Artifact of the Week 20240405 - Scoutmasters' Handbook

The Scoutmasters’ Handbook was initially discussed in 1911 in James E. West’s report as Executive Secretary of the Boy Scouts of America at the First Annual Meeting of the National Council. In an interesting side note, Colin Livingstone was nominated and elected as the temporary chairman of the National Council for this meeting. His first order of business was to introduce James E. West. Proceedings of the first meeting quote Livingstone, “Our first call is for a report, The Boy Scout Movement in America Today, by Mr. James E. West, Executive Secretary, who has been in charge of this movement for several months, and who knows pretty well the entire movement since its inception.” West had officially been on the job for 44 days.
The Scoutmasters’ Handbook has undergone many changes over the years including now being available as an electronic download for your mobile device, but it still serves its initial purpose to help adult volunteers deliver the program of Scouting to the Youth in our Scouts BSA Troops.