Summary:
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Abstract:
Boy Scouts: Collected Photographs by Subject
2013.021.1-2013.021.23
Boy Scouts of America
National Scouting Museum
Boy Scouts of America
1329 West Walnut Hill Lane
Irving, TX 75038
(972)-580-2100
nsmuseum@scouting.org
11 linear feet
19 clam-shelled record storage boxes, 1 legal size clam-shelled box,
2 metal-edged newspaper boxes, 1 metal-edged 3”x5” storage box
1911-present
English
This collection consists of photographs, photo albums, and
photocopies of various sizes and subjects. The material consists of
National Jamborees, World Jamborees, Order of Arrow, Norman
Rockwell paintings, James E. West, handicapped scouting, etc.
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Collected Photographs by Subject
Administrative History: The primary organization represented in the collection is
the Boy Scouts of America. It was founded by William Boyce, along with Ernest Seton, Daniel
Beard, and by considerable influence of Robert Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting and British
Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts of America was incorporated in 1910 and its earliest headquarters were
located at a YMCA New York City office. The organization hired James E. West as its first Chief
Scout Executive, and Colin H. Livingstone as President. Scouting was first started by General
Robert Baden-Powell in England, and has spread to 190 of the world’s 195 independent
countries.
Biographical Note: One of the biggest events in Scouting is attending a Jamboree,
whether it is a National Jamboree in the United States, or a World Jamboree held in a different
country. Robert Baden-Powell created the idea of holding a large encampment of Scouts and
leaders to celebrate Scouting, which he called a Jamboree. He led the first Jamboree as a
World Jamboree after World War I in 1920, to encourage the feeling of brotherhood and for
Scouts to learn about people from other cultures. Robert Baden-Powell was declared “Chief
Scout of the World” at this first Jamboree. Later, in 1937, the Boy Scouts of America held their
first National Jamboree following Baden-Powell’s idea of celebrating Scouting as a country.
Within the Boy Scouts of America, there is a uniquely American “honor society of
Scouting” called the Order of the Arrow. These youth are selected by their Scouting peers as
those who best exemplify the virtues of Scouting. Founded in 1915 by E. Urner Goodman, a
camp director, he based the society on lore of Delaware Indians that once inhabited Treasure
Island in the Delaware River.
James E. West, first Chief Scout Executive of Boy Scouts of America from 1910 to his
retirement in 1944, encouraged the development and creation of events and programs held by
the Boy Scouts of America. He had profound influence on the organization. A juvenile court
lawyer, his post as Chief Scout Executive in 1911 was meant to be of a short duration, but
turned into over thirty years of service. James E. West is responsible for much of the rules,
laws and structure of the Boy Scouts of America.
Scope and Content: This collection consists of photographs, and photocopies of
various sizes and subjects spanning from 1910 to present. The photographs concern World and
National Jamborees, Order of the Arrow, Norman Rockwell paintings, James E. West, and other
Scouting events.
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Collected Photographs by Subject
There is specific emphasis on prominent former leader James E. West, National
Jamborees in 1937 and 1953, and the 1929 World Jamboree, along with many photographs of
Boy Scouts out camping or participating in troop activities.
Other significant photos feature World and National Jamborees of various years, and
Boy Scouts from other countries, including Argentina, Mexico, Canada, China, England, Iraq,
France, India, and Belgium.
This collection offers a visual history of the early years of the Boy Scouts of America and
shows the extent Scouting reached all over the world. It offers faces to the number of youth
that have participated in the movement over the past century.
Arrangement: The boxes are currently arranged alphabetically by subject. Legal-size
photographs of subjects were given a separate legal size storage box. All larger photos were
placed in a newspaper storage box. A group of photographs from between 1929 and 1939 of
camp activities at Camp Wakimo (Yakimo) are located in a 3x5 storage box. Photographs were
processed by identifiable person(s), signs visible in backgrounds, or notes on or with photos.
Access Points:
Boy Scouts.
Boy Scouts of America.
Youth organizations - - United States.
Camping - - United States.
West, James E. (James Edward), 1876-1948.
Rockwell, Norman, 1894-1978.
Cub Scouts.
Provenance: Boy Scouts of America, acquired through inter-organizational transfers,
donations and/or purchase.
Preferred Citation:
Boy Scouts: Collected Photographs by Subject, 1910-present. National Scouting Museum
Archives, Boy Scouts of America National Office, Irving, Texas. 2013.021.1-2013.021.23
Conditions Governing Access:
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Collected Photographs by Subject
Restrictions Boy Scouts: Collected Photographs by Subject is open for research.
Those
seeking access to the photographs may contact the Archivist at the Museum for approval and
appointment.
Copyright Please consult the Museum for permission to reproduce any images or
documents.
Complete Inventory:
Box No.
Title
2013.021.1
2013.021.2
2013.021.3
2013.021.4
2013.021.5
2013.021.6
2013.021.7
2013.021.8
2013.021.9
2013.021.10
2013.021.11
2013.021.12
2013.021.13
2013.021.14
2013.021.15
2013.021.16
2013.021.17
2013.021.18
2013.021.19
2013.021.20
2013.021.21
2013.021.22
2013.021.23
Camp Wakimo
Cub Scouts/ George Gunterman
Handicapped Scouting/ Lone Scout Scrapbook
Order of the Arrow
Panoramic Photos
Persons of Leadership
Rockwell, Norman - paintings
Rockwell, Norman - paintings
Senior Scouting
Senior Scouting
Unidentified
Unidentified
West, James E.
West, James E.
World Scouting
1929 World Jamboree
1937 National Jamboree
1937 National Jamboree
1953 National Jamboree
1967 World Jamboree
National & World Jamboree
National & World Jamboree
National & World Jamboree
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Collected Photographs by Subject
Resources:
History of the Order of the Arrow. www.scouters.us/oahis.html.
World Jamborees. The History of Scouting.
www.historyofscouting.com/programs/world_jamboree.html.
Jamboree. Boy Scouts of America, 2005.
www.scoutingbsa.org/Council_Info/Council_Events/2005/National_Jamboree/History.html.
Founders. Boy Scouts of America, 2012. www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Founders.
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Collected Photographs by Subject