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1914
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The second
edition of the Handbook for Boys is
published. Added are a number of
standard Scouting topics: map &
compass, conservation, poisonous
plants, knife & axe, description
of troop leader positions, the Scout
Handclasp, and when to wear the
uniform. 2,610,471 copies are
printed, an average of 200,805
copies printed per year over the
life of this edition.
The Handclasp described for the BSA
was different than that of the
international organization, using a
three-fingered grasp; this was used
until 1972, when the international
version was adopted, one that
consisted only of grasping the left
hand.
Handbook trivia: The cover, from a
Saturday Evening Post cover by J. C.
Leyendecker, depicts a Scout giving
a semaphore letter...problem is that
the flags depicted are those for
Morse Code, not semaphores, and the
position represents a non-existent
letter. There were various other
errata throughout the text, some of
which were not corrected for many
years. |
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1915
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Membership
during the year is 182,303.
The first merit badge pamphlets are
published.
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is
founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and
Carroll A. Edson at the Treasure
Island Camp of the Philadelphia
Council.
Eagle required list of 11 badges
changes to allow for either Physical
Development or Athletics to fulfill
one requirement, while adding
Civics. |
| One
of the first merit badge pamphlets |
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1916
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Membership
during the year is 245,183.
The Department of Education
establishes a national office to
train all Scouters.
Congress grants the Boy Scouts of
America a federal charter on June
15, giving special protection to the
name and insignia and limiting
membership to American citizens.
Although no program for younger boys
yet exists in the BSA, Wolf Cubbing
becomes an official part of British
Scouting with the publication of
Baden-Powell's "The Wolf
Cub's Handbook." The
program for these younger Scouts is
very much based on Kipling's The
Jungle Book and its characters.
Due to differences between West and
himself, Ernest Thompson Seton,
Chief Scout, leaves the BSA. |
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1917
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Membership
during the year is 363,837.
The day after war is declared on
Germany, under the slogan "Every
Scout to Feed a Soldier," BSA
members are urged to plant vegetable
gardens. In two plant-growing seasons,
12,000 Scout farms are established. At
the same time, the BSA pledges to aid
the American Red Cross and promises
cooperation with the U.S. Navy by
organizing Scout coastal patrols to
watch for enemy ships.
Scouting's full resources are placed
at the service of the government as
part of the war effort. From 1917 to
1918, Scouts sell 2,350,977 Liberty
Loan bonds, totaling $147,876,902; and
war savings stamps, to a value of
$53,043,698. More than 300 million
pieces of government literature are
distributed, and services rendered
include food and fuel conservation and
Boy Scout war gardens.
The first gold Honor medal is awarded
by the National Court of Honor for
saving life at risk of the rescuer's
own. |
| "Every
Scout to Feed a Soldier" Medal |
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1918
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Membership
during the year is 418,984.
Boy Scouts sell War Savings Stamps to
help raise additional money for the
government, and sell even more Liberty
Loan Bonds in two campaigns.
After the signing of the armistice,
the slogan "The War Is Over, But
Our Work Is Not" is adopted.
Scouts render nationwide service
during the influenza epidemic.
The first service club sponsorship of
troops is inaugurated by Rotary
International.
Unofficial Wolf Cub Packs appear in
Butte, MN, Stamford, CT, Paris TX and
other locations. James E. West, Chief
Scout Executive, secured the rights
for the American printing of British
Wolf Cub Handbook for sale to
unofficial US Wolf Cub packs. This
book was sold by the BSA for 10 years
before the introduction of Cubbing. |
| "Flu
Service Award" Medal |
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1919
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Membership
during the year is 462,060.
In recognition of their service during
the war, President Woodrow Wilson
declares the first National Boy Scout
Week.
A systematic method of developing
cooperation with religious
organizations is adopted.
The blast of the kudu horn signals the
first Wood Badge course, held at
Gilwell Park near London, England.
Official inauguration of Wood Badge in
the BSA was not until 1948, although
experimental courses are held
beginning in 1936. |
| B-P
Sounding the Kudu Horn |
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1920
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Membership during
the year is 478,528.
The First World Jamboree is held in
England; Boy Scouts from 32 of 52
countries are present. The Boy Scouts
of America sends 301 members.
The First National Training Conference
for Scout Executives was held in
September at Bear Mountain, Palisades
Interstate Park, and emphasizes the
need for a younger boy program.
Baden-Powell proclaimed Chief Scout of
the World. |
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1921
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Membership during
the year is 513,015, for the first
time exceeding half-a-million members.
The Tenderfoot rank gains its first
cloth badge, after having been
considered a temporary rank (much like
Bobcat in Cub Scouts) until this time.
Prior to this, the rank was only
presented as a cloth badge in
combination with the Scribe or Bugler
positions.
Outstanding civic Good Turns are
rendered in forest conservation and in
connection with the floods at Pueblo,
Colorado, and San Antonio, Texas.
"New York Times" inaugurates
Sunday Boy Scouts section. |
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1922
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Membership
during the year is 534,415. The
membership roundup was stimulated by
streamer awards by President Warren G.
Harding.
A new uniform replaces the Army-based
one originally used by the BSA. This
uniform is designed to avoid the
confusion that existed because of the
military appearance of the previous
version. This version also added the
famous neckerchief. Unfortunately,
boys consistently refused to adopt
this new uniform and it took years to
be accepted.
The Order of the Arrow became an
official program experiment.
The Second International Conference of
Scout Leaders was appointed as a
permanent international committee upon
which the Boy Scouts of America was
represented by Mortimer L. Schiff and
Frank Presbrey. The Second National
Training Conference for Scout
Executives took place at Blue Ridge,
N.C. |
| The
uniform as introduced in 1922 (note
the tie instead of the neckerchief) |
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1923
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Membership during
the year is 587,578.
The BSA continues to strongly promote
the new uniform as introduced in 1922.
The international left handclasp was
adopted. Patrol leader conferences and
training courses for Scout leaders
were developed. The Laura Spelman
Rockefeller Memorial Fund advanced
$100,000 for the promotion of Boys'
Life.
The Bureau of Church Relations was
established at the national office.
Patriotic pilgrimages to the homes of
great Americans and to historic spots
were made. |
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1924
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Membership
during the year is 696,620.
The Every Scout a Swimmer program was
inaugurated. The first achievement
badges were earned by physically
disabled Scouts.
The Second World Jamboree was held at
Copenhagen, Denmark; the U.S.
delegation numbered 56.
The Third International Conference of
Scout Leaders was attended by 6,000
boys from 33 Scout associations. The
Third Biennial Conference of Scout
Executives was held at Estes Park,
Colo. The International Scout
constitution and bylaws were adopted;
the national Executive Board proposes
the "adoption of a younger boy
program at the earliest date, should
be kept entirely distinct from
Scouting, should prepare for
graduation into the Scout
movement.".
The Lone Scouts of America, founded by
W. D. Boyce, merges with the BSA. |
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1925
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Membership during
the year is 756,857. The Junior
Assistant Scoutmaster position is
created.
James J. Storrow of Boston was elected
president. The first National Training
School for executives opened. William
D. Murray was named chairman of a
committee to look into the younger boy
program. Dr. John N. Finley and Dr.
Jeremiah W. Jenks were named to the
committee. All were members of the BSA
national Executive Board.
Outstanding service was rendered by
Scouts in the Illinois tornado,
California earthquake, and Louisiana
fire. A delegation from Boy Scouts of
America visited South America to
advance Scouting there.
New merit badge pamphlets are offered,
the first update since the original
issues.
The Star and Life ranks are switched
in order, placing Star first. |
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1926
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Membership during
the year is 783,574.
President James J. Storrow died in
March and Vice President Milton A.
McRae was elected to fill his term. At
the annual meeting in May, Walter W.
Head was elected president. Sir Robert
S. S. Baden-Powell, founder of
Scouting, attended the annual meeting
and traveled throughout the country
inspecting Scouting centers.
The first Silver Buffalo Awards for
distinguished service to boyhood were
presented. Twenty-two awards were
given: the first to Baden-Powell and
the second to the Unknown Scout whose
Good Turn brought Scouting to
America.
The Fourth International Scout
Conference was held at Kandersteg,
Switzerland. The Fourth Biennial
Conference of Scout Executives was
held at Hot Springs, Ark. The National
Executive Board authorized development
of a program for younger boys.
Exceptional Scout service was rendered
in the Florida hurricane and Arkansas
flood.
YMCA Indian Guides program started. |
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1927
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Membership during
the year is 785,633. The national
office was moved to its new enlarged
quarters at 2 Park Avenue, New York,
N.Y.
Eagle Palms were added to the list of
awards. Twelve new rural merit badges
were added, bringing the total to 89.
Three Scouts, David R. Martin, Douglas
Oliver, and Dick Douglas, accompany
the Martin Johnson Expedition to
Africa. Eight Sea Scouts
were taken on the Borden-Field Museum
Expedition to the Bering Sea.
Exceptional service was rendered by
Scouts in the Mississippi and Vermont
flood disasters and the St. Louis
tornado.
A portion of a Laura Spelman
Rockefeller grant of $50,000 supported
research and development project on
the younger boy program. Dr. Huber
William Hurt was named full-time
executive for the committee, which was
to "report to the national
Executive Board at the earliest
date." |
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