Norman Rockwell, Boy Scouts and Art Have Enjoyed a Special Relationship Since The Early Days

Rockwell's First Steady Job as an Artist

Mention Norman Rockwell and Boy Scouts and your mind leaps to a vision of camp fires, roasted marshmallows and hot dogs and sleeping under the stars. Rockwell captured the essence of those moments more completely than any other illustrator.

Norman Rockwell and Boy Scouts have been almost synonymous for decades.

One can hardly find a Boy Scout calendar or Boy Scout handbook without a Norman Rockwell illustration.

And for good reason.

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Boys' Life Magazine & 1912 - Rockwell's First Job

Norman Rockwell's first steady job after art school in 1913 was illustrating Boy's Life magazine. In fact, this was the only time during his life that he worked for a fixed salary. He illustrated stories and painted covers for Boys' Life. He also illustrated Boy scout books, such as "The Boy Scout Hike Book" by Edward Cave and "Boy Scouts Courageous" by Franklin K. Mathiews.

Norman Rockwell became Art Director for Boy's Life magazine in 1913.

Then, in 1916, he sold his first two covers to The Saturday Evening Post. He decided free-lance artist was best for his career and left his job with Boys' Life.

Rockwell enlisted in the Navy in 1917. He was discharged in 1918.

In 1918, the Red Cross commissioned Rockwell to paint four covers for their monthly magazine. They were all to feature a Boy Scout theme. The Red Cross wanted to honor the Boy Scouts for the help they had freely given the Red Cross during World War I.

Norman Rockwell Boy Scouts Calendar

In 1925, the Norman Rockwell Boy Scouts calendar began. Brown & Bigelow, the country's largest calendar producer, printed an annual Boy Scout calendar. For 52 years, each featured a Norman Rockwell Boy Scouts painting. The Boy Scout calendar was America's most popular calendar for many years.

Until 1929, Rockwell did the paintings at no charge to the Boy Scouts. After 1929, Brown & Bigelow paid Rockwell for the painting. After the calendar was published, Boy Scouts of America was given all reproduction rights for the painting.

Some of Scouting's most moving and memorable pictures were painted by Norman Rockwell for the Boy Scouts Calendar. Click here to see more Norman Rockwell Boy Scouts Illustrations.

The Silver Buffalo

In 1938, in recognition of his service to Boy Scouts, Norman Rockwell was awarded the Silver Buffalo. This award is the highest acknowledgment the Boy Scouts of America gives for "Distinguished Service to Boyhood."

Norman Rockwell was truly Scouting's best friend.

After you finish with Norman Rockwell Boy Scouts, don't forget to take our quick Norman Rockwell Collector Survey. Thanks.

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