Boy Scout Handbook

Boy Scout Handbook

Cover of the 12th edition
Author Boy Scouts of America
Country United States
Language English
Publication date
 1910, 1st edition
2016, 13th edition
ISBN 978-0-8395-3102-9
OCLC 302189421
369.43 22
LC Class HS3313 .B69 2009

Boy Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a descendant of Baden-Powell's original handbook, Scouting for Boys, which has been the basis for Scout handbooks in many countries, with some variations to the text of the book depending on each country's codes and customs.

The original edition of the handbook was based on Baden-Powell's work. Ernest Thompson Seton combined his Woodcraft manual, the Birch Bark Rolls, with Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. Subsequent works were done by other authors. William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt wrote the 6th, 7th, and 9th editions. Frederick L. Hines wrote the 8th, and Robert Birkby the 10th, 11th and 12th editions.[1]

1910 original edition Handbook

The first Official Handbook, subtitled A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft was published from July 1910 until March 1911 and appeared in eight distinct variations. It was written by Ernest Seton and drew greatly on Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys, it included information on the organization of Scouting, signs and signaling, and camping, as well as Scouting games and a description of several Scouting honours. Notably, this book did not place emphasis on first aid, knife and axe use, or map and compass work, as later editions would. Because this edition was intended solely as a temporary guide until an authoritative handbook could be made, it is now known as the 1910 Original Edition Handbook. The cover art was an illustration by Baden-Powell. There were about 28,000 copies printed, not 68,900 as previously thought.[1][2]

First edition

The Official Handbook for Boys was published in June 1911.[1] In this edition, the American Scouting program was standardized, albeit with many omissions and mistakes (cf. external links). As with the Original Edition, many now-standard Scouting skills were passed over, including knife and axe use and map and compass work.

The book describes many Scout-like virtues and qualifications. After a lengthy section on what a Scout should know, including chivalry, history, and national issues, it is noted that "in short, to be a good Scout is to be a well-developed, well-informed boy."[3]

Later editions

Dates and names of the various editions are:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Editions: Boy Scout Handbook by Boy Scouts of America". LibraryThing. LibraryThing. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Scott, David C. (2006). "The Origins of BSA's 1910 Handbook". International Scouting Collectors Association Journal (ISCA Journal). 6 (4): 6–13.
  3. ↑ "Boy Scout Handbook Covers". Boy Scouts of America: 95 Years of Service. Boy Scouts of America. 2005. Archived from the original on 1 October 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
  4. ↑ "New Handbook Coming August 1st". Scouting News. Missing Arrow Publishing. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  5. ↑ Wendell, Bryan (3 January 2014). "New Boy Scout Handbook, other Boy Scout program tweaks due in 2016". Bryan on Scouting. Boy Scouts of America. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
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