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The Boy Scout Handbook, 1910-Today (continued)
Original Edition—A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft (1910-1911)
Cover artwork modified from Baden-Powell, line drawing of a Scout holding a US flag on a staff (taken from B-P's Scouting for Boys, with the original British flag replaced with a US flag). [For comparison, the Baden-Powell original is to the right.]
![Scouting for Boys, Part V [reproduction]](images/sfb5.gif "Scouting for Boys, Part V [reproduction]")
The BSA calls this Handbook the Original Edition rather than the 1st Edition because it was intended strictly as a temporary Handbook until they could standardize the program and publish a permanent Handbook. The cover title is Boy Scouts of America Official Handbook. The title page says Boy Scouts of America A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft by Ernest Thompson Seton With which is incorporated by arrangement General Sir Robert Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. The Original Edition combined the ninth edition of Seton's Birch-Bark Roll and some parts of Baden-Powell's classic Scouting for Boys (written in 1907).
Ernest Thompson Seton, a famous writer and artist, had founded a loosely-structured boys' program called the Woodcraft Indians with the publication of the first edition of his Birch-Bark Roll manual (1902). Seton had also sent a copy of the Birch-Bark Roll's 1906 fifth edition to Baden-Powell, from which B-P adapted material for Scouting for Boys.
Seton's introduction to the Original Edition makes it clear that he considered himself to be the real founder of the World Scouting movement: "In 1904, I went to England to carry on the work [of fostering a "Woodcraft and Scouting movement"] there, and, knowing General R. S. S. Baden-Powell as the chief advocate of scouting in the British Army, invited him to cooperate with me, in making the movement popular. Accordingly, in 1908 he organized his Boy Scout movement, incorporating the principles of the [Woodcraft] Indians with other ethical features bearing on savings banks, fire drills, etc., as well as by giving it a partly military organization, and a carefully compiled and fascinating book."
When Chicago publisher William Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America in February, 1910, Seton merged his Woodcraft Indians with the new organization and became the BSA's first Chief Scout. Seton also considered himself the key person in creating an American Scouting program.
And today's Scouting owes much of its program and tradition to Seton; indeed, it is difficult to imagine what our program would be like without Seton's contributions. Seton left the BSA in 1916 after an extended power struggle with James West, our strong-willed first Chief Scout Executive (1911-1943). Officially, Seton departed because of the then-new rule requiring all registered Scouters to be American citizens or intending to become so (Seton was a Canadian citizen, though he later became a US citizen; he died in 1946 in Santa Fe, New Mexico).
The Original Edition has no index and contains no information about: knife and axe, mapping and map use, hiking, conservation, poison plants, poisonous snakes, alcohol and tobacco, or when to wear the uniform. Its information on physical fitness and health is weak. The book has a chapter on first aid, but it doesn't explain any first aid; it just gives a detailed description of how to get a course and take the exam through the YMCA. Similarly in the section on puberty (called "Continence"), Seton refers the reader to another source for information.
The book contains the International Morse code, along with a nearly worthless memory mnemonic that is supposed to allow the reader to learn the code in less than an hour [those of us who have had to memorize the Morse code only wish it could have been that easy]! Each letter is illustrated with a drawing of an object starting with that letter designed to remind the reader of the dot-dash code for that letter. One is even racist—the mnemonic for the letter N is "Nimble Nig" and shows a crocodile chasing a man! This remained in the Handbook through the early printings of the 2nd Edition.
The Original Edition's section on knots illustrates both the square knot and the sheet bend incorrectly! In both cases, it reverses one line's standing and free parts. While this is not too critical on the sheet bend, it is vital on the square knot because the knot shown (a variant of the square knot often called the Thief's Knot) easily pulls out and does not hold under tension.
As the BSA standardized its program in 1910-1911, it dropped or altered a number of the program recommendations contained in the Original Edition. One of these was Seton's complex system of "Honors," in which a boy (or man) could earn either "Honors" or "High Honors" for varying levels of attainment in a number of fields. "Red Honors" included heroism, horse riding, athletics, mountain climbing, target shooting, big-game hunting. "White Honors" included campercraft, archery, fishing. "Blue Honors" included nature study, geology, photography. The book spells out in considerable detail what level of achievement is required and warns the reader that he may not change any requirement. For example, to earn Honors under big-game hunting, some of the animals a Scout could kill included black bear, gray wolf (assisted by dogs), or a 14-foot crocodile! To earn High Honors, the list included elephant, gorilla, gray wolf (without dogs), or a grizzly bear!
Original Edition Summary and Printing History
- title from title page—A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft
- by Ernest Thompson Seton & Robert Baden-Powell
- cover art by Robert Baden-Powell (with modification)
- 1910-1911 (1 year)
- 68,900 copies printed (average 68,900 copies printed per year)
- approx. size 140x203x13 mm (5-1/2x8x1/2")
- 3-4 printings:
at least 4 printing variants known
all with 192 numbered pages
all with dark green lettering on light green oilcloth cover
variants 1-3 have two-author title (Seton & B-P) and were all printed in 1910
—variant 1 has "PRICE 25 CENTS" at bottom of cover
—variant 2 has "PRICE 25 CENTS" with word "NET" beneath
—variant 3 has "PRICE 25 CENTS NET" on one line
—variant 4 cover shows single author (Seton); this variant may have been printed by Seton on his own in 1911, after the 1st Edition Handbook was released
Actual Original Edition Table of Contents
- The American Flag [Seton]
- Part I—Organization [adapted from B-P]
Officers, etc.
Members
Tests
Badges and Medals
Badges of Merit
Medals
Uniforms
War Songs
Crests, Totems, or Patrol Signs
Scout and Forester Laws
Summary of Instruction - Part II—Signs and Signaling [Seton]
Morse Code
Rememberable Morse
Wig-wag or Myer Code
Semaphore
Indian Signs and Blazes
The Watch as a Compass
Old Sayings ans Weather Signs
Outdoor Proverbs
Measuring Distances - Part III—Camping [Seton]
Camping Trips
Outfit for Six
Tents
Teepees
Camp-grounds
Beds
Lights
Water
Mosquitoes, Black Flies, etc.
Camp Routine
Camp-fires
Use of Firearms
Camp Cookery
How to Make a Fire by Rubbing Sticks
What to Do when Lost
First Aid to the Injured
The Stars, etc.
Find Latitude by Stars
Sindial
Archery
Building a Log-cabin
Teepees
Knots
Tracking or Trailing
American Dialects - Part IV—The Games
[games from Seton]
Deer-hunting
The Bear Hunt
Spearing the Great Sturgeon
Tilting in the Water
Canoe Tag
Scouting
The Game of Quicksight
Far-sight, or Spot-the-rabbit
Pole-Star
Rabbit Hunt
Hostile Spy
The Man-hunt
Hunt the Coon
Spear-fights
Navajo Feather-dance
Feather Football
Cock-fighting
Hand-wrestiling
Badger-pullling
Poison
Hat-ball
Duck-on-a-Rock
Roadside Cribbage
The War Dance
The Fire-fly Dance
[games from B-P]
Lion Hunting
Plant Race
Throwing the Assegai
Flag Raiding
Stalking and Reporting
"Spider and Fly"
How to Teach Stalking
Scout Hunting
Relay Race
Stalking
Track Memory
Spot the Thief
"Smugglers over the Border"
Shop Window
Shop Window (Indoors)
Follow the Trail
Scout's Nose
Scout Meets Scout
Shoot Out
Kim's Game
Morgan's Game
Snow Fort
Siberian Man Hunt - Part V—The Honors [Seton]
Class I—Red Honors
Heroism
Riding
General Athletics
Athletic Specialties
Long-distance Athletics
Water-sports and Travel
Mountain-climbing
Target-shooting
Eyesight
Big-game Hunting
Class II—White Honors
Campercraft and Scouting
Archery
Long Range, Clout, or Flight Shooting
Fishing
Bait-casting
Class III—Blue Honors
Nature Study—Vertebrates
Nature Study—Lower Forms of Life
Geology
Photography
![Scouting for Boys [reproduction]](images/sfb1.gif "Scouting for Boys [reproduction]")
For comparison, here are the contents of the original edition of Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys, published in 1908:
- Part I.
Scoutcraft and Scout Law, giving the Duties of Boy Scouts, their Secret Signs, Laws, Badges, War Dance, etc. - Part II.
Observation and Tracking
Woodcraft and Knowledge of Animals - Part III.
Campaigning and Camp Life
Pioneering and Resourcefulness - Part IV.
Endurance and Health
Chivalry and Brave Deeds
Discipline - Part V.
Saving Life and First-Aid
Patriotism and Loyalty - Part VI.
Scouting Games, Competitions, and Plays
Words to Instructors
Last Revision to This Page: 15 June 2002
Copyright © 1980, 1990, 1999 by Jeff Snowden
Web format © 1996-2002 by Troop 97 BSA
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