From the Robert B. Childress Collection

Beginning in 1952 when he moved to Old Saybrook, and for nearly 30 years thereafter while raising a family, Robert Childress painted area landscapes, portraits and was a well known New York Illustrator.

Robert Childress used several people, including his family from the Old Saybrook community as his models. His best known drawings were perhaps for the Scott Foresman “Dick and Jane” reader series, the elementary school primer that helped thousands of children learn to read.

He and his wife, Nan, were founding members of the Old Saybrook Historical Society.

Photograph of Robert with his son William. Donated by the Childress family.