Scouting Party Book Review
Robert Baden-Powell. Ernest Thompson Seton. Daniel Carter Beard. James E. West. William D. Boyce. These names are all over the history of the Boy Scout movement in the United States. Councils and awards are named after these men. They are the beginning of the Boy Scouts of America. The history of Scouting has many stories, from the “beginnings” of the Scouting Movement with Sir Robert Baden Powell to the unknown scout that helped William Boyce in the fog of London that resulted in Boy Scouts being brought to the United States. Not surprisingly, when someone looks into it, not only are these stories not entirely true, but some probably didn’t happen at all.
On the recommendation of Clarke Green I picked up a copy of The Scouting Party: Pioneering and Preservation, Progressivism and Preparedness in the Making of the Boy Scouts of America by David C. Scott and Brendan Murphy.
As the 100th anniversary celebration of the Boy Scouts of America draws to a close, a look back at how this organization started has been fascinating. Even today, discussions about the latest changes in the Boy Scouts of America often result is someone stating that it isn’t what Baden Powell/Boyce/Beard/etc. intended when they started the Scouting movement, and this thoroughly researched book gives the reader a good sense of what each man’s vision was for Scouting.
Seton wanted to bring boys out of cities and modern life and teach them woodcraft and Native American customs. Beard wanted to inspire the work ethic and Americanism of the pioneers as they pushed forward under Manifest Destiny. Baden Powell wanted to teach the boys to be productive and useful men in society, with skills developed in small groups.
While The Scouting Party documents the various goals of Scouting as seen by these three juggernaut personalities, a reoccurring theme in the correspondence is the controversy over who deserved credit for Boy Scouts. Drawing from the contemporary communications between the parties, the dispute between the three is handled from the objective view of history. The Scouting Party may even be the book that Daniel Beard was hoping for when he wrote to James West late in life:
“I would like to see a real, unbiased history of the evolution and growth of the Movement itself, written by some outside party. Such a history is bound to be written sooner or later, by someone who will not be influenced by the personal claims of Ernest Thompson, Baden-Powell, or Dan Beard. This will probably be done when you and I have the grass growing over our coverlid, and when we cannot make much of a kick, so why worry?”
Fantastically researched, the references used throughout the book appeal to my need for knowing sources for the claims and conclusions put forth in the book. The quotes from contemporary sources help the reader to understand the mindset of each participant, and gain insight into the environment where the Boy Scouts of America was forged.
The roles of James West and William Boyce are also covered in The Scouting Party, as a supplement to the struggle for credit involving Beard, Seton and Baden Powell. West’s management as the Chief Scout Executive put the BSA on a solid footing as the fledgling organization gained traction in the United States. His leadership was instrumental in the early success and stability of the BSA. The role of William Boyce seems more distant, apart from his part in bringing Baden-Powell’s Scouting Movement to the U.S., he financed much of the early days of the BSA. Not to make light of anyone’s contribution to what must have been a monumental task, the dedication to helping American boys grow to be great men was substantial in all that helped create the Boy Scouts of America.
By the end of the book I felt I had gained much in understanding how all of these men, these names that permeate Scouting, all added their own personalities to the organization that has helped millions of young men in this country. I wholeheartedly recommend it for reading, and I look forward to reading some of the other titles by David C. Scott and Brendan Murphy.
If you would like more information, Clarke Green has an interview with David C. Scott on his Scoutmaster Podcast #20.
