Norman Rockwell was born on February 3, 1894 in New York City. He studied at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. He married Irene O'Connor in 1916 but the couple divorced in 1930. He then married schoolteacher Mary Barstow. The couple had three children. In 1939 the family moved to Arlington, Vermont where many people believe he got his inspiration to paint scenes of small town American Life. His illustrations appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post for many years. He died from emphysema on November 8, 1978 at the age of 84.