Norman Rockwell And Boys Life
Covers, Ads, & Stories

September 1913 through March 1971

Boys Life featured Norman Rockwell paintings on its cover a total of 34 times. Rockwell's art first appeared on the cover on August 25, 1917.

Rockwell's first story illustration were published in the January 1913 issue. Rockwell's art first appeared on the cover in September 1913. And the first Rockwell illustrated advertisement appeared in the February 1917 issue.

The last Norman Rockwell Boys Life cover was published in 1976 in celebration of the American Bicentennial.

Here is our list of Boys Life covers by Norman Rockwell.

Norman Rockwell Boys Life Covers

Here is our list of Boys Life magazine covers painted by Norman Rockwell. Each clickable link will connect you with a page dedicated to the Norman Rockwell art cover. Each page includes a scan and commentary. Enjoy.

• September 1913 - Scout at Ships Wheel
• October 1913 - Boy on Trunk
• November 1913 - Boy with Drumstick
• December 1913 - Santa and Scouts in Snow
• January 1914 - Boy Skating
• February 1914 - Scout on Horse with Wolves
• March 1914 - Fight on a Cliff
• April 1914 - Scout with Dog on Hill
• June 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone
• May 1915 - Don Strong
• August 1915 - Tail End of a Dive
• February 1919 - The Daily Good Turn
• July 1919 - Head of a Boy Scout
• August 1919 - Straight Talks From the Scoutmaster
• July 1921 - Fourth of July
• February 1926 - A Good Turn
• February 1927 - Good Friends
• February 1929 - Spirit of America
• February 1931 - Scout Memories
• February 1932 - A Scout is Loyal
• February 1933 - An Army of Friendship
• February 1934 - Carry On
• April 1934 - Spring-Winter (Boy Going Fishing)
• February 1935 - A Good Scout
• July 1935 - On to Washington
• February 1936 - The Campfire Story
• February 1937 - Scouts of Many Trails
• February 1938 - America Builds for Tomorrow
• February 1939 - The Scouting Trail
• February 1940 - A Scout Is Reverent
• February 1941 - A Scout Is Helpful
• February 1942 - A Scout Is Loyal
• February 1943 - A Scout is Friendly
• February 1944 - We, Too, Have a Job to Do
• February 1945 - I Will Do My Best
• February 1946 - A Guiding Hand
• February 1947 - All Together
• February 1948 - Men of Tomorrow
• February 1949 - Friend in Need
• February 1950 - Our Heritage
• February 1951 - Forward America
• February 1952 - The Adventure Trail
• February 1953 - On My Honor
• February 1955 - The Right Way
• February 1956 - The Scoutmaster
• June 1957 - High Adventure
• February 1958 - Mighty Proud
• February 1959 - Tomorrow's Leader
• February 1960 - Ever Onward
• February 1961 - Homecoming
• February 1962 - Pointing the Way
• February 1963 - A Good Sign All Over the World
• February 1964 - To Keep Myself Physically Strong
• February 1965 - A Great Moment
• March 1971 - Boy Scouts Pledging

Norman Rockwell Advertisements Appearing in Boys Life

Most advertisers knew that a painting by Norman Rockwell would convey their message to their target audience. A Rockwell illustration has always reached readers on a different level than the ad copy ever could. Rockwell's artwork had that ability to reach his audience on an emotional level.

Norman Rockwell art appeared in advertisements in Boys Life only 9 times. This suggests that the companies advertising in this magazine were unaware of the pursuasive punch Rockwell could add to their message.

The following dates are issues of Boys Life magazine containing advertisements featuring Norman Rockwell paintings.

For more details, see the complete list of Norman Rockwell advertising art.

• February 1917 - Fisk Tire - Plan Now For Your Summer
• June 1917
• May 1918 - Fisk Tire - The Winner Belongs to a Fisk Bicycle Club
• July 1918
• September 1919 - Fisk Tire - Off to Fish on a Bike
• November 1919 - Kaynee Company - Kaynee Blouses and Wash Suits Make You Look All Dressed Up (Two Boys with Dog)
• May 1926
• January 1929
• June 1929 - Coca Cola - Ree-fresh Yourself Is Right (Sipping Coke Through a Straw)

Norman Rockwell Story Illustrations Appearing in Boys Life

Norman Rockwell loved illustrating stories in books and magazines. He felt that he had the freedom to paint any passage from the story he wanted. He also felt free from having to devise his own story.

Norman Rockwell illustrated over 108 stories for Boys Life magazine during his career. Here is a comprehensive list. The number of illustrations in each story is in parentheses.

• January 1913 - Partners (3)
• March 1913 - Sam Brown's Ride to Save Saint Paul (2)
• May 1913 - Crossed Signals (2)
• May 1913 - The Yellow Streak (2)
• June 1913 - The Haw-Haw Corner (2)
• September 1913 - Waves of the Moon (4)
• September 1913 - Big Benton's Fighting Blood (3)
• September 1913 - The Trail to El Dorado, Chapter V ( 2)
• October 1913 - Countryside (Magazine Title Heading Illustration)
• October 1913 - Prepared (3)
• October 1913 - The Scrub Full-back (2)
• October 1913 - The Trail to El Dorado, Chapter VI (2)
• November 1913 - The Cruise of the Pegasus (4)
• November 1913 - The Scrub Half-back (2)
• November 1913 - The Trail to El Dorado, Chapter VII (2)
• November 1913 - What Boys Have to Be Thankful for (Magazine Title Illustration)
• December 1913 - Joe's Christmas Eve at Whistling Bend (3)
• December 1913 - The Trail to El Dorado, Chapter IX (2)
• December 1913 - The Young Pioneer (Border Only)
• December 1913 - Tropic Smugglers (4)
• December 1913 - Wolf (Magazine Title Heading Illustration)
• January 1914 - A Narrow Escape in Kafirland (2)
• January 1914 - The Boy Scouts of America (Magazine Title Heading Illustration)
• January 1914 - The Secret of the Sea (2)
• January 1914 - The Trail to El Dorado, Chapter X (2)
• February 1914 - Bobby's Twighlight Dance
• February 1914 - The Ghost Ball, Chapter I (4)
• February 1914 - Your Own Hockey Rink
• February 1914 - Follow Your Leader
• March 1914 - The Ghost Ball, Chapter II (2)
• March 1914 - The Hazing of Kid Burnham (2)
• March 1914 - The Mystery of the River Cave, Chapter I
• April 1914 - A Minstrel Show, Then - Fire! (2)
• April 1914 - A Narrow Escape from the Savages
• April 1914 - Ned Beale Tenderfoot Scout (2)
• April 1914 - The Hook Slide (6)
• April 1914 - The Mystery of the River Cave, Chapter II (3)
• May 1914 - 'Cinders' - A Boy of the Steel Mills
• May 1914 - Peter and the Game of War (2)
• May 1914 - Snow Blind
• May 1914 - The Mystery of the River Cave, Chapter III (2)
• May 1914 - The Other Fellow's Game (3)
• June 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter I (4)
• June 1914 - The Boys Aboard the 'Vanguard' (3)
• July 1914 - A Pitcher's Pluck (5)
• July 1914 - At the Other End of the Wire (2)
• July 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter II ( 2)
• July 1914 - The Great Daniel Boone Contest
• July 1914 - The Great Raft Race (2)
• August 1914 - A Midnight Surprise (3)
• August 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter III (2)
• September 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter IV (2)
• September 1914 - The Unwelcome 'Scoop' (3)
• September 1914 - Wahbo, the Ghost Beast
• October 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter V (2)
• October 1914 - The Haunted Hollow (2)
• October 1914 - What Sports Do for You
• November 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter VI (2)
• December 1914 - Boys' Life
• December 1914 - Dan of the Mountain (3)
• December 1914 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter VII (2)
• January 1915 - Pancake Jim (4)
• January 1915 - Scouting with Daniel Boone, Chapter VIII (2)
• January 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter I (2)
• February 1915 - 'A scout Is Brave' (2)
• February 1915 - The Boy Scout Smoke-eaters, Chapter I (3)
• February 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter II (3)
• March 1915 - Lefty's Climb to Happiness (2)
• March 1915 - The Boy Scout Smoke-eaters, Chapter II
• March 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter III (4)
• April 1915 - A Treasure Hunt for Real Gold
• April 1915 - Boy With Knapsack (Magazine Title Heading Illustration)
• April 1915 - Quarry Troop and the Circus (3)
• April 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter IV (2)
• May 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter I (3)
• May 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter V (2)
• June 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter II (2)
• June 1915 - The Great Snipe Hunt
• June 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter VI (2)
• July 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter III (2)
• July 1915 - Quarry Troop's Fourth of July (2)
• July 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter VII (2)
• August 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter IV (3)
• August 1915 - The Quarry Troop Life Guards (3)
• August 1915 - The Moonshiners in the Jungle, Chapter VIII (2)
• September 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter V (2)
• September 1915 - Red Gilly, Reelfoot Fisherboy (2)
• October 1915 - A Strenuous Afternoon (4)
• October 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter VI (3)
• October 1915 - Saved by the Rolling Hitch (3)
• November 1915 - Back of Boy's Head
• November 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter VII (2)
• November 1915 - In the Land of Gold (4)
• December 1915 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter VIII (3)
• December 1915 - The Medal He Lost (3)
• January 1916 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter IX (2)
• January 1916 - The Mascot of Troop 16
• January 1916 - Vinegar Bill, Chapter I (2)
• February 1916 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter X (2)
• February 1916 - Vinegar Bill, Chapter II (2)
• March 1916 - Black Water Dave (2)
• March 1916 - Don Strong of the Wolf Patrol, Chapter XI (2)
• April 1916 - Bill's Bill (3)
• April 1916 - Hi-Yi-Deels (2)
• May 1916 - Bill's Bill
• June 1916 - The Indian Sign (3)
• May 1917 - The Shark (2)
• June 1917 - The Star Spangled Banner (3)
• July 1919 - Boone, the Torch Bearer

Quite a body of work, even by itself! And this is just from one publication.