In 1940, America’s favorite illustrator Norman Rockwell, his wife Mary and their three sons moved to the picturesque rural village of West Arlington, Vermont. There the artist discovered a treasure trove of models. Norman Rockwell’s Models: In and out of the Studio by S. T. Haggerty, is the first to detail these models’ lives, friendships with the artist, and experiences in his studio.

Spending entire summers at his family’s farmhouse near West Arlington, Vermont, the author grew up knowing many models, including those who posed for such iconic works as Freedom of Speech, Breaking Home Ties, and Girl at the Mirror.