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
Dewey Decimal	369.43 22
LC Class	HS3313 .B69 2009

The 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]

• The Official Handbook for Boys/1st Edition A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft (1910-1911)
• Boy Scout Handbook/2nd Edition The Official Handbook for Boys (1914–27)
• Boy Scout Handbook/Every Boy's Library (Boy Scouts of America Edition) Edition The Official Handbook for Boys (1914–27)
• Boy Scout Handbook/3rd Edition Revised Handbook for Boys (1927–40)
• Boy Scout Handbook/4th Edition Revised Handbook for Boys (1940–48)
• Boy Scout Handbook/5th Edition Handbook for Boys (1948–59)
• Boy Scout Handbook/6th Edition Boy Scout Handbook (1959–65)
• Boy Scout Handbook/7th Edition Boy Scout Handbook (1965–72)
• Boy Scout Handbook/8th Edition Scout Handbook (1972–79)
• Boy Scout Handbook/9th Edition Official Boy Scout Handbook (1979–90)
• Boy Scout Handbook/10th Edition Boy Scout Handbook (1990–98)
• Boy Scout Handbook/11th Edition Boy Scout Handbook (1998-09)
  • Boy Scout Mini Handbook (#30511); an extract of the standard handbook for use as a temporary advancement record
• Boy Scout Handbook/12th Edition Boy Scout Handbook (2009–16)^[4]
• Boy Scout Handbook/13th Edition Boy Scout Handbook (2016–Present)^[5]

References

1. "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.

External links

• "Boy Scout Handbook".
• Scoutstuff.org - The Official BSA Supply website
• Troop 97 History of the Boy Scout Handbook (this site has been used as a source)
• Peterson, Robert (September 1999). The Perfect Book for a Desert Island. Scouting Magazine.
• MeritBadge.Org - MediaWiki-based site that provides merit badge worksheets and other resources to Scouts and leaders in the US.
• USScouts.Org - another volunteer site that provides resources to Scouts and leaders in the US.