October 1, 2025
The process of liquidating the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) historical art collection continues, with proceeds going toward the $2.4 billion settlement trust established for survivors of sexual abuse. This trust currently holds the title to the 321-piece collection, originally valued at $59 million.
The auctions are a direct result of the BSA’s bankruptcy reorganization, which was triggered by approximately 64,000 sexual abuse claims from 82,000 identified survivors. Since the organization’s founding in 1910, an estimated 130 million boys have participated in the program.
Auction Progress and Future Sales
Several batches of artwork have already been sold to benefit the trustee:
- November 15, 2024: 25 paintings were auctioned, generating $4.6 million.
- May 16, 2025: 28 paintings sold for $6.9 million, and 159 decorative pieces and ephemera sold for $200,000, totaling $7.1 million for this auction.
The remaining balance of the collection—approximately 140 pieces—is scheduled to be auctioned on November 14, 2025.
The Collection’s Significance
The collection features works primarily used for “Boys’ Life” covers and Scout handbooks. The list of artists includes celebrated names such as Norman Rockwell, along with Joseph Csatari, Dean Cornwell, J.C. Leyendecker, Howard Chandler Christy, Harold Anderson, and many others.
A Campaign to Save the Art
A concerted effort has been launched by former Scouts, especially Eagle Scouts, to secure the remaining art before it is dispersed at auction. The new initiative, accessible via the official website www.RescueScoutArt.org, has a clear goal:
- Organize donors to purchase the balance of the collection directly from the settlement trust.
- Regift the art in a safe trust back to the Boy Scouts of America (now marketed as “Scouting America”), where it can be displayed.
This campaign aims to raise the necessary funds to preserve the historical and cultural significance of the collection. The projected capital requirement for this effort is now estimated to be between $40 million and $50 million, a reduction from the initial $70 million to $80 million projection. Ultimately, the goal is to construct a Museum/Gallery to house and display the full collection.
Please check it out: www.RescueScoutArt.org. Please share with your contacts. It is tax planning time, and this is a perfect vehicle to NOT write a check to Uncle Sam. A donation to Scouting Art Collection Recovery Project, Inc. will greatly aid the effort to rescue the art collection. The entire donation is tax deductible. Your tax preparer might have clients that need a write-off. Please share this information with them as well.
The organization continues to evolve; the BSA now includes young women, with 13,000 female Eagle Scouts having been recognized to date.