 27 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Census Taker
• May 18 - The Saturday Evening Post - Full Treatment
• July 13 - The Saturday Evening Post -Boy with Melting Ice Cream Cones
• August 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Girl Returning from Camp
• November 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Hitchhiker
• December 28 - The Saturday Evening Post - Santa on a Train

1941

• January - Parents - Portrait of Jarvis Rockwell and Others
• February - Boy's Life - A Scout is Helpful
• March 1 - The Saturday Evening Post - Girl Reading the Post
• May 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Convention (Hatcheck Girl)
• July 26 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Flirts
• October 4 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: Food Package
• November 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: Home Sweet Home
• December 20 - The Saturday Evening Post - News Kiosk in the Snow

1942

• February - Boy's Life - A Scout is Loyal
• February 7 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: USO
• March 21 - The Saturday Evening Post - Boy Reading Sister's Diary
• April 11 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: Hometown News
• June 27 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: What To Do in a Blackout
• July 25 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis in Church
• September 5 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: Girls with Letters
• November 28 - The Saturday Evening Post - Chef with Thanksgiving Menu
• December 26 - The Saturday Evening Post - Merry Christmas: Santa Face in Newspaper

1943

• February - Boy's Life - A Scout is Friendly
• April 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - April Fool: Checkers
• May 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Rosie The Riveter
• June 26 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: Cat's Cradle
• September 4 - The Saturday Evening Post - Liberty Girl
• November 27 - The Saturday Evening Post - Thanksgiving: Girl Praying

1944

• January 1 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: New Year's Eve
• February - Boy's Life - We, Too, Have a Job to Do
• March 4 - The Saturday Evening Post - Tattoo Artist
• April 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Man Charting War Maneuvers
• May 27 - The Saturday Evening Post - Fireman
• July 1 - The Saturday Evening Post - Disabled Veteran
• August 12 - The Saturday Evening Post - Little Girl Observing Lovers on a Train
• September 16- The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis: Gillis Heritage
• November 4 - The Saturday Evening Post - Which One? (Man in Voting Booth)
• December 23- The Saturday Evening Post - Union Station, Chicago (Train Station at Christmas)

1945

• February - Boy's Life - I Will Do My Best
• March 17 - The Saturday Evening Post - Income Tax
• March 31 - The Saturday Evening Post - April Fool: Fishing
• May 26 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Homecoming
• August - Army Transportation Journal - Portrait of Major General Charles P. Gross
• August 11 - The Saturday Evening Post - Salesman in Swimming Hole
• September - Grade Teacher - The Cobbler
• September 15- The Saturday Evening Post - Home On Leave (Sailor in Hammock)
• October 13 - The Saturday Evening Post - Homecoming Marine
• November - Grade Teacher - A Hopeless Case
• November 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - Man Setting Clock
• November 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Thanksgiving: Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes
• December 15 - The Saturday Evening Post - Back to Civies (Man in Outgrown Clothes)
• December 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Happy New Year

1946

• February - Boy's Life - A Guiding Hand
• March 2 - The Saturday Evening Post - Framed (Man Carrying Frame)
• April - Grade Teacher - Off to School
• April 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - Charwomen in Theater
• June - Grade Teacher - Barefoot Boy Daydreaming
• July 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - Statue of Liberty
• August 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - Fixing a Flat
• October 5 - The Saturday Evening Post - Willie Gillis in College
• November - Grade Teacher - Dreams in the Antique Shop
• November 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Crestwood Commuter Station
• December - Grade Teacher - The Night Before Christmas
• December 7 - The Saturday Evening Post - Boy in Dining Car

1947

• January 11 - The Saturday Evening Post - Piano Tuner
• February - Boy's Life - All Together
• March 22 - The Saturday Evening Post - First Signs of Spring (Gardener with Hoe)
• May 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - Merry-Go-Round
• Summer - Vermont Life - Blacksmith competition
• June - Grade Teacher - The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter
• August 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Boy on Highdive
• August 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - Going and Coming
• November 8 - The Saturday Evening Post - Babysitter with Screaming Infant
• December 27 - The Saturday Evening Post - Tired Salesgirl on Christmas Eve

1948

• January - Grade Teacher - Need information on this one
• January 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Happy Skiers on a Train
• February - Boy's Life - Men of Tomorrow
• March 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Gossips
• April 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - April Fool: Girl with Shopkeeper
• May 15 - The Saturday Evening Post - Bridge Game
• September 4 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Dugout (Chigo Cubs in Dugout)
• October 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - Breakfast Table Political Argument
• December - Literary Cavalcade - Need information on this one
• December 25 - The Saturday Evening Post - Christmas Homecoming

1949

• February - Boy's Life - Friend in Need
• March 19 - The Saturday Evening Post - Prom Dress
• April 23 - The Saturday Evening Post - Game Called Because of Rain (Tough Call)
• July 9 - The Saturday Evening Post - Roadblock (Bulldog Blocking Truck)
• September 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Before the Date
• November 5 - The Saturday Evening Post - New Television Antenna

1950

• February - Boy's Life - Our Heritage
• April 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Shuffleton's Barbershop
• August 19 - The Saturday Evening Post - Solitaire (Man in Bed Playing Solitaire)
• October 21 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Referee (The Toss)
• November 18 - The Saturday Evening Post - Boy Practicing Trumpet
• December - Literary Cavalcade - Need information on this one

Norman Rockwell Magazine Covers 1951 - 1963

This period of Norman Rockwell magazine covers featured the end of his The Saturday Evening Post cover career. After the Kennedy Memorial cover on December 16, 1963, the only work Rockwell painted for The Post was one magazine article illustration in 1967.

Rockwell's cover work during this time featured several portraits of famous Americans: Bob Hope, Jack Benny, President Dwight Eisenhower, future President Richard Nixon, and soon-to-be President John Kennedy.

As always, Rockwell continued to paint his vision of America through its people throughout his career.

1951

• February - Boy's Life - Forward America
• May - Parents - Portrait of Mrs. O'Neil and Children
• June 02 - The Saturday Evening Post - Two Plumbers
• July 14 - The Saturday Evening Post - Facts of Life
• November 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Saying Grace

1952

• February - Boy's Life - The Adventure Trail
• February 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Cheerleaders
• March 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Boy in Veterinarian's Office
• May 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Day In Life of a Boy
• August 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - Day in Life of a Girl
• October 11 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower

1953

• January 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - Baker Reading Diet Book
• February - Boy's Life - On My Honor
• April 4 - The Saturday Evening Post - Walking to Church
• May 23 - The Saturday Evening Post - Girl with Black Eye
• July - Ford Times - Portrrait of Henry Ford, Edsel Ford & Henry Ford II
• August 22 - The Saturday Evening Post - Soda Jerk
• December - Child's Life - Need information on this one

1954

• January 9 - The Saturday Evening Post - Lion and Zookeeper
• February 13 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Bob Hope
• March 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - Girl at Mirror
• April 17 - The Saturday Evening Post - Choir Boy Combing Hair for Easter
• August 21 - The Saturday Evening Post - Construction Crew (Bulldozer and Baseball Game)
• September 25 - The Saturday Evening Post - Breaking Home Ties
• December - Child's Life - Santa Filling the Stockings

1955

• January 1 - TV Guide - Arthur Godfrey
• February - Boy's Life - The Right Way
• March 12 - The Saturday Evening Post - Collection of Covers
• April 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Art Critic
• June 11 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Marriage License
• August 20 - The Saturday Evening Post - Mermaid
• December - Child's Life - Santa Looking at Two Sleeping Children

1956

• February - Boy's Life - The Scoutmaster
• March 17 - The Saturday Evening Post - Happy Birthday Miss Jones
• May 19 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Optician
• October 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Adlai E. Stevenson
• October 13 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower
• December 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Discovery (Boy Discovering Santa Suit)

1957

• March 2 - The Saturday Evening Post - Red Sox Locker Room
• May 25 - The Saturday Evening Post - After the Prom
• June - Boy's Life - High Adventure
• June 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Just Married (After the Honeymoon)
• September 7 - The Saturday Evening Post - Girl Missing Tooth (The Checkup)
• November 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Expense Account (Traveling Salesman)

1958

• February - Boy's Life - Mighty Proud
• March 15 - The Saturday Evening Post - Before the Shot
• June 28 - The Saturday Evening Post - Weighing In (The Jockey)
• August 30 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Peephole
• September 20 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Runaway
• November 8 - The Saturday Evening Post - Elect Casey

1959

• February - Boy's Life - Tomorrow's Leaders
• February 14 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Jury
• May 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Easter Morning
• June 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - Boy Graduate
• October 24 - The Saturday Evening Post - Family Tree

1960

• February - Boy's Life - Ever Onward
• February 13 - The Saturday Evening Post - Triple Self-Portrait
• April 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Stained Glass Window
• August 27 - The Saturday Evening Post - University Club
• September 17 - The Saturday Evening Post - Window Washer
• October 29 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of John F. Kennedy
• November 5 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Richard M. Nixon

1961

• February - Boy's Life - Homecoming
• April 1 - The Saturday Evening Post - Golden Rule
• September 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Lubalin Redesigning the Post
• November 25 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Cheerleader
• December - The Rotarian - Christmas Dance

1962

• January 13 - The Saturday Evening Post - The Connoisseur
• February - Boy's Life - Pointing the Way
• November 3 - The Saturday Evening Post - Lunch Break with a Knight

1963

• January 19 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Nehru
• February - Boy's Life - A Good Sign All Over the World
• March 2 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Jack Benny
• April 6 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of John F. Kennedy
• May 25 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of Nasser
• December 16 - The Saturday Evening Post - Portrait of John F. Kennedy

Norman Rockwell Magazine Covers 1964 - 1980

After his long association with The Post ended in 1963, Rockwell continued to produce memorable magazine covers.

His career-long association with Boy Scouts continued with his almost unbroken string of Boys' Life covers. Checking the list will show that Rockwell produced a Boys' Life cover almost every year from the start of his career in 1913 until 1965.

1964

• February - Boy's Life - To Keep Myself Physically Strong
• September - American Artist - Portrait of a Russian with a Black Hat
• December - McCalls - Little Girl Looking Downstairs at Christmas Party

1965

• February - Boy's Life - A Great Moment
• December - Child's Life - Need information on this one

1966

• June 14 - Look - John F. Kennedy and the Peace Corps

1967

• May - Ramparts - Portrait of Bertrand Russell
• December - Family Circle - Space Age Santa

1968

• December- Family Circle - Santa Eating Milk and Cookies

1970

• May 16 - TV Guide - Spiro Agnew
• August 15 - TV Guide - Johnny Carson
• December 28 - Newsweek - Need information on this one

1971

• October - Arabian Horse News - Horsetrader (Of Course, It's an Arabian - He's Grey, Isn't He?)

1972

• January-February - Ford Life - Potrrait of Henry Ford, Edsel Ford and Henry Ford II

1974

• October - Disabled American Veterans - Need information on this one

1976

• July - American Artist - Liberty Bell (Celebration)

1978

• July - American Legion - Over There

1980

• March/April - Design Arts & Education - Need information on this one