1920s-1940s

1930

• Spring: Census records show that Norma Jeane lived with her mother and the Boldenders’ home in Inglewood.
• 1 June: Norma Jean turns four.
• 28 September: Norma Jeane begins attending the Community Sunday School in Hawthorne. She graduates from the Cradle Roll Department to Beginners Department.

1931

• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns five.
• 28 September: Norma Jeane starts school at the Ballona Elementary and Kindergarten School with her foster brother Lester.

1932

• 27 March: Norma Jeane performs at The Hollywood Bowl for Easter Sunday. She and approximately fifty other children pose as a living cross. She said of the event later in life, “We wore white tunics under our dresses and, at the signal, we had to remove our dresses to change the black cross into a white one… I was bored… I completely forgot and found myself the only black patch in a white cross. My family didn’t forgive me ever.”
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns six.
• 17 June: Norma Jeane has her last day at Ballona Elementary and Kindergarten School.
• September: Norma Jeane attends the Vine Street School. She adopts a dog called Tippy who would follow her home from school

1933

• 13 March: Norma Jeane attends Fifth Street School. Her teacher, Evelyn Gawthorp describes her as a “timid child who loved to sing.”
• Spring: Norma Jeane has whooping cough. She has her tonsils removed.
• 23 May: Gladys regains custody of Norma Jeane.
• 29 May: Gladys’s grandfather (Norma Jeane’s great-grandfather), Tilford Hogan, commits suicide due to the strains of the Great Depression, furthering Gladys’s conviction that mental health issues run in the family.
• June: There are multiple stories that tell the story of how Tippy died. One version is that due to Tippy’s barking, an annoyed neighbour killed the dog. Another says that he was hit by a car. Either way, the death of Tippy leaves Norma Jeane heartbroken. The Bolenders call Gladys who arrives at the end of June with her friend Grace McKee to take Norma Jeane back to her apartment.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns seven.
• 16 August: Norma Jeane’s half-brother (unknown to Norma Jeane at the time), Robert (aka Jackie) dies at the age of 15 years old. Jackie died from tuberculosis of the kidney.
• 23 August: Gladys puts down $750 towards the purchase of a home. Gladys then uses a $5,000 loan from the Mortgage Guarantee Company of California and buys a six-room furnished house with three bedrooms. They move in at the end of August and begin renting a room to a couple of English actors, the Atkinsons.
• September: Norma Jeane begins attending the Selma Avenue school in which she was registered under the misspelling, Norma Jean.
• October: Gladys finds out about Robert’s death and begins to hallucinate.

1934

• This is the year when Norma Jeane is sexually assaulted. She begins to stutter.
• January: Gladys, who was taking medication for her depression the previous year, starts suffering from manic episodes. She is taken to hospital. The effects of the medication weren’t fully understood at the time but it is believed to have created more of a negative effect on Gladys. With her mother in the hospital, Norma Jeane is looked after by the British couple (George and Maude Atkinson) who lived in the home and Grace McKee.
• February: Gladys leaves the hospital and resumes working as a film cutter. She begins drinking and taking her prescription medication, despite her religious beliefs.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns eight.
• 21 October: Gladys’ house is sold at $4,500. The Atkinsons return to England and Grace begins acting as Norma Jeane’s guardian. She is temporarily placed in the care of her sister Enid and Enid’s husband (Sam Knebelkamp). Grace’s aunt, Ana Lower also helps take care of Norma Jeane.
• December: A report is written by Los Angeles General Hospital describes Gladys’s illness: “constant religious concerns and with a deep depression and a big agitation. It seems that the illness has reached its chronic stage.”

1935

• 15 January:  Gladys is admitted to the Norwalk State Hospital, and declared as having paranoid schizophrenia.
• 25 March: Grace McKee files a petition to become Norma Jeane’s legal guardian. In the meantime, she stays in numerous foster homes. Grace learns that in September there will be space at a local orphanage.
• 4 April: Grace files to become Norma Jeane’s legal guardian as well as Gladys’s.
• 22 April: Grace pays $25 to Nell Atkinson (George and Maude Atkinson’s daughter) for Norma Jeane’s care
• 22 May: Grace pays $25 to Nell Atkinson for Norma Jeane’s care.
• June: Gladys signs her inventory and belongings to Grace Goddard. The assets total $5,849.75 including a Franklin Baby Grand piano. The money is held in a trust and used for Gladys and Norma Jeane’s care. Grace will continue to file for reimbursements for payments made from her own money.
• Norma Jeane lives briefly with Harvey and Elsie Giffen, parents of her school friend.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns nine.
• 25 June: Grace sells Gladys’s home for $4,838.07.
• 10 August: Grace McKee marries Erwin “Doc” Goddard in Las Vegas.
• September: Norma Jeane begins fourth grade.
• 4 September: Grace sells the Franklin piano to Ana Lower for $235.
• 13 September: Due to an obligatory stay in an orphanage before Grace could be Norma Jeane’s guardian, she arrives at the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society. Grace pays the orphanage $15 a month, claiming it back from the trust.
• 25 September: Grace files a $5 reimbursement claim for Norma Jeane’s care.
• 4 December: After a visit from Ida Bolender, which upsets Norma Jeane, Grace writes to the orphanage. She asks that only she, Harvey and Elise Giffen, Maude, George and Nell Atkinson, Olive Monroe and Ida Martin (Olive’s mother) are able to visit.
• Gladys escapes from Norwalk State Hospital but is found and returned.
• 18 December: The children at the orphanage are entertained by the Federal Theater Project.
• 25 December: RKO studios invite the children of the orphanage to visit the studio, eat ice cream and watch a movie.

1936

• 26 February: Grace files papers to become Norma Jeane’s legal guardian.
• 27 March: Grace is granted as Norma Jeane’s legal guardian. She continues to buy Norma Jeane’s clothes and continues to be reimbursed for her care.
• Spring: Gladys is moved to Agnews State Hospital.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns ten.
• 13 June: Grace takes Norma Jeane for ice cream.
• 19 June: Norma Jeane’s school, Vine Street, awards her a certificate for “excellent citizenship.”
• 21 June: Grace makes the last payment to the orphanage for Norma Jeane’s care however she will remain there until October.
• September: Norma Jeane begins fifth grade at Vine Street School.
• October: Norma Jeane leaves the orphanage and moves in with a now-married Grace Goddard after 13 months in care. Grace will receive $20 a month for Norma Jeane’s care via Norma Jeane’s estate. It is during this time Norma Jeane is drunkenly sexually assaulted by Grace’s husband Doc. Norma Jeane informs Grace. It is believed that this is when Grace starts drinking heavily.

1937

• 20 February: On the Orphanage’s report for Norma Jeane it states: “Sometimes she seems anxious and then she begins to stutter. Norma Jean [sic] is also prone to coughing fits and frequent colds… if she’s not treated with much patience and constantly reassured, she is prey to panic attacks. I would recommend for her a strong and good family.”
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns eleven.
• September: Norma Jeane begins sixth grade at Lankershim School.
• December: After Doc assaults Norma Jeane, Grace places her in the care of Olive Monroe, her three children and  Ida Martin. Grace pays Ida for the care and files for these expenses.

1938

• March: Grace visits Norma Jeane at Ida Martin’s home. She discovers her mother has attempted to escape from the hospital and has been transported to Agnew State Asylum, an institution specialising in mental disorders, near San Francisco.
• Norma Jeane is moved from Olive and Ida’s home after the 1938 Los Angeles Flood. She is moved to the home of Ruth and Alan Mills.
• June: Norma Jeane moves to Grace’s brother’s home. The Atchinsons for a second time (Bryan and Lottie) aren’t particularly interested in her. She finishes sixth grade.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns twelve. Grace treats her to a new dress, makeup and hairstyling. She has a professional photo taken.
• 4 June: Norma Jeane is taken by Grace to have her portrait taken.
• August: Ida Martin receives her final payment for caring for Norma Jeane.
• 29 August: Grace Goddard takes Norma Jeane to live with her Aunt Ana Lower who believed in Christian Science and raised Norma Jeane to do so too. This later causes many issues for her as her periods caused terrible pain. Christian Science doesn’t believe in pain relief or medical care. Later it is discovered Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe has endometriosis.
• 30 August: Grace takes Norma Jeane to Ocean Park.
• September: Norma Jeane discovers she has a sister, Berniece.
• 5 September: Norma Jeane’s possessions are taken to Ana Lower’s home where she will spend the next 16 months. Ana is paid $30 a month for Norma Jeane’s care.
• 12 September: Norma Jeane starts the seventh grade at Sawtelle Boulevard School.

1939

• 31 January: Norma Jeane is awarded a certificate “in recognition of personal service rendered by her as a member of the School Safety Committee.”
• June: Grace takes Norma Jeane to visit Gladys in San Francisco where she is currently hospitalised.
• Norma Jeane finishes seventh grade at Sawtelle Boulevard School.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns thirteen.
• 11 September: Norma Jeane starts eighth grade at Emerson Junior High School.
• End of 1939: Ana Lower starts to suffer from cardiovascular issues.

1940

• February: Ana’s health begins deteriorating quickly.
• June: Norma Jeane begins socialising and starts dating Chuck Moran, the cousin of the artist Earl Moran who would paint and photograph Norma Jeane in her modelling years.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns fourteen.
• 10 June: Ana presents Norma Jeane with a prayer card.
• November/December: Norma Jeane goes to Lake Arrowhead with Bob Muir, Ben Stotte and Bette Westcott.
• December: Due to Ana’s poor health, Norma Jeane returns to Doc and Grace Goddard’s home.

1941

• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns fifteen.
• 27 June: Norma Jeane graduates from Emerson Junior High, completing the ninth grade.
• 8 September: Norma Jeane starts Van Nuys High School. She begins buying make-up with her allowance given to her by Grace.
• December: Doc is offered a job in Virginia. Norma Jeane is taken to Doc’s Christmas party by her neighbour James Dougherty.

1942

• February: The Goddards prepare to move to Huntington, West Virginia but are unable to take Norma Jeane, so she was required to either go back to the orphanage or get married.
• Norma Jeane is offered two choices. Go back to the orphanage or marry James Dougherty (Jim). She later said, “In the state of California a girl can get married at sixteen. So I had a choice: go to a home till I was eighteen or get married. And so I got married.” However, letters show that she was deeply affectionate toward Jim. Before the marriage takes place Norma Jeane moves back in with Aunt Ana who is currently suffering from health issues.
• March: The Goddards leave California and move to West Virginia. Jim’s mother, Ethel, approaches Jim and discusses the agreement to marry Norma Jeane. He thought it over and agreed. The couple made an effort to date and spend time together. He takes her shopping for an engagement ring.
• May: Norma Jeane drops out of University High School, something she always regretted.
• June: Norma Jeane leaves high school.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns sixteen.
• 7 June: Norma Jeane and Jim sign a six-month lease for a one-room bungalow at 4524 Vista Del Monte in Sherman Oaks.
• 19 June: Norma Jeane and Jim get married to avoid Norma Jeane having to return to the orphanage. Aunt Ana made her wedding gown for the event but no family attended the ceremony which took place in a friend of Grace’s home (432 South Bentley Avenue). The Bolenders however did attend and saw her for the final time. After the ceremony, they have a small wedding reception at Florentine Gardens.
• There was no honeymoon, however, they did visit Sherwood Lake between 20-21 June. 
• 22 June: Norma Jeane and Jim’s wedding license is filed.
• 25 June: Norma Jeane and Jim’s wedding and address are announced in the Los Angeles Times.
• 14 September: Norma Jeane writes to Grace Goddard which implies Grace had informed her of her real father’s identity (Stanley Gifford). It was sold in 2011 for $52,460.

1943

• January: The lease runs out on Dougherty’s apartment, so they move into Jim’s parent’s home.
• February: Dougherty recalls that she attempts to call Stanley Gifford, the man she believes to be her father, only for him to hang up on her.
• 23 April: Norma Jeane and Aunt Ana purchase a war bond for $25.
• Summer: The Dougherty’s move to 14223 Bessemer Street. Norma Jeane adopted a collie named Muggsie.
• Jim enlists in the Merchant Marines without first informing his wife. During this period, Norma Jeane lives in North Hollywood with Jim’s parents.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns seventeen.
• August: Norma Jeane converts to Christian Science
• September: Jim was allowed to have Norma Jeane live with him at the HQ of the Merchant Marines at Catalina Island.
• December: Tensions between the couple begin due to Jim’s jealousy as Norma Jeane becomes widely admired by other men.

1944

• January: Norma Jeane and Jimmy visit Wrigley’s bird park.
• Spring: Norma Jeane leaves Catalina and lives with her mother-in-law, Ethel, in North Hollywood.  She soon became bored being at home alone whilst Ethel worked at the Radio Plane. She eventually asked Ethel to get her a job there.
• April: The Merchant Marines send Jimmy to Australia.
• 18 April: Norma Jeane starts at the Radioplane for 70 cents per hour inspecting parachutes.
• 22 May: Norma Jeane begins working in the paint department and gets a 5 cents an-hour raise.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns eighteen.
• 10 June: Norma Jeane was put on the doper brush as she couldn’t keep up with the demands of packing parachutes.
• 15 June: Norma Jeane attends a party at Balboa Park hosted by Radioplane. She is elected Queen of Radioplane and receives a $50 war bond.
• 21 August: Norma Jeane receives a pay rise of 5 cents, now receiving 80 cents per hour.
• 10 October:  Norma Jeane meets her sister Berniece for the first time in Detroit, they visit Canada. Before returning to Los Angeles she visits Grace Goddard in Chicago.
• November: When Norma Jeane returns to work she is photographed by an army photographer called David Conover.
• December: Jim spends the holidays with Norma Jeane.

1945

• 10 February: Norma Jeane buys back her baby grand piano from Ana for $10.
• 15 March: Norma Jeane quits Radioplane as she was busy modelling.
• Spring: Norma Jeane begins modelling for more photographers including Conover. Conover was impressed by her attention to detail with posing, lighting and film quality
• 16 March: Norma Jeane and Jimmy go to the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel. He returns to sea the next day.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns nineteen.
• 4 June: Norma Jeane writes to Grace. She discusses that shortly after she returned to work (she hadn’t been there since January),
• 26 June: Norma Jeane continues posing for David Conover.
• Summer: The Goddards return to California.
• July 4: David Conover photographs Norma Jeane.
• 2 August: Norma Jeane taken by photographed by Potter Heuth to meet Emmeline Snively of Blue Book Modelling Agency which was situated at the Ambassador Hotel. She signs a contract after being interviewed and leaves the Radio Plane Munitions Factory. She takes lessons in beauty and makeup, fashion and etiquette.
• September: Norma Jeane is hired instantly with campaigns for companies such as Holga Steel Company, Montgomery Ward, the Hollywood Fashion show and Douglas luxury airlines (released in 1946). Ethel, her mother-in-law criticises Norma Jeane and her new career. Norma Jeane leaves Ethel and lives with Aunt Ana once more at 1138 Nebraska Avenue.
• 2 September: Norma Jeane and other models have test shots done at the Ambassador Hotel.
• 20 November: Blue Book Modelling Agency suggests Norma Jeane as a model for Andre De Dienes who had many sittings for the remainder of the year and during much of her career.
• 6 December: Norma Jeane spends almost a month in Death Valley, Mojave Desert and Yosemite with De Dienes. During the trip, his photography equipment was stolen. Norma Jeane also met with her mother who had been released from the asylum and was now living with Dora Graham (Gladys’s aunt). The road trip had been somewhat of a disaster, leaving Norma Jeane incredibly upset. Before Jim left home again to return to the Merchant Marines he gave Norma Jeane the ultimatum of modelling or being his wife.
• 25 December: Norma Jeane and Andre de Dienes spend Christmas with Gladys.
• 27 December: Norma Jeane returns to Los Angeles.

1946

• January: Norma Jeane makes her first cover for Douglas Air Review.
• February: Norma Jeane is approached by photographer Raphael Wolff to photograph her for a shampoo advertisement. He agrees, on the condition that bleaches her hair, which he will pay for. This advice had already been given to her on several occasions. She went to Frank & Joseph hair salon where her hair is coloured by Sylvia Barnhart. The photos were never used for the campaign.
• March: Norma Jeane sends money to Gladys so she can come to Los Angeles and live with her and Jim (which Jim is not informed of).
• 6 March: Norma Jeane poses for Joseph Jasgur for the first time.
• 8 March: Norma Jeane poses for photographer and pinup artist Earl Moran (cousin of Norma Jeane’s first boyfriend Chuck Moran). Their working relationship lasts 5 years.
• 9 March: Jim returns home to find Norma Jeane not there. He doesn’t see her for the entirety of his trip.
• 10 March: Norma Jeane has her first photo session with Joseph Jasgur at North Poinsetta Place.
• 11 March: Norma Jeane signs a contract with National Concerts Artists Corporation. Harry Lipton becomes her agent, and he advises her to divorce Jim.
• 12 March: Norma Jeane poses for Richard C. Miller.
• 14 March: Norma Jeane writes to Jim stating she will be continuing her modelling career without his support.
• 18 March: Norma Jeane poses for Joseph Jasgur.
• 23 March: Norma Jeane poses for Joseph Jaguar.
• 26 March: Norma Jeane poses for Richard C. Miller.
• April: Norma Jeane takes part in a fashion show at the Ambassador Hotel.
• 4 April: Norma Jeane poses for Richard C. Miller.
• 25 April: Norma Jeane has a photo session with Paul Parry.
• 30 April: Norma Jeane poses for Richard C. Miller.
• 14 May: Norma Jeane moves to Las Vegas to obtain a divorce from Jim. She stays with  Grace’s aunt, Winnie Willette. It is in Vegas she would meet Bill Pursel, who she dates.
• 23 or 24 May: Norma Jeane meets singer, and actor Roy Rogers and has dinner with him and his crew at The Last Frontier Hotel.
• 1 June: Norma Jeane turns twenty.
• 19 June: Aunt Ana writes about meeting with Andre de Dienes, who describes him as Norma Jeane’s “sweetheart”.
• 1 July: Norma Jeane telegrams Emmeline Snively informing her she has measles.
• 5 July: Norma Jeane gives Jim the divorce papers and tries to compromise saying they could still see each other. He declines.
• 17 July: Norma Jeane gets an appointment to meet with Ben Lyon, Fox’s studio executive.
• 18 July: Norma Jeane leaves Las Vegas despite being legally required to stay there until September.
• 24 July: Norma Jeane poses for Bruno Bernard.
• 25 July: Norma Jeane meets with Ben Lyon and asks her to read lines from Winged Victory. A contract is drafted.
• 28 July: Ben Lyon takes Norma Jeane out for lunch.
• 29 July: Hedda Hopper claims Howard Hughes is considering signing Norma Jeane.
• 2 August: Norma Jeane auditions for a part in The Red House but is declared unsuitable.
• 14 August: Norma Jeane has her first screen test on the set of The Shocking Miss Pilgrim. She meets make-up artist Allan “Whitey” Snyder (who later became her personal make-up artist).
• 22 August: Ben Lyon suggests Norma Jeane have a pseudonym. It was decided Marilyn Monroe would be her new name. This combined the actress Marilyn Miller’s first name and her mother’s maiden name, Monroe.
• 26 August: Norma Jeane signs a contract with Fox accompanied by Grace (as Marilyn wasn’t 21 years old yet).
• 5 September: Norma Jeane’s name is published for the first time under Variety magazine’s New Contracts section (as Norma Jeane)
• 13 September: Norma Jeane and James Dougherty officially divorce. Marilyn obtains Jim’s car Ford coupe. She never speaks or meets with Jim again.
• Summer/Fall: Norma Jeane models for Group 13, a group of inspiring amateur photographers.
• Fall: Norma Jeane makes her first radio appearance with KFI radio alongside other promising starlets. She was also filmed by Leo Caloia at the Ambassador Hotel.
• 22 November: Norma Jeane rides on a float for Alan Young Radio Show in the Santa Clause Lane Parade.
• 23 November: Norma Jeane goes on one a date with Alan Young.
• December: Norma Jeane promotes the new car model Kaiser-Frazer.
• 6 December: A memo goes out stating Norma Jeane’s new name is Marilyn Monroe.
• 14 December: Norma Jeane’s name change to Marilyn Monroe goes into effect.

1947

• 1 January: Marilyn rides a float during the Tournament of Roses Parade.
• 10 January: Marilyn writes to NCAC requesting they no longer represent her. Harry Lipton had left NCAC and started his own agency with Elsie Cukor called Cukor-Lipton Agency which Marilyn signs a one-year contract.
• 18 January: Marilyn breaks off her relationship with Andre De Dienes.
• 30 January: Marilyn is advertised as a babysitter who was recently signed by the studio.
• 10 February: Fox writes to Marilyn to confirm they have lengthened her contract from 6 months, commencing 26 February. After this, she is given her first part in a movie called Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay! which is released in March 1948. Her one line is “Hi” which is cut from the film.
• 17 February: Marilyn signs a contract which allows her to appear on the Lux Theater Radio Show.
• 21 February: Marilyn appears on Alan Young Radio Show
• 24 February: Marilyn appears on the Lux Radio Theater Show. 
• 26 February: Marilyn’s extended contract commences. Her salary increases to $125/week
• End of March: Marilyn is photographed advertising the Pacific Coast Antique Show with a cat.
• 15 April: Marilyn is one of 17 starlets to win a success award.
• 26 April: Marilyn and the cast of Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay pose for a photo.
• 1 June: Marilyn turns twenty-one.
• 11 June: Marilyn signs an amendment with Fox as she is now twenty-one.
• 20 July: Marilyn attends the annual golf tournament of the 20th Century Fox, at the Brentwood Country Club.
• 25 July: Marilyn appears at a publicity event at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.
• 26 July: Marilyn is informed her contract with Fox will not be renewed.
• 29 July: Marilyn signs a contract amendment with Cukor-Lipton.
• 30 July: Marilyn films her part for The Dangerous Years. She completes the role in one day.
• 17 August: Marilyn attends a golf tournament at the Cheviot Country Club. She meets John Carroll and his wife Lucille Ryan who will be pivotal in Marilyn’s career.
• 25 August: Marilyn is officially dropped from Fox.
• John Caroll and Lucille Ryman allowed Marilyn to live in an apartment they rented to struggling starlets. She received a $25-a-week allowance and stayed rent-free. They owned several of these apartments in Los Angeles.
• 31 August: Marilyn receives her final payment from Fox for $104.13
• 21 September: Marilyn auditions for a part in Glamour Preferred at Bill Hayden Theatre. She gets the second lead.
• 24 September: Marilyn goes to Mocambo with George Jessel where they are photographed.
• 12 October: Glamour Preferred begins its run.
• 2 November: Glamour Preferred ends its run.
• 4 December: Marilyn signs a contract with John Carroll who will represent her as manager. He will give her $100 a week in exchange for 10% to Harry Lipton and 90% to Carroll.
• 7 December: The Dangerous Years is released.

1948

• February: John Carroll introduces Marilyn to Pat DiCicco, a friend of Joe Schenck. He asks Marilyn to be his date at one of Schenck’s parties.
• 16-22 February: Marilyn stays at the Jeffrey Hotel.
• 20 February: Marilyn is crowned Artichoke Queen at the Vogue Theater.
• 29 February: Marilyn’s contract with Lucille Ryman and John Carroll ends.
• 9 March: Marilyn is hired by Columbia for 6 months at $125 per week.
• 10 March: Marilyn meets Natasha Lytess, who would become her acting coach and Fred Karger, music teacher. Karger will soon become her boyfriend.
• 11 March: Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! is released but Marilyn’s scenes are cut from the movie.
• 14 March: Aunt Ana dies.
• 18 March: Marilyn attends the funeral.
• 8 April: Marilyn takes part in a hair show at the Wilshire Ebbet.
• 22 April: Filming begins for Ladies of the Chorus.
• 3 May: Filming ends for Ladies of the Chorus. 
• 26 May: Marilyn attends the premiere of The Emperor’s Waltz with Mickey Rooney at the Paramount Hollywood Theatre.
• 29 May: Marilyn is photographed at Columbia showing her make-up routine. The images are used to promote Ladies of the Chorus.
• 1 June: Marilyn turns twenty-two.
• 2 June: Marilyn is a hostess at the Los Angeles Press Ball.
• 3 June: Marilyn goes to George White’s Scandals with George Jessell at Florentine Gardens.
• 9 June: Marilyn moves into the Hollywood Studio Club, a boarding house for starlets.
• 16 June: Marilyn attends Lend an Ear, at the Las Palmas Theatre starring Carol Channing.
• 13 July: Ed Cronenwerth takes publicity photos for Ladies of the Chorus.
• 14 July: Rand Brooks takes publicity photos for Ladies of the Chorus.
• 15 August: Marilyn stars in Stage Door at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre.
• 3 or 4 September: Marilyn and Bill Pursel attend Madam Butterfly.
• 9 September: Marilyn’s contract with Columbia ends.
• 12 September: Marilyn’s run in Stage Door ends.
• 21 September: Marilyn participates in the Los Angeles Ladies of the Press Theta Sigma Pi Luncheon and Fashion show at the Ambassador Hotel.
• 22 October: Ladies of the Chorus is released.
• 16 November: Marilyn poses for Earl Moran and is paid $10 an hour.
• 25 December: Marilyn gives Fred Karger a $500 gold watch, engraved with “12/25/1948”. It will take her two years to pay off.
• 31 December: Marilyn Monroe is introduced to Johnny Hyde, one of the heads of the William Morris Agency at a New Year’s Eve Party where she wears a costume from Love Happy. She attends with Fred Karger.

1949

• February: Natasha Lytess and Marilyn have a photo session with J.R Eyerman.
• 6 February: Marilyn attends the Wisconsin Golf Tour with Joe Kirkland.
• 2 March: Johnny Hyde and the William Morris Agency begin representing Marilyn.
• 13 March: Marilyn moves out of The Studio Club and into the Beverly Carlton Hotel.
• 26 March: Marilyn poses for Earl Moran.
• April: Marilyn is photographed by Philippe Halsman for the first time, for LIFE magazine.
• 8 April: Marilyn poses for Earl Moran.
• 20 April: Grace writes to Marilyn informing her that Gladys has got married to John Eley.
• 28 April: Marilyn is photographed by Tom Kelley for Dolly Madison Wine.
• Marilyn attends the 4th Pacific Coast Antiques Show at the Los Angeles Pan-Pacific Auditorium.
• Spring: Terry Karger notes Marilyn and Fred split in Spring 1949. Johnny Hyde leaves his wife and children and has Marilyn move in with him in Beverly Hills at North Palm Drive. She pays to rent a room at the Beverly Carlton to avoid gossip and paid her own expenses using money from Love Happy.
• 27 May: Marilyn has her nude photoshoot with Tom Kelley (under the condition that his wife, Natalie, was present and no staff were there) under the name Mona Monroe. Kelley sold the copyright to the Baumgarth company for $500. Marilyn received $50 for the session which lasted two hours.
• 1 June: Marilyn turns twenty-three.
• 10 June: Marilyn leaves Hollywood for a five-week tour to promote Love Happy, she is paid $100 a week.
• 12 June: Marilyn arrives in Rockford, Illinois.
• 13-16 June: Marilyn signs autographs and appears on stage after each screening of Love Happy in Rockford.
• 13 June: Marilyn attends the opening ceremony of the Fairgrounds Pool.
• 14 June: Marilyn joins the Elks Club in putting a flag in a sportswear shop. She then visits the Children’s Home of Rockford before attending a screening of Love Happy.
• 15 June: Marilyn participates in a radio show to help promote Love Happy.
• 17 June: Marilyn arrives in Chicago.
• 18 June: Marilyn is interviewed at the Ambassador East Hotel.
• 20 June: Marilyn arrives in New York.
• 21 June: Marilyn presents the Photoplay Dream House in Warrensburg to Virginia MacAllister.
• 23 June: Marilyn poses for Andre De Dienes on Tobay Beach.
• 24 June: Marilyn is interviewed by Earl Wilson.
• 9 July: Marilyn returns to Chicago. She participates in the Film Stars World Series baseball game.
• 5 August: Marilyn does costume tests for A Ticket to Tomohawk.
• 22 August: Marilyn films A Ticket to Tomahawk. Marilyn gets $200 per week.
• 27 August: Marilyn leaves Los Angeles for Durango to film A Ticket to Tomahawk. She is there for 5 weeks.
• 10 October: Marilyn’s photos with Philippe Halsman for LIFE magazine are released.
• 17 November: Marilyn and Johnny Hyde attend a party for Dana and Mary Andrews’s 10th anniversary.
• 20 November: Marilyn and Johnny Hyde attend Danny Thomas’s opening night at Ciro’s
• 29 November: A free agent contract is drawn up for Marilyn to be in The Asphalt Jungle at $300 per week.
• 10 – 16 December: Marilyn films her seen for The Asphalt Jungle 
• 31 December: Marilyn spends New Year’s Eve with Johnny Hyde at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs.