A brand new history exhibit was commissioned this fall to help us tell National Life’s story in honor of our 170th anniversary.
The Texas campus got the first chance to see the exhibit just in time for the anniversary open house and reception this week.
The Vermont campus has been getting a preview during the week as the exhibit has been assembled in the lobby.
The exhibit, which was largely organized by company archivist and historian Brian Lindner, traces National Life’s growth largely through the story we’ve told about ourselves to the world.
Many of the marketing campaigns, logos and slogans are prominently featured on the exhibits.
One thing that is featured in Vermont is a display of historic artwork that was created for National Life for an advertising campaign that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and other prominent national magazines of the day.
The campaign began in the 1930s and continued through 1952.
More than 150 drawings were completed by three different prominent artists of the day and they told different stories about National Life or early American history as a way of connecting the company to the great events of history.
National Life owns nearly all of the originals and a selection of them are on display now. Because of the value of the artwork, and concern about preserving them, they weren’t shipped to Texas.
The exhibits will go on permanent display elsewhere on campus after the current show ends in mid-December.
