Our Collection
THE SCOUTING COLLECTION
There are thousands of Boy and Girl Scout items displayed. They range from early works by the Founder of Scouting, that resulted in the formation of Scouting in 1907, through recent versions of Snoopy as the Beagle Scout.
CATEGORIES
Highlighted below are some of the more interesting or notable items in the Museum collection by various categories. Within each major category, there often are one or more subcategories, and there may be any number of neat memorabilia, from just a couple separate items to hundreds. For most of the 3500 visitors each year, they have never seen a majority of the items in the collection before. Even seasoned collectors admit that they may have heard about some item, but have never seen it before their visit. So, how many of the items listed below have you never seen before?
Games - Before the days of television, families played board games. One entire display case is devoted to Boy and Girl Scout board games, like "Flag Raiding" from the teens, Boy Scout Progress Game, Hike, and Scouting.
Toys - In the early days of Scouting, toys looked much different from what's found today in Zany Brainy and Toys-r-Us. There are 3 tin wagons with tin wheels from the teens, with Scout Express on the side and the name of a patrol, like Raven or Rattlesnake on the end.
Puzzles - Thousand piece puzzles made of pressed paper or cardboard found in stores today were not the standard during Scouting's early days. Most puzzles were cut from wood, and there are several, both Boy and Girl Scout versions.
Air Scouts - In 1942, during the early days of World War II, the Air Scouts was formed. Only a few hundred Air Scouts earned the coveted Ace award displayed along with a complete mint set of the 18 "Specialist" achievement insignia.
Mariner Scouts (Girl Scout version of Sea Scouts) - A very rare royal blue Mariner uniform with a full set of Mariner award pins.
Uniforms - A series of uniforms from many different decades in terrific shape, beginning with one from 1910. Included in the collection are the extremely rare complete Rhode Island Boy Scout and Boy Rangers(pre-cub scout) uniforms.
Equipment - Our pioneers didn't use Zippo or Bic lighters to start their campfires. A complete fire- by-friction kit is on display. Sorry, you can't try it out.
Shoes and Socks - When was the last time you wore a pair of official Boy Scout shoes with merit badges impressed into the rubber soles. Or wore official Girl Scout shoes? We have them, along with the official socks that go with them.
Ernest Seton - The Woodcraft Indians was a predecessor of the Scouting program, and many of its ideas were incorporated into the BSA. On display is probably the finest example of an awards sash from the Woodcraft Indians, along with a certificate signed by Seton, who was the first National BSA Scout Commissioner.
Dan Beard - The Sons of Daniel Boone were another predecessor of the BSA, and one of the few relics of that program, a membership pin is on display, along with "Uncle Dan's" bugle. He was the first National BSA Executive. In addition, the museum is the proud owner of over 1000 pieces of original Beard artwork. Some of these works are displayed on special occasions.
American Boy Scouts - Sponsored by William Randolph Hearst, the American Boy Scouts was an early competitor of the BSA, and among the uniform is an extremely rare ABS uniform.
Food - Look for the Scout brand canned corn, Scout coffee, and a Scout brand (not Trails End) Popcorn box
Cookies - Girl Scout Cookies originated in the Philadelphia Council in the 30's, and there are two original containers, one still with the cookies (probably hard as rocks by now).
Silver Beaver - For the first year or so that the Silver Beaver was awarded in the 1930's, it consisted of a silver beaver suspended from a ribbon, worn on the left breast, like an Eagle medal. However, it was so heavy, that it was soon changed to a neck ribbon, as it remains today. On display is one of the very rare Silver Beaver Medals.
Pool Table - When was the last time you played pool on a portable, 3' by 6', Scout pool table? We have one.
Advertising - Even today, some advertisers use Scouts in their copy, but not near as frequently as in many years ago. Check out the large poster for Pepsin Syrup, the bread wrapper by Butternut Bread, the large metal sign for Remington Kleanbore Cartridges (bullets), and more recently, the magazine ad by the Indiana Dairy Farmers (Girl Scouts) for drinking milk.
Handbooks - Lord Baden-Powell's first book that related directly to Boy Scouting was a military book, Aids to Scouting for NCOs and Men. It was first published in 1899, and was snapped up by boys, and this could be considered the first handbook since the boys started practicing what was written. There also are copies of the first Official British Scout Handbook from 1908 and the American Scout Handbook from 1910. And, in the GS display is an original first American GS Handbook from 1913.
Baden-Powell - BP was a prodigious writer. The number of his letters that survived are in the thousands. On display are a few of them signed by him as well as by Lady BP. The museum has several original pen-and-ink and water color pieces of artwork by Baden Powell.
Juliette Low - Memorabilia from the Founder of the American Girl Scouts is very difficult to obtain. In one of the Girl Scout cases is a signed copy of the first GS Handbook, signed by her. When she returned to the US in 1912 after meeting BP, she brought with her a quantity of the original Girl Guide merit badges to be used until the new GSA had developed their own. On display are 3 of these extremely rare original merit badges.
World War I - During World War I, families were encouraged to grow "Victory Gardens" to free up food from the large farms for the soldiers overseas. One of the major items in the collection is a Boy Scout plow, pushed by boy power. Adjacent to it is a framed piece of Boy Scout sheet music titled "Hoe Your 'Little Bit' in Your Own Back Yard" which goes right along with the intent of the plow.
In Memoriam - One of the most poignant displays is a tribute to Clarence S. Slatcher, JR., the first Boy Scout killed in World War I. Photos and his badges are there.
Posters - Large posters really illustrate some of the powerful messages that Scouting has to say. Above the rear display is a very rare, super nice poster advertising the 1937 National Jamboree.
Musical Instruments - For decades, Boy and Girl Scout troops often had their own Scout Band. In some communities, all units combined to form a larger band. In a large cabinet are snare drums and bugles, both as toys and as Troop instruments. Large photographs show how the bands looked. Have you ever heard a Scout Band?
National Jamboree - The National Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, just across the road in front of the Chapel, in 1950, 1957, and 1964. After the federal government established Valley Forge as a National Historic Park, most large gatherings were prohibited, so there won't be any more here. Aerial photographs are there to show the entire Jamboree sites. Numerous other Jamboree souvenirs are also scattered throughout the displays.
World Jamboree - There have been 19 World Jamborees since the first one in 1920. We have superior examples of official as well as unofficial Jamboree material (often made by the Scouts who attended) such as reports, newspapers, post cards, emblems, etc.
Sashes - No museum would be complete without a display of sashes and badges. One of the most priceless pieces on view is the original Boy Scout sash from 1923, which served as a prototype from which the BSA fashioned others. Originally, badges were worn on the sleeves of the uniform shirt. With the sash is the documentation that attests to its origin.
Certificates - On one wall are the Silver Buffalo certificates for Hank Aaron and Burl Ives. In one of the front cases is a Certificate for the only award of the St. Ann's Award by the Catholic Military Ordinariate for the development of religious award requirements for Girl Scouts throughout Europe.
Magazines - A 1911 first issue of Boys Life is there, along with other great national magazines with Scout themes on the covers and articles inside.
Cameras - From the very beginning of Scouting, Kodak and other camera companies manufactured official Boy and Girl Scout cameras. Have you ever used a camera that has a bellows? (You might even ask, what is a bellows.)
Banks - In the 'teens and 20's, cast iron banks were all the rage. We have several different versions, as well as more modern ceramic versions of the "Scout Piggy Bank".
Statues and Busts - Nearly one entire display case is filled with representations of Scouts and Baden-Powell, in metal, wood, ceramic, rubber (yes, rubber), and cardboard.
Dolls - Few boys played with dolls, but their sisters did. We have several Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Brownie dolls. The most interesting is an extremely rare, unauthorized Girl Scout doll from the pre-eminent American doll company, Madam Alexander. Our's was purchased just prior to a GSA-obtained court injunction.
China - Baden-Powell, Scout symbols, and Scout camp scenes are featured on our vintage pieces. A complete child's tea set is on display.
Medals - There are many different medals shown, commemorating events ranging from Historic Trail hiking, War Bond Sales, scrap metal and waste paper collection, to a mint 1914 Heroism medal that had been stored away in an attic for over 80 years, with complete provenance consisting of photo's of the Scout who earned it, a newspaper clipping noting the heroic lifesaving event, the letter from National BSA Headquarters that accompanied the award, and a letter from the family.
Knives - Over the years, many companies produced official Boy and Girl Scout knives, and many different designs appeared. We have examples of nearly every one of them. And, be sure to see our Girl Scout sheath knife. Most boys can't believe that girls were permitted to have one.
Certificates - Everyone knows of baseball great, Hank Aaron, and some folks know he received the Silver Buffalo from the BSA. We have his Buffalo certificate. And one of the earliest American folk singers was Burl Ives (an old Lone Scout as well), and we have his Silver Buffalo certificate as well. Boy and Girl Scouting has thrived in Europe as long as children of the US military and American civilian employees are there. The US Military Ordinariate (Catholic Chaplaincy) has awarded one St. Anne Medal for in Europe since 1945 for distinguished Catholic service to the Girl Scouts in Europe. The certificate and its complete provenance are on display.
Pencil Boxes - School kids have carried their pencils and erasers in some sort of pencil box for generations. On display are wooden and metal pencil boxes dating from 1907, with Boy and Girl Scout camp scenes depicted.
Order of the Arrow - A variety of rarely-seen early felt OA sashes and a selection of rare early patches are displayed.
Rifles - In 1985, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the BSA, two Remington rifles were produced, one celebrating Scouting in general and one celebrating Eagle Scouts, along with ammunition with a fleur-de-lis on each shell. They are all here, in mint condition. There is also vintage advertising for ammunition, and an American Boy Scout rifle. Recently, the museum obtained a complete set of all rifles, ammunition, and accessories associated with the Boy Scouts since 1910.
Photographs - The museum features many interesting photos showing Boy and Girl Scouts in action, from the earliest days. The office archives preserve thousands of photos documenting Scouting from 1910 to the present.
