Boys' Life Magazine

History

In 1911, George S. Barton, of Somerville, Massachusetts, founded, edited, and published the first edition of Boys' Life magazine, calling it Boys' and Boy Scouts' Magazine. He was not referring to the Scouts we envision today but to the three major competing Scouting organizations of the time: the American Boy Scouts, New England Boy Scouts, and Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Barton's first issue of Boys' Life was published on January 1, 1911. "Volume 1, Number 1" was printed on the magazine's flag. However, very few of the 5,000 printed copies actually reached the public. The more commonly accepted first edition was published on March 1, 1911, following its expansion from eight to 48 pages, a reduction in page size, and the addition of a two-color cover.

To promote its "Learning to Read" program, the BSA purchased Boys' Life from the George S. Barton & Company on June 10, 1912, for $6,000. The first Boys' Life magazine edited at the BSA national office was the July 1912 issue. Dr. James E. West, then Chief Scout Executive, served as the BSA's first editor of the publication.

Content

Boys' Life Special Features Adventure Stories Bank Street Classics Entertainment Environmental Issues History Sports Codemaster

Comics Bible Stories Pedro Pee Wee Harris Scouts in Action Tiger Cubs Webelos Woody

Feature Columns Electronics Entertainment Fast Facts History Hitchin' Rack With Pedro the Mailburro Science Scouting Around Sports

For more information about Boys' Life magazine, visit their Web site: http://www.boyslife.org/