All for Laughs: The Artists of the Famous Cartoonist Course

March 1 through June 15, 2025

What did “famous” cartoonists Al Capp, Whitney Darrow, Barney Tobey, Dick Cavalli, Willard Mullin, Rube Goldberg, and Harry Haenigsen have in common? They were all celebrated visual humorists in the mid-twentieth century and faculty of the Famous Cartoonist Course—a popular correspondence course launched in the 1950s that was designed to teach artists to be funny. Original cartoons and instructional drawings from the Norman Rockwell Museum’s extensive Famous Artists Collection by this cadre of noted artists will explore the wit and wisdom of the Famous Cartoonists Course. 

Krug

Virgil Partch
I Grind Out Ten Ideas a Week, illustration for the Famous Cartoonist Course, 1956
Ink on paper[NRM.2014.02.2468] M. Livesey:Acquisition Depositor, M. Livesey:Owner (Gift)

Lead Sponsorship provided by Sordoni Foundation, Inc.

IMAGES

Virgil Partch
Boy, If Looks Could Kill… eh, Steve?, illustration for Famous Cartoonist Course, 1956
Ink on paper
NRM.2014.02.2474, M. Livesey: Acquisition Depositor, M. Livesey: Owner

Barney Tobey
As long as there are people around – I’ll have cartoon material, 1956
Ink on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Robert E. Livesey/Famous Artist School Collection, NRM.2014.02.4384

Barney Tobey
Pen doodling – characters, 1956
Ink and ink wash
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Robert E. Livesey/Famous Artist School Collection, NRM.2014.02.2513

Rube Goldberg (1883-1970)
[Development of a Comic Male Figure], 1956
Illustration for the Famous Cartoonist Course, Lesson 5
Pencil and ink on board
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Magdalen and Robert Livesey, NRM.2014.02.0217

Barney Tobey (1906-1989)
“Well, which do you want me to get, the sensible one that’s outrageously priced, or the outrageous one that’s sensibly priced,” 1954
Illustration for the Famous Artist School Cartoonist Course, Lesson 24, and Look, December 14, 1954
Ink and ink wash on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Robert E. Livesey/Famous Artist School Collection, NRM.2014.02.2353

Ric Estrada (1928-2009)
Good cartoonists are always in demand, 1956
Illustration for the Famous Cartoonist Course
Ink on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Robert E. Livesey/Famous Artist School Collection, NRM.2014.02.3513

RELATED EVENTS

Hours

OPEN
Mon 10am-4pm
Tue 10am-4pm
Thu 10am-4pm
Fri 10am-4pm
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm

CLOSED
Wednesdays
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day
ROCKWELL’S STUDIO
Closed for the season.
Opens May 1, 2025

Special Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10am-2pm.

Admissions

There are limited daily tickets for tours of Norman Rockwell’s Studio. It is recommended you purchase your museum admission and studio tour tickets online in advance of your visit.  Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Members Adult Seniors /
Veterans & Military		 Children MA Teachers College
Students
Museum Visit: Free $25 $23 Free $22 $10
Curator Tour:
Original Sisters		 $10 + $20 + $20 Free + $20 + $20
Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes)		 Free +$10 +$10 Free +$10 +$10

There are limited daily tickets for tours of Norman Rockwell’s Studio. It is recommended you purchase your museum admission and studio tour tickets online in advance of your visit.  Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Museum Visit:
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $25
Seniors & Retired Military: $23
MA Teachers: $22
College Students: $10

Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes) – additional purchase
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Ticket per person: $10

Curator Tour:
Original Sisters
Members: $10
Children: FREE
Adults: $20
Seniors & Active/Retired Military: $20
College Students: $20

Additional Discount Opportunities:

  • Front Line Medical Workers receive free admission.
  • AAA member, NARM member, Stockbridge Resident, and EBT/WIC/ConnectorCare Cardholder discounts available.

For Free and Reduced prices, you may be required to present a valid ID demonstrating your status for qualifying for discounted pricing.

Available Discounts
Kids Free is supported by:
Connector Card is supported by:
Norman Rockwell Museum receives support from:

DIRECTIONS

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale Road Route 183
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-931-2221

Download a Printable version of Driving Directions (acrobat PDF).

Important note: Many GPS and online maps do not accurately place Norman Rockwell Museum*. Please use the directions provided here and this map image for reference. Google Maps & Directions are correct! http://maps.google.com/

* Please help us inform the mapping service companies that incorrectly locate the Museum; let your GPS or online provider know and/or advise our Visitor Services office which source provided faulty directions.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 South to Stockbridge. Turn right onto Route 102 West and follow through Main Street Stockbridge. Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 North into Stockbridge. Turn left onto Route 102 West at the stop sign next to The Red Lion Inn. Shortly after you make the left turn, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Boston (two-and-a-half hours) or Springfield (one hour):
Take the Ma ssachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

from Albany and west: (one hour) Take I-90 east to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(two-and-a-half hours) Take either the New York State Thruway or the Taconic State Parkway to I-90 East. Follow I-90 East to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(one-and-a-half hours) Take I-91 North to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(five minutes)
Go west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.