Boys’ Life Archives
Scout Life magazine has partnered with Google Books to archive more than 100 years of Boys’ Life magazine. You can view nearly every issue from March 1911 to December 2012 at the following links:
- 1911-1919 issues
- 1920-1929 issues
- 1930-1939 issues
- 1940-1949 issues
- 1950-1959 issues
- 1960-1969 issues
- 1970-1979 issues
- 1980-1989 issues
- 1990-1999 issues
- 2000-2009 issues
- 2010-2012 issues
Once you find the issue you’d like to read, just click on the “Preview this magazine” link. You can also search within a particular issue or across all issues.
What About Issues Since 2012?
Many articles published since 2012 are available here on the Scout Life website. You can also find recent issues of the magazine on the Scout Life app.
I was reading the 2012 London Olympics issue . And it said that this guy is creating stadiums that poor countries can use . Do you think that a poor country could host it ? .
Just found about 30+ issues of Boys Life most in decent condition. They are from the 1950’s, a few from the early 60s. Any value to anyone?
I would be interested for my boys. How much?
Cool I am going to start collecting all of them! All over again.
This is a treasure! Being able to go back to the earlist archives of Boys’ Life really is like a wayback machine. BL had a big impact on me as a boy; I remember how I looked forward to each issue. Now I can re-read my gavorite stories.
I had a bunch of old copies from the 50’s and 60’s and remember an article about a city boy sent to his grandfather in the country. He had an old truck he kept in a barn – backed up a ramp so it would roll start… He came to love the old truck… His dad come to pick him up and was trying to get him to take his sports car on his date, but he took the old truck. Any ideas? Would love to read that again.
I remember it too.
When will BL articles be able to be printed for personal use with our Troops? There is much information that needs to be shared.
i agree
Where the heck is Skullmonkeys? It’s missing from the games section! Or did they not approve of it getting a Teen rating?
I like the milletary a little more than the navy!
The navy is part of the military my friend. The Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force are branches of the military.
you’re right
Unbelievable, what a tremendous service and resource.
Wow!
any tips on reading captions
I thought this was a collection of all the magazines!
to good, me three
Dear Boys’ Life, why isn’t Tom Eaton drawing the Webelos Woody and Dink and Duff comics anymore?
Great resource, especially trying to find older information about councils, camps, etc.
This is excellent! Not only was I able to find the edition that featured my brothers (May, 1968) but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip back in time. The advertisements really brought back memories…the bikes were so cool back in the day! Thanks for the resource.
I wish there was a way to save the magazine on a computer 🙁
I wish there was a way to save the magazines on your computer.
15 cent’s wow.
I agree
awsome
That is my wife’s father on the July 1940 cover photo!! What a great part of the family past ! Would like to purchase a copy for my wife to have.
Does anyone know how to get a copy of an old boys life?
Boys’ Life has some recent back copies available for purchase by calling 1-866-584-6589. But for the older issues, your best bet is probably Ebay.
How do you look at the the boys life?
i like oct 1942
i like the ones from ww2
I LUV IT!!!!!!! 🙂
what issue number is the one in june 2003? (title 4 it is rock on)
Great way to do back issues!
This is excellent!! Thank you so much for making archived issues available online. It’s a wonderful resource.
I built the Mountain raceway for ten years after my dad and I saw this spread on HO slot car racing.
i like march 1936
awesome
Hey, have any of you noticed a change in the material your magazines are made of? I think they are recycling, which is a good thing except for the fact that it feels really weird in my hands.
By the way, I’m always watching you.
why don’t they have crossword puzzles in the new ones…..
my dad’s in Dec 1938 in the pic with Uncle Dan Beard- What a wonderful time to have experienced Scouting!!
I wish magazines were still like this
yeah I liked it too.
I like Feb 1931 that is when the peewee stories were first introduced
this is awesome I have never seen a boys life magazine older than 2006
Where is Mr. Peabody? and Sherman?
The 1910’s look so different!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rereading all the issues I had from the 90s to mid 00s! It’s incredible looking at these old ads and articles that I remember! Makes me nostalgic for my childhood, loving this website!
Its fun to go back and find that story that I treasured.
how do you print them
Is there any way we can purchase archived copies? Particularly I’m interested in October 1963. Thank you.
I don’t know.
its neat to see what all my scouting family members saw when they were kids
it is cool u can look back at all the boys life magazines
wish I could print these articles…
you can print them
O BUT YOU CAN!!!
How do I print out the articles that I want to share?
Superly-duperly AWSOME!
To funny
true true!
I like the October 2006 I LOVE CARS!!
i like may 1935
ya that one is pretty cool