ATLANTA—Coca-Cola wants its children returned. Out of six oil paintings depicting children the Coca-Cola Company commissioned from Norman Rockwell more than 74 years ago, the whereabouts of three are unknown. The paintings, from the late 1920s and early 1930s, are "seminal pieces" of the country’s history, says Coca-Cola’s archivist Phil Mooney. The pieces most were likely lost over time, Mooney says. "We’re not sure they even still exist. They certainly may have been discarded."

The three pieces include "The Old Oaken Bucket," 1932, which depicts a boy sitting on a well with a small wooden barrel of Coke bottles in his lap; "Wholesome Refreshment," 1928, a sepia-toned magazine ad made for The Saturday Evening Post showing a smiling young man lounging with a Coke while well-dressed adults are playing with children; and "Office Boy—4 p.m.—The Pause That Refreshes," 1930, in which a smiling boy in a suit and tie carrying a tray of two bottles of Coke and two glasses and opening a door labeled "Vice-President." Mooney speculates that Rockwell was paid at least $2,000 for each painting.

The other three paintings have made their way back into the World of Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta, and another in the executive offices of its headquarters. One of these, "Barefoot Boy," 1931, had been sent to a printing plant in Louisville, Kentucky, and was intended to be the artwork in a 1930 calendar. When the president of the printing company retired, he brought it to his home. Coca-Cola purchased it from him in 2001 when he asked if the company would be interested in the work. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," 1934, was returned by a former employee in the late 1990s, and the 1935 piece, "Out Fishin’" has always been in the Coke headquarters. Anyone with information is requested to contact the company at 800.438.2653.