Founders of the BSA

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  Successful programs:

Beard and Seton combined their successful programs for boys (the Sons of Daniel Boone and the Woodcraft Indians) with the Boy Scouts of America.

  The Founders of the Boy Scouts of America

The men responsible for establishing Scouting in the United States

William D. Boyce

William D. Boyce a successful newspaperman was on a trip to Africa.  He had stopped over in London.  He was aided through the fog by a Boy Scout, he inquired of this guide about Scouting and ended up meeting with Baden-Powell.  His hesitation in the fog that evening and his positive impression of that unknown Scout,  resulted in Boy Scouting coming to the United States.  He and a group of interested citizens incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.  Mr. Boyce left the BSA and founded the Lone Scout program which later combines with the BSA.  Mr. Boyce kept the BSA financially afloat for several years.

Daniel C. Beard

The founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone and the BSA's first National Commissioner.  Mr. Beard combined his Sons of Daniel Boone with the BSA giving the BSA a good membership base.  Baden-Powell consulted with Mr. Beard and Ernest T. Seton on programs for boys prior to his Bronwsea Isle experiment.  Mr. Beard gave the BSA its strong outdoor program.

Ernest T. Seton

The founder of the Woodcraft Indians and the BSA's first Chief Scout.  Seton drafted the first Boy Scout Handbook drawing from his Woodcraft Indians' Birchbark Rolls and Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys.   Seton left the BSA in 1915, but returned in 1930 to guide the implementation of Cub Scouting.  Mr. Seton merged his Woodcraft Indians with the BSA, as Mr. Beard did, helping to establish the core BSA membership.

James E. West

 The first Chief Scout Executive.  Mr. West dedicated 32 years in the service of Scouting.  His strong leadership was key to the success of the BSA.  West had an interesting and challenging life.  He overcame being orphaned at an early age and having a crippled leg to become a successful lawyer.  Mr. West held the job of Executive Secretary and was hired by Mr. Boyce because of his outstanding service as a lawyer specializing in juvenile cases and because of his location in the nations capital.  Later Mr. West change the title to Chief Scout Executive.  Mr. West laid the administrative framework which allowed Scouting in the United States to grow at an incredible rate.  His strong personality and opinions caused rifts with Mr. Boyce and Mr. Seton causing them both to leave BSA.

References:

• Handbook for Boys Fifth Edition Eleventh Printing 1957
• Scout Handbook Eighth Edition First Printing 1972