Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945), known as N.C. Wyeth was one of America's foremost illustrators and painters. He was born in Needham Massachusetts. He went to several art schools in his home state before leaving for Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania to study under Howard Pyle (1853-1911) from 1902 to 1904. In 1903, his first published work appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. He went on to illustrate Treasure Island for publisher Charles Scribner’s Son in 1911. This led to his illustrating over twenty other titles for the publisher. The series was known as Scribner’s Classics and included Robin Hood, Robinson Crusoe, and other adventure novels. Wyeth also illustrated advertisements, calendars, and posters. He also took commissions for murals. Later in his career, he focused more on painting landscapes.

In 1906, he married Carolyn Bockius (1909-1994) and had five children: Andrew Wyeth (1907-2009), Henriette Wyeth Hurd (1907-1997), Carolyn Wyeth (1909-1994), Nathaniel C. Wyeth (1911-1990), and Ann Wyeth McCoy (1915-2005). Andrew, Henriette, and Carolyn became artists as well. Ann became an artist and composer. Nathaniel became an engineer for the DuPont Company and worked on the team that invented the plastic soda bottle. Henriette and Ann married two of their father's proteges, Peter Hurd (1904-1984) and John W. McCoy (1910-1989) respectively. Wyeth is also the grandfather of artist Jamie Wyeth (1946-) and musician Howard Wyeth (1944-1996). In 1945 N.C. Wyeth died tragically when a train hit his car at a railroad crossing. A grandson who was with him also perished.