Brief Background of the Scoutmaster Handbook (BSA)

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A Brief Background of the Scoutmaster Handbook (BSA)

General

This is a brief summary and comparison of each edition of the Scoutmaster Handbook. After producing a Scout Handbook during their first year of operation, the BSA began working on a Scoutmaster Handbook almost immediately. They issued about 3 separate printings of an unbound draft edition and an unbound "proof" edition 1912 and 1913 for evaluation, then released the first official Scoutmaster Handbook edition in 1914.

1st Edition—Handbook for Scout Masters (1914-1920)

All are tan-colored hardbound or red leather, with a photo of a Scout holding a stave on the cover. The author credit simply states, "Published under the supervision of the Editorial Board Representing the National Council". Editorial Board members are listed as William D. Murray (who later wrote the BSA's first history, in 1937), George D. Pratt, & Frank Presbrey. The book is unusual in containing many black-and-white photographs, though some were of poor quality. The book includes 4 pages of military drill, plus a page-and-a-half of "order of the staff" (exactly corresponding to the Army's drill with rifles), this despite Baden-Powell's recommendation that drill not be a part of Scouting.
1st Edition cover

1st Edition Summary and Printing History

title from title page—Handbook for Scout Masters
under supervision of Editorial Board
cover art is black-and-white photo
1914-1920 (6 years)
?? copies printed
size 127x190x19 mm (5x7-1/2")
10 printings (4 draft or proof printings, 6 regular printings):

Draft/Proof Printings (as identified by BSA)—
—1st printing, labeled "PROOF COPY", pale green cover (1912, ?? copies)—203 numbered pages
—2nd printing, labeled "PROOF COPY", pale green cover (1912, ?? copies)—161 numbered pages
—3rd printing, not labeled PROOF, pale green cover (1912, ?? copies)—161 numbered pages
—proof copy, labeled "PROOF EDITION", no cover (1913, 10 000 copies)—344 numbered pages

Regular Printings (as identified by BSA)—
—4th printing (Mar 1914, 10 000 copies)—352 numbered pages [this is the first official printing of the handbook]
—5th printing (early 1915, ?? copies)—352 numbered pages
—6th printing (late 1916, ?? copies)—352 numbered pages
—7th printing (fall 1917, ?? copies)—352 numbered pages
—8th printing (1918, ?? copies)—404 numbered pages
—9th printing (1919, ?? copies)—404 numbered pages

Actual 1st Edition Table of Contents

I Organization
II Scout Requirements
III Principles and Methods
IV The Adolescent Boy
V Troop and Patrol Management
VI Training of Patrol Leaders
VII Suggestive Programs for Scout Masters
VIII Drills and Demonstrations
Manual of Marching
Order of the Staff
First Aid Drill
A Scout Field Day
IX Chivalry and Morality
X Suggestive Course of Study
Bibliography of Books
Index

2nd Edition—Handbook for Scoutmasters (1920-1936)

Covers are all leather in varying colors, with gold lettering and a gold First Class badge. As before, the author credit simply states, "Published under the supervision of the Editorial Board Representing the National Council". Editorial Board members are listed as William D. Murray, Frank Presbrey, & Dr Henry Van Dyke. Like before, the book contains many black-and-white photographs, and 4 pages of military drill (though no more "order of the staff"). The book is thorough. Only limited updating was done over the book's 18 printings.
2nd Edition, 1st printing (black cover) 2nd Edition, 5th printing (green cover) 2nd Edition, 15th printing (maroon cover)

2nd Edition Summary and Printing History

title from title page—Handbook for Scout Masters, later Handbook for Scoutmasters; sub-titled A Manual of Leadership
under supervision of Editorial Board
cover art is gold First Class badge
1920-1936 (16 years)
?? copies printed
size 114x178x31 mm [later printings 19 mm] (4-1/2x7")
18 printings:
—1st printing (1920, ?? copies)—608 numbered pages, black cover
—2nd printing (1921, ?? copies)—615 numbered pages, black cover
—3rd printing (1922, ?? copies)—632 numbered pages, black cover
—4th printing (1923, ?? copies)—632 numbered pages, maroon cover
—5th printing (1923, ?? copies)—632 numbered pages, dull green cover
—6th printing (1924, ?? copies)—632 numbered pages, yellow brown cover
—7th printing (1924, ?? copies)—668 numbered pages, maroon cover
—8th printing (1925, ?? copies)—668 numbered pages, dark red cover
—9th printing (1926, ?? copies)—668 numbered pages, dark red cover
—10th printing (1926, ?? copies)—676 numbered pages, dark red cover
—11th printing (1927, ?? copies)—676 numbered pages, dark red cover
—12th printing (1927, ?? copies)—676 numbered pages, dark red cover
—13th printing (1928, ?? copies)—676 numbered pages, dark red cover
—14th printing (1929, ?? copies)—676 numbered pages, dark red cover
—15th printing (1930, ?? copies)—676 numbered pages, dark red cover
—16th printing (Apr 1932, 10 000 copies)—628 numbered pages, dark red cover
—17th printing (Jun 1934, 3500 copies)—628 numbered pages, dark red cover
—18th printing (Jun 1934, 7500 copies)—628 numbered pages, dark red cover

Actual 2nd Edition Table of Contents

PART I, Troop Method and Technique
I. Scouting—A National Service
II. Bird's-Eye View of Scouting
III. Early Objectives
IV. Hikes and Meetings
V. Scoutcraft, Alternative Methods
VI. Class Requirements—Standardization
VII. The Scout Troop and Patrol
VIII. Scouting and the Community
PART II, Problems of Reaching Boys
IX. The Scoutmaster
X. Boys
XI. The Scout and His Life Work
XII. Physical Welfare
XIII. Scout Contests
XIV. Games
XV. Drill
XVI. The Scout Uniform
XVII. The Scout Camp
XVIII. Story Telling
XIX. Some Rural Problems
XX. Seascouting
PART III, Scouting—A National Movement
XXI. History of the Boy Scouts of America
XXII. System of Organization of the Boy Scouts of America
XXIII. Policies
XXIV. National Constitution and By-Laws with Index
Appendix
I. Troop Charter
II. Local Council Constitution
III. Uniform Specifications
IV. Letters from Sir Robert Baden-Powell
V. Scout Publications
VI. Cross Index