HOME—BSA Handbooks & Handbook Covers

BSA Handbooks

The BSA has three key handbooks for use by Scout troops—the Boy Scout Handbook, the Scoutmaster Handbook, and the Patrol Leader Handbook. The Boy Scout Fieldbook is another important resource the BSA has provided for a long time. The pages below give a brief history of each edition. Cover pictures (front & back) are shown with each description.

Boy Scout Handbook Complete History (complete history of the BSA's Boy Scout Handbook, from the original in 1910 through today, with many interesting comparisons and details.)
Brief History of Scoutmaster Handbook (1914 to today)
Brief History of Patrol Leader Handbook (including other BSA junior leader manuals, 1929 to today)
Brief History of Boy Scout Fieldbook (1944 to today)

BSA Handbook Covers

The pages below show every cover of each handbook, along with a brief explanation about the artwork and the artist.

Boy Scout Handbook Covers (including 4 covers by Norman Rockwell & 1 by Joseph Csatari)
Scoutmaster Handbook Covers (including 1 cover each by Norman Rockwell & Joseph Csatari)
Patrol Leader Handbook Covers (including 1 cover by Joseph Csatari)
Boy Scout Fieldbook Covers (including 1 partial cover by Norman Rockwell)