Philatelic Photograph: Freedom From Want Painting - Stockbridge, MA

Freedom From Want
Norman Rockwell Museum

Stockbridge, MA

N 42° 17.277 W 073° 20.136

Short Description: 

The original Freedom from Want painting by Norman Rockwell, which is the subject of one of the Four Freedoms stamps, is located in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

Long Description:

Four paintings of Norman Rockwell are on display in the central rotunda of the Normal Rockwell Museum. They are the original works by Rockwell that were the based on a State of the Union Speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt created for publication in the Saturday Evening Post. Subsequently, they were used to promote the sale of War Bonds during World War II. In 1994, they were the subjects of four stamps issued by the United States Postal Service honoring Norman Rockwell.

On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the Congress of the United States and outlined four essential human freedoms. to Congress January 6, 1941.

"The first is freedom of speech and expression -- everywhere in the world."

"The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way -- everywhere in the world."

"The third is freedom from want -- which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants -- everywhere in the world."

"The fourth is freedom from fear -- which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor-- anywhere in the world."

During the height of World War II and in support of the War effort Norman Rockwell spent six months painting The Four Freedoms, which were published in a series of Saturday Evening Post issues in 1943. These images were used to promote the purchase of war bonds. The program was hugely successful and raised more than $132 million for the war effort.

The Freedom from Want painting depicts an extended family being served a roasted turkey by the family matriarch. The illustration was published in the Saturday Evening Post on March 6, 1943.

Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site - Hyde Park, NY

Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site

Hyde Park, NY

N 41° 46.031 W 073° 56.128

Short Description: 

The birthplace and home of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt is located within a huge estate between Route 9 and the Hudson River in Hyde Park. NY

Long Description:

The Roosevelt family called this home Springwood. The central portion was originally a large Federal style farmhouse which was built around 1800. In 1845, the estate was purchased by New York City merchant Josiah Wheeler, who remodeled it into a 15 room house in the Italianate style. He adding a three-story tower at the south end as well as front and rear piazzas. James Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt's father, purchased the home in 1866 for $40,000.

N 41° 46.191 W 073° 56.026

Franklin D. Roosevelt was born here on January 30, 1882 and grew up in this house. After he married Eleanor Roosevelt the couple stayed here to live with Franklin's mother. During his life Roosevelt would use this home as a retreat. He once remarked "All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River."

N 41° 46.077 W 073° 56.091

President Roosevelt died in office on April 12, 1945. He and his wife Eleanor are buried a short distance away from the house, on the estate, within the rose garden.

The stamp was issued by the United States as part of a series of four stamps issued from 1945 to 1946 commemorating the life of President Franklin D. Roosevelt,

Historic Figure: Sybil Ludington - Carmel, NY

Sybil Ludington Statue

Carmel, NY

N 41° 25.403 W 073° 40.719

Quick Description: 

A large equestrian statue of Revolution War heroine Sybil Ludington is located on the shore of Lake Gleneida opposite 12 Gleneida Avenue in Carmel, NY.

Long Description: 

A 10' by 7' by 3' bronze equestrian statue of Revolutionary War heroine, known as the female Paul Revere, Sybil Ludington rests on a 4.25' by 9.33' by 5.15' stone block base. The sculpture depicts sixteen year old Sybil Ludington on horseback during her famous ride of April 26, 1777 when she was warning the citizens of British controlled Putnam County, NY that the British were raiding nearby Danbury, CT.

Miss Ludington is depicted wearing a dress with a cape and her long hair in a ponytail over her right shoulder. She is riding sidesaddle on the left side of her horse, Star. Her right hand is raised above her head clutching a branch while she is holding the reins of her horse in her left hand. She holds the reins of the horse in her proper left hand and has her left foot in a stirrup. Her mouth is open as if shouting a warning. The horse is rearing back slightly and has its right front foot raised.

The sculpture was created by Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington and cast by the Roman Bronze Works in 1960. It was donated by the sculptor and erected by the Enoch Crosby Chapter of the D.A.R. in 1961.

A stone plaque on the front of the base is inscribed:

SYBIL LUDINGTON

REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROINE

APRIL 26, 1777

CALLED OUT THE VOLUNTEER MILITIA BY RIDING

THROUGH THE NIGHT, ALONE ON HORSE BACK AT

THE AGE OF 16, ALERTING THE COUNTRYSIDE TO

THE BURNING OF DANBURY, CONN. BY THE BRITISH

PLACED BY

ENOCH CROSBY CHAPTER

D.A.R.

PRESENTED BY

ANNA HYATT HUNTINGTON

1961