In a federal court case that lasted years, a judge has finally ruled in a family dispute over ownership of four Norman Rockwell drawings that had been displayed in the White House for decades. The drawings, titled “So You Want to See the President!”, depict various individuals waiting at the White House for an audience with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The court case revolved around who had inherited the drawings from Roosevelt’s press secretary, Stephen T. Early, with some relatives claiming they were unaware of the works being on loan to the White House. Ultimately, Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff upheld the ownership claim of William Nile Elam III, ruling him as the sole owner of the illustrations.
Judge Rules in Family Dispute Over Rockwells Long Hung at White House
Background
In a recent federal court case, a dispute over the ownership of four Norman Rockwell drawings that hung in the White House for decades has been resolved. The drawings, titled “So You Want to See the President!”, depict various individuals waiting at the White House for a meeting with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Rockwell gave the original drawings to Roosevelt’s press secretary, Stephen T. Early, and they were published in The Saturday Evening Post. The case revolves around who in the Early family inherited the drawings from Early, with some claiming they were unaware that the works had been on loan to the White House since 1978.
Ownership of the Drawings
The ownership of the drawings has been a source of contention within the Early family. Some members of the family argued that they were part owners of the drawings, while others claimed sole ownership. It was discovered that the drawings had been on loan to the White House since 1978, raising suspicions of unauthorized lending.
Legal Filings and Disputes
Years of legal filings and bitter disputes followed the discovery of the loan. Accusations of bad faith and skulduggery were made by both sides of the family, and ownership claims were made by different family members. The drawings were also subject to valuation in order to determine their worth.
Judge’s Ruling
Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, of Federal District Court in Alexandria, Va., issued a written opinion declaring William Nile Elam III as the sole owner of the drawings. The judge’s ruling took into consideration the aesthetic context of the dispute, quoting F. Scott Fitzgerald’s statement that “family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to any rules.” Despite this, the judge determined that the property rules in this case lead to a clear outcome, favoring Elam’s ownership claim.
Ownership Trail of the Drawings
According to Elam’s legal filings, the drawings were gifted to his mother, Helen Early Elam, in 1949 by her father, Stephen T. Early. This gift was made just after Helen graduated from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she studied advertising design. The ownership claim was further supported by the fact that the drawings had been in the physical possession of either Elam or his mother for a significant period of time before they were loaned to the White House.
Different Account from the Early Family
The Early family members have a different account of the ownership of the drawings. They argue that the drawings were a family heirloom, possessed by Helen Early’s wife and jointly owned by family members after her death in 1978. They cite an exhibition request made by Helen to her brother Thomas as evidence of shared ownership.
White House Loan
After Helen Early’s death, it was agreed that the drawings would be loaned to the White House. The lender was listed as anonymous, which raised suspicions of a scheme by Elam to establish sole ownership. Elam’s lawyers deny any knowledge of their client requesting the lender’s identity to be concealed. They argue that the loan was made after an attempted break-in at Helen Wrenn Early’s home, and that members of the Early family were aware of the drawings being displayed in the White House.
Presumption of Ownership
Judge Nachmanoff’s ruling was influenced by the physical possession of the drawings by Elam or his mother for a significant period of time before they were loaned to the White House. This entitled Elam to the benefit of the common law presumption of ownership. Despite the Early family’s attempts to rebut this presumption by alleging theft, they were unable to provide sufficient evidence to support their claim.
Return of the Drawings
After the court ruling, the drawings were returned to William Nile Elam III. They had been displayed in the White House during eight presidential administrations. Elam expressed his satisfaction with the ruling and stated that the drawings had been a part of his life for a long time.
Conclusion
The judge’s ruling in the family dispute over the ownership of the Rockwell drawings may be subject to an appeal. The unresolved disputes among family members highlight the deep divisions caused by the case. It is clear that this legal battle has had a significant impact on the relationships within the Early family, and the final thoughts on the case are filled with the complexity of family quarrels and the bitter aftermath they can leave.
