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The Boy Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America, and is intended as a reference on those things needed for survival in the outdoors; for development of character, citizenship, and fitness; and for the completion of advancement requirements for Boy Scout ranks. The handbook has gone through several titles in its various releases and has sold over 35 million copies.

History of Editions

Original Edition (1910)

The first handbook released is generally referred to as 'The Original Edition' and was not intended as a permanent handbook. This Edition is essentially a combination of Ernest Thompson Seton's Birch Bark Roll with Robert Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys and was titled A Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft. That this book was hastily put together is evident in several ways:

It neglected many topics that have come to be accepted as 'Scoutcraft', including map and compass use, axe and knife work, and poisonous plants and snakes.
It mentioned first-aid, but contained no instructions for performing it.
The examples of the square-knot and the sheet-bend are shown incorrectly.

First and Second Editions (1911-1927)

The first and second editions are distinguished primarily by the cover. For the first 33 printings they were labeled as separate "editions" (though the changes were mostly incremental) but then changed to "printings" from the 34th through the 37th printing. The name "Second Edition" is now mainly applied to those after the 11th printing, but another substantial change occurred in the 14th printing when Seton left the BSA because of a disagreement with James E West and all of his contributions were removed and replaced with similar passages by different authors.

This edition introduces the standardized advancement requirements of the BSA. The 1st edition still omitted any mention of map and compass work, axe and saw use, the Scout handshake, or descriptions of troop and patrol leadership positions. These were added to the 2nd edition, though it is of note that the handshake different from the international standard Scout handshake (even though the Original Edition contained the standard one) which the BSA did not adopt until 1972.

There are a number of incorrect or contradictory sections in both editions and the material is pieced together by contributing author rather than by material, resulting in somewhat haphazard organization at times.

Third and Fourth Editions (1927-1948)

The Third edition was a major revision to the Handbook and introduced the organization of topics by rank used in many future Handbooks. It was still the work of several experts, but was now assembled under the oversight of a single editor (H.W. Hurt).

These editions had a better handling of Scoutcraft subjects than prior editions, though the 3rd edition omitted how to find yourself if you're lost in the woods. Early printings of the 3rd edition also contained somewhat detailed information on military drill, a practice which Baden-Powell himself discouraged.

Fifth Edition (1948-1959)

The Fifth Edition was written to accommodate lowering the joining age from 12 to 11 in 1948. It added the taut-line hitch and instructions on lashings, and greatly expanded instruction in building fires. It also, however, greatly reduced instruction on identifying plants and wildlife. It was the first edition to follow the edition numbering we use today.

Sixth and Seventh Edition (1959-1972)

William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt was commissioned to write the Sixth Edition, which was the first Boy Scout Handbook written by a single author. Rowing and Canoeing return to the handbook, but lifesaving is a basic overview. The 6th edition curiously omits discussion on how to tie a taut-line. Instruction on tent making, handicraft, and lists of merit badge requirements are stricken from these editions.

The seventh-edition has only minor changes from the sixth, but is the first to add non-white faces in pictures.

Eighth Edition (1972-1979)

The Eighth Edition represents a fundamental change in the mentality of the BSA to try to get Scouting more into urban environments with the 'New Improved Program'. A major part of the 'improved' program was the elimination of the need for outdoor activity in a scout troop. All outdoor requirements are optional in the foundation ranks and the outdoor merit badges were not required for Eagle. To accomplish this in the foundation ranks sets of requirements were replaced with a skill award system consisting of groups of requirements that earned belt loops which was used until 1989.

In light of this, the handbook drops instruction on most outdoor activities, including lashings, stars, lighting a fire without matches, tracking, signaling, finding directions without a compass. The instructions on what to do when lost are to "ask for directions to find the way".

This edition was also the first to include minority pictures throughout, the first to include an extensive section on drug abuse, and the first since the Original Edition to use the international standard handshake.

Ninth Edition (1979-1990)

Under 'New Improved Program' enrollment dropped from a high in 1972 of 6.5 million to a low in 1980 of 4.3 million. To combat this precipitous decline, Hillcourt came out of retirement and wrote the Ninth Edition. This edition temporarily abandoned the ordering materials by advancement requirements in favor of more of a field reference ordering.

This was arguably the most comprehensive manual ever released. It retained the diversity and new sections of the 8th edition, returned most of the old outdoor skills including pictures of flora and fauna which had been omitted since the 4th edition, and added new materials such as backpacking and hypothermia that had not previously been covered. Much of the material in this handbook was unrelated to advancement requirements.

Tenth Edition (1990-1998)

The Tenth (and Eleventh) Edition of the Handbook were written by Robert Birkby. It is the first to feature color photographs (and the first since the 1st edition to have photographs at all). It, interestingly, is the first handbook to be released after Oscar de la Renta redesigned the uniform in 1980. Unlike previous handbooks, which had featured drawings of Scouts in Field Uniforms doing Scouting activities, the Tenth Edition had the new Activity Uniform in nearly all pictures. At the time National was trying to get Scouts to buy a 'Field Uniform' for use in meetings and ceremonies and a separate 'Activity Uniform' consisting of a polo-type colored shirt and a different pair of shorts. In this handbook the insignia was changed back to be similar to the format used before 1972 and skill awards were dropped. This handbook also introduces the concept of low impact camping and the use of a backpacking stove.

Eleventh Edition (1998-present)

This handbook returns to an organization by advancement requirements, but also includes additional information on First Aid, Citizenship, and Camping. It is the first to mention the GPS, water filters, the Internet, caring for younger children, and several new developments in first aid (such as breathing barriers and latex gloves). It also much more strongly emphasizes the use of a backpacking stove and of Leave No Trace camping.

With the 'Activity Uniform' having been rejected by most troops, the pictures in this Handbook are mostly of Scouts in a hodgepodge of field clothing with Field Uniforms only for meetings and ceremonies.

References

Troop 97 History of the Boy Scout Handbook

External links

Peterson, Robert (September 1999). The Perfect Book for a Desert Island. Scouting Magazine.

Category:Boy Scouts of America