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Fort Collins Area

Troop 97 BSA
Fort Collins,
Colorado USA

A Brief Background of the Boy Scout Fieldbook (BSA)

The BSA produced forerunners to the Fieldbook as early as 1920 with pamphlets called the Scout's Fieldbook or Scoutmaster's Fieldbook. And from 1927 to 1942, they produced "The How Book of Scouting", which was also a Fieldbook forerunner. They finally produced the first official Fieldbook in 1944.

1st Edition—Scout Fieldbook (1944-1967)

Author credit went to both James E. West, Chief Scout, and William Hillcourt. West retired as Chief Scout Executive in 1943 and was named Chief Scout until his death in 1948 (only other Chief Scout was Ernest Thompson Seton). Cover art was by BSA artist Don Ross, who also did the cover art for the Scout Handbook. The book is lavishly illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Some photos were updated as uniform styles changed. Chapters are called "Pow-wows". The back cover of many printings had an index listing references to all Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class advancement requirements.

1st Edition Summary and Printing History

• title from title page—Scout Field Book
• authors are James West and William Hillcourt
• cover art is drawing of Scout cooking in camp, by Don Ross (first printing appears "faded" compared to later printings)
• 1944-1967 (23 years, although the last printing was in 1959)
• 1 290 000 copies printed
• size 137x203x23 mm (5-3/8x8")
• 14 printings:
  —1st printing (1944, 500 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —2nd printing (1946?, 50 000? copies)—540 numbered pages
  —3rd printing (Oct 1948, 50 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —4th printing (Dec 1949, 50 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —5th printing (Dec 1950, 50 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —6th printing (Jul 1951, 60 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —7th printing (Oct 1952, 60 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —8th printing (Jun 1953, 60 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —9th printing (Sep 1954, 60 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —10th printing (May 1955, 70 000 copies)—540 numbered pages
  —11th printing (May 1956, 70 000 copies)—552 numbered pages
  —12th printing (Mar 1957, 75 000 copies)—552 numbered pages
  —13th printing (Apr 1958, 75 000 copies)—552 numbered pages
  —14th printing (Feb 1959, 60 000 copies)—552 numbered pages

Actual 1st Edition Table of Contents

Contents of First 18 printings:

• PART I, IT'S FUN TO BE A SCOUT
• 1 The Gang in Action
• 2 Get in with the Gang
• PART II, HIKING ALONG
• 3 Along the Pioneer Trail
• 4 Through the Wilderness
• 5 Judging Tricks
• 6 Maps and Mapping
• 7 Signs and Signals
• 8 Use Your Senses
• 9 Tracks and Traces
• 10 The How of Stalking
• 11 Many Kinds of Hikes
• PART III, CAMP CRAFTS
• 12 Call of Camping
• 13 Your Camp Outfit
• 14 Your Wilderness Home
• 15 Fires and Fireplaces
• 16 Camp Cookery
• 17 Axe and Knife
• 18 Knots and Pioneering
• 19 Fun in the Water
• 20 Stunts in Camp
• 21 Many Kinds of Camps
• PART IV, WILD LIFE
• 22 Our American Animals
• 23 Winged Friends
• 24 Let's Go Fishing
• 25 Reptile Facts
• 26 A Few Amphibians
• 27 The Six Leggers
• 28 Flowers of the Year
• 29 Our Native Trees
• 30 Heavens Above
• 31 Wind and Weather
• 32 The Earth We Step On
• PART V, HELPING OTHERS
• 33 The Good Turn Habit
• 34 Better Be Safe
• 35 When Emergencies Strike
• 36 First Aid
• PART VI, YOU!
• 37 Physically Strong
• 38 Mentally Awake
• 39 Morally Straight
• 40 On to Eagle
• PART VII, OUR AMERICA
• 41 Our Flag
• 42 Our America
• 43 Our Democracy [added in printing 11]
• 44 YOU—American [added in printing 11]
• Acknowledgements
• Index

2nd Edition—Fieldbook (1967-1984)

After letting the Fieldbook be out of print for 8 years, BSA brought out a Second Edition in 1967. No author credit is given. The book is also lavishly illustrated with black-and-white photos, and has a brief "Quick Reference Key" on the back cover. There were two cover variants, plus the BSA allowed Workman Publishing to produce a commercially available version with a third cover. The commercial version also included a 16-page color insert of Norman Rockwell Scouting paintings.

2nd Edition Summary and Printing History

• title from title page—Fieldbook (commercial edition was called Boy Scout Fieldbook)
• author uncertain
• three cover variants: printings 1-5—color photo of Scouts hiking; printings 6-14—photo of camp scene on a lake; commercial version—portion of a Rockwell painting of Explorers hiking
• 1967-1984 (17 years)
• 1 260 000 copies printed
• size 137x203x23 mm (5-3/8x8")
• 14 printings:
  —1st printing (Apr 1967, 400 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —2nd printing (Feb 1969, 100 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —3rd printing (Jul 1970, 85 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —4th printing (Jun 1971, 40 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —5th printing (May 1972, 80 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —6th printing (Sep 1973, 80 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —7th printing (Jan 1975, 70 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —8th printing (Jan 1976, 70 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —9th printing (Jan 1977, 65 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —10th printing (Dec 1977, 65 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —11th printing (Apr 1979, 55 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —12th printing (Jul 1980, 50 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —13th printing (Sep 1981, 50 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —14th printing (Sep 1983, 50 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —commercial printings (May 1978, ?? copies)—565 numbered pages

Actual 2nd Edition Table of Contents

• 1 Hit the Trail
• 2 Ready for Hiking
• 3 Map and Compass
• 4 Camping Gear
• 5 Camping
• 6 Woods Tools
• 7 Ropework
• 8 Fires
• 9 Cooking
• 10 Physical Fitness
• 11 Swimming
• 12 Watercraft
• 13 Safety and First Aid
• 14 High Adventure
• 15 Winter Camping
• 16 Survival
• 17 World of Nature
• 18 Plant Kingdom
• 19 Animal Kingdom
• 20 Conserving Resources
• 21 The Earth
• 22 Weather
• 23 The Heavens
• 24 Between Adventures
• Books
• Credits
• Index

3rd Edition—Fieldbook (1984-2004)

This edition switches to full-color photos as well as line drawings. This book includes major emphasis on low-impact camping, and includes up-to-date information on technology and techniques.

3rd Edition Summary and Printing History

• title from title page—Fieldbook
• author uncertain
• cover is color painting of older Scout with staff and scenes of rappelling, skiing, cycling, canoeing, by Jeff Segler
• 1984-2004 (20 years)
• ?? copies printed
• size 137x203x23 mm (5-3/8x8")
• ?? printings (I haven't kept up with different printings; any information you have is welcome):
  —1st printing (1984 and following, ?? copies)—630 numbered pages

Actual 3rd Edition Table of Contents

• I. PREPARING FOR OUTINGS
• 1. Reducing Our Impact
• 2. Hiking
• 3. Backcountry Navigation
• 4. Gearing Up
• 5. Making Equipment
• 6. Camping Know-How
• 7. Stoves and Fires
• 8. Trail Menus and Cooking
• 9. Becoming Fit
• 10. Outdoor Safety
• 11. Outdoor First Aid
• 12. Survival Preparedness
• 13. Swimming and Lifesaving
• 14. Where To Go
• 15. Planning
• II. OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
• 16. Backpacking
• 17. Canoeing
• 18. Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking
• 19. Riding and Packing
• 20. Winter Camping
• 21. Cross-Country Skiing
• 22. Snowshoeing
• 23. Mountain Hiking and Climbing
• 24. Mountaineering and Technical Climbing
• 25. Caving
• 26. Wilderness Search and Rescue
• 27. Fishing
• 28. Bicycling
• 29. Outdoor and Nature Photography
• 30. Trail Building and Maintenance
• III. APPRECIATING OUR ENVIRONMENT
• 31. Understanding Nature
• 32. Observing Nature
• 33. The Earth
• 34. Weather
• 35. Plants
• 36. Wildlife and Fish
• 37. The Night Sky
• BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PEOPLE QUOTED
• PHOTO CREDITS
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX
• TRIP LOG

4th Edition—Fieldbook (2004-present)

It's bigger, thicker, and has color photos on every page. But it also costs $20. It has BSA Supply Division ads on both inside front and back covers.

4th Edition Summary and Printing History

• title from title page—Fieldbook
• author uncertain
• cover has 3 photos of skier, hikers, and canoer, none of whom appear to be Scouts
• 2004-present (2+ years)
• ?? copies printed
• size 152x229x27 mm (6x9")
• ?? printings (I haven't kept up with different printings; any information you have is welcome):
  —1st printing (2004, 170 000 copies)—614 numbered pages

Actual 4th Edition Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Leadership and Trek Preparation
• 1. Organizing for Adventures
• 2. Outdoor Leadership
• 3. Becoming Fit
• 4. Planning a Trek
• 5. Outdoor Menus
• 6. Managing Risk
• Leaving No Trace
• 7. Implementing Leave No Trace
• 8. Using Stoves and Campfires
• 9. Hygiene and Waste Disposal
• 10. Traveling and Camping in Special Environments
• Trek Adventures
• 11. Gearing Up
• 12. Navigation
• 13. Cold-Weather Travel and Camping
• 14. Hot-Weather Travel and Camping
• 15. Backpacking
• 16. Watercraft Adventure Safety
• 17. Canoeing
• 18. Kayaking and Rafting
• 19. Sailing
• 20. Bicycle Touring and Mountain Biking
• 21. Riding and Packing
• 22. Ski Touring and Snowshoeing
• 23. Mountain Travel
• 24. Caving
• 25. Fishing
• 26. Search and Rescue
• Appreciating Our Environment
• 27. Understanding Nature
• 28. Observing Nature
• 29. Examining the Earth
• 30. Monitoring Weather
• 31. Plants
• 32. Wildlife
• 33. Watching the Night Sky
• 34. Being Good Stewards of Our Resources
• Index

ALL FIELDBOOK COVERS

Last Revision to This Page: 8 August 2006
Copyright © 2006 by Jeff Snowden
Web format © 2006 by Troop 97 BSA