Boy Scout Troop 325 Scoutmaster Minute
February 9, 2010
Andy Duprey, Scoutmaster
Yesterday, the BSA organization turned 100 years old.
W. D. Boyce was an American newspaper man and entrepreneur. He, along with Ernest Seton, Daniel Beard, Stanley Willis and Edward Stewart founded Boy Scouts in the United States, applying to Congress for a Congressional Charter On February 8th, 1910
At the turn of the century, before WWI, the second industrial revolution was in full swing on the Eastern sea-board of the US. Many people, including Joseph Lee, president of the National Recreation Association, Edgar M. Robinson, with the YMCA, and Jane Addams of Hull House, among many others, were concerned about children raised in the city, without green space, in crowded condition, often working at very young ages. What at the time was called the "Playground Movement" expressed itself in many ways including the founding of: Boy Scouts, the YMCA, the YWCA, Campfire Girls, and Girl Scouts.
In early 1910, the Woodcraft Indians lead by Ernest Thompson Seton, the Boy Scouts of the United States headed by Colonel Peter Bomus and the National Scouts of America headed by Colonel William Verbeck were absorbed into the BSA.The National Highway Patrol Association Scouts headed by Colonel E. S. Cornell and the Boy Pioneers (formerly known as the Sons of Daniel Boone) headed by Daniel Carter Beard folded. The BSA National Office opened in the 28th Street YMCA in New York City on 1 June 1910. The first managing secretary (the precursor to the Chief Scout Executive) was John Alexander, a YMCA administrator from Philadelphia,. By autumn BSA had 2,500 leader applications from 44 states and 150,000 youth inquiries.
The National Council was formed in the fall of 1910 with Colin H. Livingstone as the national president, Robinson becoming the managing secretary (on a temporary leave from the YMCA) and Seton as Chief Scout. Beard, Bomus and Verbeck became the national Scout commissioners. Seton wrote A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft, the original edition of what is now the Boy Scout Handbook. It was hastily published and shipped to potential leaders for review. Robinson wanted to return to his full time position at the YMCA, so Livingstone put out inquiries for a replacement. They hired James E. West an enterprising young lawyer known as an advocate of children's rights. West was hired on a six month temporary basis that lasted 35 years.
You are the recipient of a distillation of 100 years of experience working with boys-building character, teaching citizenship, teaching you to think and showing how to lead.
In the back are copies of some of the original books by Thomas Seton, and a selection of early handbooks.
Thank you and good night scouts.