The Handbook’s Seventh Edition Sees a Lunar Landing & More

In its seven years of publication, the seventh edition of the Boy Scout Handbook saw several momentous days in history. Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the 26^th Amendment brought the voting age to 18, and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.

The seventh edition was written by William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt, an influential leader of the American Scouting movement. Hillcourt’s previous works included BSA’s Handbook for Scoutmasters, the Handbook for Patrol Leaders, and of course, the Boy Scout Handbook, Sixth Edition.

This version of the handbook was actually a continuation of the sixth edition but included revised advancement requirements and an expanded table of contents. Just like its contents, the cover of the seventh edition is similar to the sixth edition’s art. In the painting by Dom Lupo, several Scouts stand in front of an expansive camp scene, wrapping across the front and back covers.

At a Glance: The Boy Scout Handbook, Seventh Edition

• In Publication: 1965-1972
• Cover artwork: Dom Lupo
• Author: William Hillcourt
• Copies: 4,335,000
• Trivia: The seventh edition was the first handbook to say the saw is a useful tool whereas previously, only the ax was named.

Follow BSA’s official Instagram feed each week to discover past editions of the Boy Scout Handbook as we work our way up to the 13th edition! We’ll also feature awesome Scouting gear of the past, courtesy of the National Scouting Museum. If you missed last week’s Scouting history lesson, you can catch up here.

What kind of historical moments has your handbook seen? Share your story in the comments!

For more information on the history of the Boy Scout Handbook, check out the outstanding work done by Troop 97 in Fort Collins, CO, which is a member of the Longs Peak Council.