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Writer's pictureNotes From The Frontier

Wishing You All A Happy Thanksgiving!!

This famous image by the great Norman Rockwell is the most iconic image Americans associate with Thanksgiving. But the 1943 illustration was not about Thanksgiving, but something even greater.

The great Normam Rockwell created 323 illustrated covers for America's most popular magazine, The Saturday EVening Post, for five decades, capturing the best of America. And the image above is one of his most famous. But it was never on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, nor was it specifically about Thanksgiving!


Rockwell painted this image and three others in response to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union address, which became known as the "Four Freedoms speech." Those freedoms, Roosevelt stated were The Freedom from Want, The Freedom of Speech, The Freedom of Worship, and The Freedom from Fear.


In 1941, when Franklin gave delivered the address, Europe was already embroiled in the beginning of World War II, fighting against the fascists, Hitler and Mussolini, who had already deprived their people of those freedoms and threatened to do so for the rest of the world.


Rockwell produced these four illustrations depicting these freedoms: (beginning upper left, Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Fear, and Freedom of Worship.

Although Rockwell had originally approached the military for a commission to do the series of posters, "Ours...to fight for," the military didn't like them. But the editor of The Saturday Evening Post, Ben Hibbs, did! They featured the artworks in the March 6, 1943 issue. By then the United States was deeply embroiled in the war itself. The images became so wildly popular, Hibbs printed posters that showed up i schools, post offices and libraries across the country.


The military changed its tune about Rockwell's Ours...To Fight For posters. They asked to use them for their war bonds campaigns that ultimately brought in $132 million in bonds and stamps (worth $.75 billion today)

In today's world, ravaged by wars and starvation and our own civil strife, Rockwell's poignant image still means as much now as it did then. It is the iconic image of thanksgiving, family and joy. May we all experience joy and togetherness of family and thankfulness this holiday. Wishing you all peace and good food this Thanksgiving.


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Thanksgiving, A Native American Event


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Bedavachat
Nov 28

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Deborah Hufford

Author, Notes from the Frontier

Deborah Hufford is an award-winning author and magazine editor with a passion for history. Her popular NotesfromtheFrontier.com blog with 100,000+ readers has led to an upcoming novel! Growing up as an Iowa farmgirl, rodeo queen and voracious reader, her love of land, lore and literature fired her writing muse. With a Bachelor's in English and Master's in Journalism from the University of Iowa, she taught students of Iowa's Writer's Workshop, then at Northwestern University, Marquette and Mount Mary. Her extensive publishing career began at Better Homes & Gardens, includes credits in New York Times Magazine, New York Times, Connoisseur, many other titles, and serving as publisher of The Writer's Handbook

 

Deeply devoted to social justice, especially for veterans, women, and Native Americans, she has served on boards and donated her fundraising skills to Chief Joseph Foundation, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), Homeless Veterans Initiative, Humane Society, and other nonprofits.  

 

Deborah's soon-to-be released historical novel, BLOOD TO RUBIES weaves indigenous and pioneer history, strong women and clashing worlds into a sweeping saga praised by NYT bestselling authors as "crushing," "rhapsodic," "gritty," and "sensuous." Purchase BLOOD TO RUBIES online beginning June 9. Connect with Deborah on DeborahHufford.com, Facebook, and Instagram.

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