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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Drawn Portrait of William S. Knudsen
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Drawn Portrait of William S. Knudsen

Artifact IDMO 2009.8.3
Object Type Drawing
Artist (American painter, illustrator, and printmaker, 1880-1948)
Date1937
Mediumpaper, charcoal, chalk, pencil
Dimensionsmat H 27 in x W 20 in (68.6 cm x 50.8 cm )
 sheet H 25 5/8 in x W 19 3/4 in (65.1 cm x 50.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionA charcoal sketch, with chalk highlights, of William S. Knudsen possibly done from life. Done on buff paper, the head and shoulders portrait shows Knudsen, turned slightly to the proper left, wearing a dark suit jacket, a white shirt, and a dark tie. The portrait is signed by the artist in pencil below the image: S.J. Woolf. Written in pencil in the lower left corner of the artwork page: 78 [encircled] 1 ½ col x 4 Screen overall / → square with line ←. Adhered in the lower right corner is a white label on which is typed information: WILLIAM S. KNUDSEN / 5-15-37 - p.32 Newsweek.

Written in pencil on the reverse of the artwork page: P-210.

The artwork page is mounted inside a window mat folder.
Historical NoteAmong his many accomplishments, Willliam S. Knudsen (1879-1948) was president of the Chevrolet Division of General Motors from 1924-1937 and president of General Motors from 1937-1940. An expert on mass production, in 1940, during the presidential administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Knudsen was appointed as Chairman of the Office of Production Management and member of the National Defense Advisory Commission. In 1942, while a commissioned lieutenant general in the U.S. Army, Knudsen was appointed as Director of Production in the Office of the Under Secretary of War. During his service with the Army, Knudsen was also appointed Director of the Air Technical Service Command in 1944.

This portrait of William Knudsen by Samuel Johnson Woolf accompanied an article titled, "Knudsen: Skilled Labor man Takes General Motors Command," which appeared in the May 15, 1937 edition of News-Week.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Stuart P. and Sue Feld in 2008.
Credit LineGift of Stuart P. and Sue Feld
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPortraits (National Archives Identifier 778816)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view