Artifact of the Week 20240112 - Every Boy's Library Boy Scout Edition

The founders of the Scouting Movement and the BSA were all authors. Collectively they understood the importance of reading as a way to help Scouts achieve the Aims of Scouting, particularly Citizenship and Character Development.
Franklin Mathiews was an ordained pastor who gave up his pulpit to work part-time for the BSA and eventually became the Chief Scout Librarian. Mathiews led the BSA's effort to combat Nickel Novels and in 1915 proposed the inaugural “Safety First Juvenile Book Week” along the lines of “Safe and Sane Fourth of July.” Where one was concerned with injuries from fireworks, the other with what boys were reading.
The Every Boy's Library - Boy Scout Edition was published by the BSA from 1913 until it was discontinued in 1940.