Boy Scouts of America

Recalling the actions of her husband, Luther Halsey Gulick, in asking Theodore Roosevelt to become the Honorary Vice-President of the Boy Scouts, Charlotte V. Gulick asks Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to accept the position of Honorary Vice-President of the “Girl Pioneers of America.” President William H. Taft and his wife, Helen Herron Taft, have been asked to become Honorary Presidents of the respective organizations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-29

Judge Lindsey expresses his support for the scouting movement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-19

William W. Durnall invites Theodore Roosevelt to attend the upcoming Boy Scouts of Allegheny County meeting. If he is unable to come, Durnall asks Roosevelt to send a letter for him to read to the boy scouts. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-14

James E. West is glad to inform Theodore Roosevelt that the first edition of the new Boy Scouts of America manual has been printed, in order for those directly connected to the movement can offer criticism before the full run of 100,000 copies is printed. West sends Roosevelt a copy and requests suggestions as soon as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-01

Scoutmaster William H. Lindsay informs Theodore Roosevelt the Boy Scouts of Portland, Oregon, were disappointed they could not participate in welcoming him to the city. Therefore, Lindsay asks Roosevelt for a personal message of greeting and encouragement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-29

James R. Garfield urges Theodore Roosevelt to write a foreword for the Boy Scouts’ publication. Garfield goes on to point out how President Taft had surrendered the conservation fight when he appointed Walter L. Fisher as Secretary of the Interior. Garfield also comments how he finds the story of the granting of the terminals at Controller Bay curious, and he discusses a conversation he had with Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson about America’s actions in Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-25

B. T. Spencer sends Theodore Roosevelt a newspaper clipping about the new headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-22

Gifford Pinchot will gladly join James Rudolph Garfield and Mr. Price at the request of the Boy Scouts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-22

Henry J. Gosse, vice president of the Sons of Daniel Boone, informs Theodore Roosevelt they donated a flag to the Boy Scouts of America in his honor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-03

Lorillard Spencer, temporary chairman of the New York City Council of the Boy Scouts of America, invites Theodore Roosevelt and any guests to attend a Scout Masters’ Council on April 5, 1911.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-01

George W. Beatty, the scoutmaster of the Yerington Troop of the Boy Scouts of America, sends Theodore Roosevelt a newspaper clipping explaining his request that Roosevelt writes his troop.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-01

James E. West is glad that Theodore Roosevelt will be greeted by Boy Scouts at New Orleans. He informs Frank Harper of some negotiations are currently occurring within the organization so that Roosevelt will not be caught off guard, and suggests that it would be desirable for him “to urge high quality of leadership in movement without military feature.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-10

George D. Wardrop passes a message from Boy Scout leader James E. West along to Frank Harper, informing him that the Boy Scouts who will meet Theodore Roosevelt at New Orleans, Louisiana, “belong to what is known as the Hearst Boy Scouts.” If Roosevelt wishes to address the boys, Wardrop asks Harper to warn him about this so that he won’t say anything that will be used by the newspapers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-10

James E. West, Executive Secretary of the Boy Scouts of America, informs Theodore Roosevelt that he was elected honorary vice-president of the organization at its recent National Council.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-25

A series of short letters sent to Daniel Carter Beard about kinds of merit badges, called “Top Notches,” that could be offered to Beard’s Sons of Daniel Boone which, in 1909, became the Boy Pioneers of America. The organization later merged with the nascent Boy Scouts of America. One of the short letters is from Theodore Roosevelt with suggestions for actions that merit “Top Notches.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-09

The first part of a two part article, “TR and the Boy Scouts,” notes that Theodore Roosevelt was a supporter of the Boy Scouts and that members of the organization made pilgrimages to his grave site. In the second part, “With Little Children,” Roger W. Straus describes meeting Roosevelt in the Cabinet room of the White House, and he notes how kind the president was to the small children in attendance.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1991

A group of Boy Scouts of America make their annual pilgrimage to the gravesite of Theodore Roosevelt. Some are seen marching in a procession, carrying U.S. flags. Daniel Carter Beard, Scout Commissioner, is helped up the steps by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and others. Beard lays a wreath. Footage of President Roosevelt speaking is superimposed over his headstone. A number of other brief segments follow, including young men and women posing for a photograph, a man and a woman talking, and a large number of people–mostly children–exiting a house.

Collection

Sherman Grinberg Film Collection

Creation Date

1923-10-23

Daniel Carter Beard, founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone and Boy Scout leader, leads the annual Boy Scout memorial ceremony at the gravesite of Theodore Roosevelt. He is surrounded by Boy Scouts, some dressed as Native Americans. A bugler blows while standing in front of the headstone.

Collection

Sherman Grinberg Film Collection

Creation Date

1931-10-24

Boy Scouts and others march in a procession honoring the memory of Theodore Roosevelt. Boy Scout Founder Daniel Carter Beard and others lay wreaths at the gravesite, and a Boy Scout blows a bugle as others listen with their hats held over their hearts. A close-up shot shows the inscription on the headstone.

Collection

Sherman Grinberg Film Collection

Creation Date

1929

Historical reenactor Bob Boyd recounts the four years he spent doing a one man show as Theodore Roosevelt. He explains how a typical program would proceed with an emphasis on its press conference when he would take unscripted questions from students. Boyd discusses the genesis of the program and how he garnered the role of Roosevelt. He explains the role of the Florida Department of Citrus in sponsoring the program and how its success led to its touring nationwide.  Boyd also explains how he studied and prepared to accurately portray Roosevelt.

Two photographs accompany the article: one shows Boyd in costume as Roosevelt greeting students and the other shows Boyd as he appears out of costume.