014-Scoutmaster’s notebook – circa 1920-1923

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Overview

Original Date: circa 1920-1923
Type: Training Manual / Reference Notebook
Era: 1920s Materials
Condition: good, shows age-appropriate wear

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Description

This loose-leaf notebook, for an assistant scoutmaster, my grandfather, Samuel A. Curry), contains guidelines and instructions for troop leadership during the early years of the Boy Scouts of America. The notebook itself is a tan canvas-bound binder with metal rings, typical of the period’s office supplies, of the brand Lefax.

The content, mostly loose-leaf multi-page inserts, ranges from Delaware and Montgomery Counties Council in Pennsylavania publications (plans, schedules, standards, reports, and news letters) to Boy Scouts of America publications to product offerings, and other information. The notebook contains numerous separate inserts covering various aspects of scoutmaster responsibilities and information within the council. Each insert appears to be an official or semi-official document, printed on various paper stocks, suggesting they were distributed over time as training materials became available.

These materials provide fascinating insight into how the BSA trained adult leaders during the 1920s, when the organization was still establishing standardized procedures and the scouting movement was rapidly expanding across America.

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Images

Historical Context

This very rare notebook was in my father’s scouting memorabilia, then passed down to my brother, and recently given to me. It dates mostly from 1920 to 1923. Research shows it was for an Assistant Scoutmaster, my grandfather Samuel A. Curry. Some items are in multiples, implying to be given to others.

In the early 1920s, the Boy Scouts of America was experiencing tremendous growth; membership had reached nearly 600,000 scouts. The organization was working to standardize training for the thousands of volunteer scoutmasters who were the backbone of the movement.

Training and informative materials like inserts in this notebook were essential tools, as many scoutmasters had limited prior experience with youth leadership or outdoor skills. The loose-leaf format allowed scoutmasters to add new materials as they were released and organize content according to their needs.

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Provenance & Personal Connection

Source: My grandfather, Samuel A. Curry
How I Acquired It: Passed down in family
Personal Notes: It is most interesting seeing names of my father, his brother Edgar, and their troop, Essington Troop 1 mentioned as well as troops in towns near where I grew up. The locale of most content is the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My grandfather served as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Essington, PA in 1922 and 1923. This notebook represents an adult’s dedication to learning the craft of youth leadership and his commitment to providing quality scouting experiences. It is a powerful connection to the legacy of those before me and to my own scouting journey that began nearly 30 years later in 1950.

Donations:

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Physical Details

Material: Canvas cover, Lefax metal ring binding, various paper stocks for inserts
Dimensions: Approximately 4″ x 7″
Number of Inserts: Approximately 23 separate inserts or loose documents
Total Pages: Approximately 60 pages (plus some duplicates)
Markings: Tan canvas cover is embossed in brown “BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA” and in lower right, “LEFAX”
Notable Features: Shows evidence of regular use; some pages have pencil annotations.

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Index: The Training/Information Inserts

1. Front matter – Property of
2. Troop Meetings – Planning
3. Investiture Ceremony
4. Initiation – 2nd Class Scout
5. Conventional Symbols for Map Drawing
6. Knots Hitches and Bends
7. Signaling Morse Code Instruction
8. Troop Inspection
9. Standardization of Tenderfoot Test
10. General Order No. 18
11. Boy Scouts Field Book (Ad)
12. Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts Equipment (Ad)
13. Yearly Schedule 1922-1923
14. Bulletin – Oct. 1922
15. Camp Delmont – Extracts from Report 1922
16. Bulletin – Feb. 1923
17. District Championship Contest, April 21, 1923
18. Bulletin – April 1923
19. Bulletin – June 1923
20. Essington Troop 1 – Efficiency Certificate, June 1922
21. Essington Troop 1 – Efficiency Certificate, June 1923
22. S. A. Curry – Camp Delmont Scoutcraft Course, 2nd year
23. Regulations for Courts of Honor

Below is a complete inventory of all inserts or loose pieces contained in this notebook; may be viewed or downloaded as .pdf

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INSERT 1: Front matter – Property of

|Return to Index

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INSERT 2: Troop Meetings – Planning

|Return to Index

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INSERT 3: Investiture Ceremony

|Return to Index

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INSERT 4: Initiation – 2nd Class Scout

|Return to Index

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INSERT 5: Conventional Symbols for Map Drawing

|Return to Index

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INSERT 6: Knots Hitches and Bends

|Return to Index

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INSERT 7: Signaling Morse Code Instruction

|Return to Index

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INSERT 8: Troop Inspection

|Return to Index

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INSERT 9: Standardization of Tenderfoot Test

|Return to Index

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INSERT 10: General Order No. 18

|Return to Index

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INSERT 11: Boy Scouts Field Book (Ad)

|Return to Index

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INSERT 12: Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts Equipment (Ad)

|Return to Index

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INSERT 13: Yearly Schedule 1922-1923

|Return to Index

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INSERT 14: Bulletin – Oct. 1922

|Return to Index

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INSERT 15: Camp Delmont – Extracts of Report-1922

|Return to Index

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INSERT 16: Bulletin – Feb. 1923

|Return to Index

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INSERT 17: District Championship Contest, April 21, 1923

|Return to Index

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INSERT 18: Bulletin – April 1923

|Return to Index

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INSERT 19: Bulletin – June 1923

|Return to Index

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Document 20: Essington Troop 1 – Efficiency Certificate, June 1922

|Return to Index

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Document 21: Essington Troop 1 – Efficiency Certificate, June 1923

|Return to Index

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Document 22: S. A. Curry – Camp Delmont Scoutcraft Course, 2nd year

|Return to Index

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INSERT 23: Regulations for Courts of Honor

|Return to Index

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Preservation Notes

Current Storage: Stored in desk
Conservation Needs: Some pages require careful handling due to age
High-Resolution Scans: May be available for research and educational purposes upon request.

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Significance

This notebook represents an important piece of Boy Scouts of America history, documenting the training methods and organizational philosophy of the 1920s. It shows how the BSA worked to professionalize volunteer leadership at a time when the organization was still defining best practices.

The annotations and wear patterns suggest this was a working document, actively used by a Scoutmaster as he led his troop. It’s a window into both organizational history and some personal family history.

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Related Artifacts

• 015-Scout notebook-Edgar Curry-circa 1922-1924
• 016-Scout notebook-Samuel B. Curry-circa 1919-1923

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Additional Resources

External resources about 1920s scouting and scoutmaster training

• BSA National Scouting Museum

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Questions or want more information about this artifact? Contact Me

Last Updated: February 7, 2026