new aquisitions
World of Scouting Museum
Valley Forge, PA
Our collection continues to grow through individual and corporate support. Below are some items recently added to the collection of the World of Scouting Museum.
Neckerchief Slide Carving Kit, 1960
Boy Scouts of America
New Brunswick, NJ
Gift of Jon F. and Beverly Loeliger in memory of Jon F. Loeliger
2021.1
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Learning how to use a pocket knife to whittle and carve is a rite of passage for many a Scout. Creating your own neckerchief slide is one way to demonstrate your knife skills. Slide patterns were often published in Boys' Life but Woody's Slide Carving Combination Pak was another great source. It contained seven basswood blanks with preprinted patterns for the Scout Sign, Sioux Chief, Paul Bunyan, Cosmo The Cosmic Crow, Cochise, Hopi Kachina Mud Hen, and Texas Long Horn. Instructions and a carving knife were also included.
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Council Shoulder Patch, c. 1992
Hawk Mountain Council
Reading, PA
Gift of Gregory Elliot
2021.2.6 & 2021.2.7
These two Council Shoulder Patches (CSP) feature Herbie Hawk, the mascot of the Hawk Mountain Council. The council was created in 1970 and serves Berks, Schuylkill and Carbon (Panther Valley School District only) Counties. The Hex sign on the 1993 Jamboree Shoulder Patch (JSP) reflects the Pennsylvania German heritage of the region.
Merit Badge Booklets, 1959-1960
Boy Scouts of America
New Brunswick, NJ
Gift of Dale R. Purnell
2021.3.6, 2021.3.7, 2021.3.14, & 2021.3.15
The World of Scouting Museum has an extensive collection of Merit Badge Booklets on a wide variety of subjects. Here are four examples from the years 1959-1960 - Athletics, Chemistry, Mechanical Drawing, and Music & Bugling.
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Official Cook Kit, c.1960
Boy Scouts of America
New Brunswick, NJ
Gift of Robert and Callie Wampole
2021.4.1AG
A Boy Scout is not fully equipped without a mess kit. This Official All-Aluminum Cook Kit, in its original box, consists of a nesting frying pan, plate, pot, lid and cup in a cotton carrying bag.
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Ring c.1955
Girl Scouts of the United States
New York, NY
Gift of Elizabeth Ann Armour
2021.5.5
This delicate, sterling silver, ring features the Girl Scout Trefoil design with an American Eagle and shield and has open lattice-work sides.
Doll, 1995
Avon Products, Inc.
New York, NY
Gift of Michele D. Vera
2021.6.8AK
As officially licensed GSUSA items, Avon Products, Inc., produced two Junior Girl Scout dolls in 1995. The third doll in their Tender Memories series, they were available as both Caucasian and African American girls. Each 14" doll came complete with uniform, Girl Scout Cookies box and stand.
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Scrapbook, 1927-1934
Created by James J. Ameen
Dupont, PA
Gift of Joseph G. Ameen in memory of James J. Ameen
2021.7.1
A black, leather covered, two-ring scrapbook containing newspaper articles and clippings related to Boy Scout Troop 361, Dupont, PA. The book also includes Scouting related art cut from Scouting publications and hand-colored with colored pencils. This scrapbook was created by James J. Ameen, father of the donor, Joseph G. Ameen. James was a member of Troop 361.
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Brochure, c.1947
National Capital Area Council
Washington, DC
Gift of Bruce and Krista Beasley in memory of Steven E. Beasley
2021.8.18
Brochure for $125,000 fund raising effort by the BSA National Capital Area Council, Bethesda, MD, to purchase land for a new, year-round camp in Fairfax County, VA, along the Powhick Bay. Funds were also be used to improve and expand existing Council facilities at Camp Theodore Roosevelt and Camp Benjamin Bannecker.
The land purchased from William Ames, in 1949, for Camp Powhick would later come to be known as the Woodrow Wilson Scout Reservation. The camp's last year of operation was 1967. It was sold, along with Camp Thunderbird and Camp Roosevelt, in 1969 to help pay for Goshen Scout Reservation, Goshen, VA.
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Novelty Pin, c.1955
Girl Scouts of the USA
New York, NY
Gift of Mary Ellen O'Connor
2021.9.22
This two-dimensional, plastic pin of a blonde-haired Brownie holding a white cat, is one of several novelty pins made for the Girl Scouts. It has a straight pin on back with a molded plastic closure.
The Lone Scout, 1945
Boy Scouts of America
New York, NY
Gift of Todd Shomper
2021.10.24
The Lone Scout, Vol. XIX, No. 2, February, 1945. This issue's cover photo, entitled "Scouting and Gardening For Victory," shows a group of Boy Scouts holding gardening equipment, including a hand plow similar to one in the Museum's collection. It is one of fifty-nine issues, published 1939-1949, donated by Mr. Shomper. These magazines highlighted Scouting efforts on the home front during World War II and the years shortly following. Articles included: Green Thumb Gardens, Gardens For Victory, and Victory Farm Volunteers Programs, War Bond sales, tree planting, and public safety opportunities.
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Pamphlet, 1974
General Mills Fun Group and Kenner Products
Cincinnati, OH
Gift of Mark D. Reichert
2021.11
Kenner Products was officially licensed to produce Boy Scout action figures Bob, Steve and Bill Scout. Boys could collect High Adventure Stars which were redeemable for High Adventure sets like Danger At Snake River, Lost In The High Country, Search For Spanish Galleon, Warning From Thunderhead Weather Station, Avalanche At Blizzard Ridge, High Adventure Pathfinder, and High Adventure Scout Base.
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Knife and Sheath, 1950
John (?)
Douglas, AK
Gift of Gerald L. Betts
2021.12.1AB
This homemade knife with curved, steel blade and antler handle was made by an unknown Boy Scout from Troop 610, Douglas, Alaska. The bottom of its leather sheath is made from two pieces of wood lashed together with wire.
The pair were acquired by donor Gerald L. Betts in a trade with the maker, at the 2nd National Jamboree, Valley Forge, PA, in 1950.
Can you help us identify this unknown scout?
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Photographic Print, c.1954
Photographer Unknown
Philadelphia, PA
Gift of Edwin R. Root
2021.13.2
Donor Edwin R. Root was a member of Pack #268 and Troop #268, sponsored by St. Simeon's Lutheran Church, 8th and Luzerne Streets, Philadelphia. In this photo, he proudly demonstrates the two-fingered, Cub Scout salute. Devised by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the gesture represented the two ears of a wolf cub as the original program was bas on The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling.
