100 years of Boy Scouts in our collections

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8th, 1910. In celebration of the organization’s 100th anniversary, Boy Scouts from across the country will be gathering in Washington, D.C., on July 24th and 25th to participate in ScoutQuest, an adventure to uncover the links between Scouting and some of the greatest national treasures through an interactive, citywide hunt. The National Museum of American History is one of numerous museums and historic sites in the nation’s capital participating in the Quest.

As the Boy Scouts look back on their own history, we decided to dig into our own collections for scouting-related artifacts (which include not just Boy Scouts but also Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, Indian Guides, and more). I was fortunate enough to explore the behind-the-scenes collections and snap some pictures. Here’s a look at some of the intriguing objects collected by the museum over the years.

This Boy Scout tunic was worn by David Loewenwarter between 1911 and 1914 at Camp Custer in New York.  The museum owns a Boy Scout uniform from one year after the incorporation of the program!

 

Have you kept your old Boy Scout uniform? What does yours look like?

A bright blue and yellow Fleur-de-lis and Wolf Head design scarf was worn by Cub Scout Den Mothers. I found this object fascinating because I was unaware that Oscar de la Renta redesigned the Boy Scout uniform in the 1980s.

 

Cub Scout Den Mother scarf

Sixty-three merit badges and four awards fill this khaki green sash that was part of a Boy Scout uniform. These merit badges were earned by James Goode between 1950 and 1956 from Troop 1 in Hickory, North Carolina. Do you recognize any badges that you earned as a Boy Scout? Are there any that you cannot identify?

   

Which badges did you earn?

These membership cards, encased in a “Be Prepared” envelope, were to be carried at all times for identification purposes. Scouts were required to present their membership cards to “a) Participate in Boards of Review b) Participate in Courts of Honor c) Take part in many District and Council activities d) Purchase the Official Uniform and Equipment.” These cards belonged to James Goode and are dated between 1950 and 1956. As a Scout, did you carry your cards with you at all times?

 

6 Membership Cards from James Goode.

Handbook for Boys, 1954.

Finally, I found this Handbook for Boys from 1954 interesting; I wonder how this edition differs from previous editions or newer editions?

What Boy Scout items that are most memorable to you? Do you still have any of them in your possession?  What stories do your artifacts tell? Do you have modern versions of any of the objects featured above? Share your stories with us we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America this summer.

Stacy Adamson is an intern in the New Media and Public Programs departments at the National Museum of American History.

Comments

[Carrie Frederickson]

I was a boy scout and actually worked as a merit badge counselor throughout my high school summers. It's a fantastic program. Congrats on the anniversary.

[Jason Korinek]

Your collection is fantastic! I am from the UK and used to smething called'cubs'. We used to have an Akela and we used to chant 'We will do our best. What great memories, but what a shame I did not keep my uniform, badges and books.

[Wade Cockfield]

All of the activities I had participated in as a Boy Scout will forever be part of my wonderful boyhood memories. Looking at these memorabilia surely brings me back to those times.

[Ed]

Great stuff there. Growing up in Pa, we were very active in Boy Scouts. Now in the Midwest, although not as popular, there are still many chapters.

[akbar99]

outstanding! How you managed such a great collection like that? wow! 100 years old Boy Scout collection.i don't know where my boy scout stuff is now.You must be a creative person.Very unique collection you have.

[Suzy]

Wow. Isn't it great to keep such things? It brings back a lot of memories and experiences during Boy Scout and Girl Scout years. Too bad I already lost most of my thing way back.

[bettyk]

Love this post. It reminded me that I still have my Girl Scout sash, and pins from Girl Scouts and Brownies. My "treasures" date from the 1950s. I wish I still had my Handbook, though!

[Gary Wilson]

I also noted you wanted a comparison of the contents of the different editions of the Boy Scout Handbook. The best material on this subject can be found at http://www.troop97.net/bshb1.htm

[Gary Wilson]

Collecting Boy Scout memorabilia is a major hobby. I collect Handbooks and have a complete set, although my 1911 one is a reproduction.

Two good books to help you with your collection are "A guide to dating and identifying Boy Scouts of America Badges, Uniforms and Insignia" By Mitch Reis, 2000, and "Standard Price Guide to US Scouting Collectables" by George Cuhaj, 1998.

Scouting has been a remarkable organization with over 100 million Americans being members (including 11 of the 12 men who walked on the moon) in the first 100 years. Here's to a second century of success!

[Amy Auger]

I share Sebastian (a lady)'s comment that I hope the museum of American History had more in it's collection of the many, many items available representing the last 100 years of an organization that has had a profound effect on men. Presidents, astronauts, inventors all wore the uniform of the BSA. I personally have more than this in my personal collection!

[Clarke]

I have a similar tunic to the one pictured but mine is probably from the mid twenties. Does the one pictured have a maker's tag? The Sigmund Eisner Company was an early manufacturer of BSA uniforms.
The stripes on the sleeves may not be BSA issue, I don't think the BSA ever issued stripes. I would be curious to know what the medal on the left side of the tunic represents (my bet is that it is a WWI service medal of some kind. Are the buttons marked with the BSA emblem?

What I really like about the tunic is that it represents a period of Scouting when boys often cobbled together their own uniforms. It speaks of the eagerness and excitement of the time as boys became aware of Scouting for the first time. 100 years later each boy gets to rediscover scouting all over again and they respond with the same eagerness and excitement.

[Maureen Badaracco]

what better way to celebrate 100 years than by having a scoutmaster win the SEARS unsung hero contest!! Victor Badaracco, Troop 20 Bayonne is currently in 3rd place and needs your votes to win for scouts everywhere. Vote today and everyday till July 30 at www.searsunsungheroes.com !! Spread the word....

[Sebastian (a lady)]

I hope that this is just a sampling of the collection. I would encourage the museum to collect a representative set from current scouts.

I think that the handbook probably shows the most change, even though it is physically most like today's item. Reading it, you would probably fine, not only that the writing is at a higher level, but is also more exciting and that the text anticipates a scout who is adventurous and apt to tinker. Today's handbooks (and I speak as a mom of three scouts and a volunteer leader for both cub scouts and boy scout) aren't something that you would pick up and browse. And the current books tend to expect that scouts aren't going to grab hammer and nails and make something like an obstacle course for personal fitness in their back yard. A little more seasoning from those older handbooks might not be a bad idea.