Scouting History – Bits & Pieces #2 - Early Merit Badges and Honor Medals by Dave Eby
The very first merit
badges earned in the Boy Scouts of America took place in 1911. There were a
total of 83 earned that year by 30 different Boy Scouts from around the country.
Going by information printed in the Second Annual BSA Report presented on
February 8, 1912, the very first Boy Scout to have been awarded merit badges
through the National Council appears to have been Richard Burckes of Waltham,
Massachusetts. He earned six of them and they were Swimming, Life Saving,
Cycling, Firemanship, Personal Health and Public Health. Also in 1911 there were
22 Honor Medals presented by the BSA. The first one listed went to Charles
Scruggs of Cuero, Texas. The first named Scouter to receive an Honor Medal was
the 10th one awarded that same year which went to C.P. Harris of
Rutland, Vermont, who was a Scoutmaster.
Source of information: the
Second Annual BSA Report by James E. West which was presented on February 8,
1912.
Written by
David L. Eby
Council Historian
Miakonda Scouting Museum
Erie Shores Council, BSA
Toledo, Ohio
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