Awards, Badges and Insignia

INSIGNIA PLACEMENT
During the 1910s, Boy Scouts typically wore their insignia as follows. On the lower right sleeve, Boy Scouts wore a combination of service stripes indicating their years of service. A green stripe stood for one year of service, and a red strip for three years of service. Above the service stripes on the right arm the Scout would display his merit badges. On the left sleeve, the Boy Scout wore his Second or First Class badges, as well as any combination badges. Above the right breast pocket, Boy Scouts (in the last year or two of the 1910s) sometimes wore "Boy Scouts of America" strips, and above the left breast pocket they wore Life, Star and Eagle badges, or any othet special awards they had received. On the flap of the left breast pocket, a new Scout would wear his tenderfoot pin. Finally, on the collar of the jacket Boy Scouts sometimes wore metal "BSA" and troop numeral badges.

Boy Scout jacket.

Early Assistant Scout Master jacket.

Boy Scout jacket.

Early Boy Scout Shirt.

Unofficial False Merit Badge Sleeve, from 1916 Eagle Scout

Official False Merit Badge Sleeve

Unofficial False Merit Badge Sleeve

Collection of Early Insignia

ADULT INSIGNIA
From the very beginning, the Boy Scouts of America was a very structured, professional organization. Just like today, there were many different adult leadership positions within the organization, from the volunteer, part-time Scoutmasters on the local level to the professional Scouters on the national level. Because there were relatively few adult leaders for the number of boys involved, the badges for these early adult positions are scarce.

Early Scout Master Metal Badge.

Early Scout Master Cloth Badge.

Early Assistant Scout Master Metal Badge.

Early Assistant Scout Master Cloth Badge.

Early Scout Commissioner Insignia.

Possibly Local Councilman Insignia?

Early National Staff Insignia.

Early Adult Insignia.

EAGLE SCOUT BADGES
The Boy Scouts of America honored its first Eagle Scout in 1912, just two years after the movement's founding in 1910. Interestingly, according to the requirements as they stood in 1911, any First Class Scout earning twenty-one merit badges was entitled to wear the Eagle Scout badge. No particular merit badges were required.Eagle Scouts during the 1910s received metal badges with ribbons very similar to those given to Eagle Scouts today. The first Eagle Scout badges were manufactured by T.H. Foley from around 1912 until 1916, when a company by the name of Dieges & Clust took over production. Dieges & Clust manufactured Eagle Scout badges for the Boy Scouts of America until 1919. Starting in 1920, the badges were manufactured by the Robbins Co. Eagle Scout badges made by TH Foley, Dieges & Clust and Robbins are very similar. The easiest way to distinguish them is by their markings. TH Foley Eagle Scout badges are signed "TH Foley," Dieges & Clust Eagle Scout badges are signed "Dieges & Clust," and Robbins earliest badges do not bear a manufacturers mark.

Eagle Scout badge, Dieges & Clust.

Eagle Scout badge, Robbins.

STAR SCOUT BADGES
In the 1910s, a Star Scout was ranked higher than a Life Scout. The Boy Scouts of America issued cloth star Scout badges as early as 1913. Prior to then it is unclear what Boy Scouts were awarded, if anything. Beginning in the middle to late 1910s, Star Scouts could purchase star shaped pins to wear when in civilian dress. There were at least variations of Star Scout cloth badges issued in the 1910s, although not quite as easily distinguished from later badges as the Life Scout badges below.

Early Star Scout Cloth Badge.

Early Star Scout Pin, marked Dieges & Clust.

LIFE SCOUT BADGES
In the 1910s, a Life Scout was ranked below a Star Scout. The Boy Scouts of America issued cloth Life Scout badges as early as 1913. Prior to then it is unclear what Boy Scouts were awarded, if anything. Beginning in the middle to late 1910s, Life Scouts could also purchase red enameled heart-shaped pins to wear when in civilian dress. There were two styles of Life Scout cloth badges issued in the 1910s, the first with a small knot inside of the heart and the second with a long, red, hanging knot.

Early Life Scout Cloth Badge.

Early Life Scout Pin. Unmarked, but possibly middle to late 1910s, as it was found with a TH Foley First Class pin.

FIRST CLASS & SECOND CLASS SCOUT BADGES
The Boy Scouts of America recoginzed their first First Class and Second Class Scouts at least as early as 1911, and possibly even in 1910. First Class and Second Class Scouts during the early 1910s received a large, metal badge with a pin fastener to mark their achievement. The pins were worn on the left sleeve, between the wrist and elbow. These pins were manufactured by T.H. Foley, and were used exclusively until approximately 1913. Around the year 1913, the Boy Scouts of America began issuing cloth First Class and Second Class patches to Boy Scouts, which was worn on the same sleeve and in the same position as the pin would have been. The metal pins, however, were still in production for the rest of the decade and beyond (made by T.H. Foley until around 1915, and an unknown manufacturer thereafter), and it is unclear where and when they were worn once the cloth badges became available. Photographic evidence suggests that many Boy Scouts wore the metal badges on the hat, even as early as 1911. To become a Second Class and then a First Class Scout, a Boy Scout needed to pass a number of tests, but no merit badges were required. In fact, a Boy Scout was not allowed to earn merit badges until after he had become a First Class Scout.

T.H. Foley Second Class Metal Badge.

Early Second Class cloth badge.

T.H. Foley First Class Metal Badge.

Early First Class cloth badge.

T.H. Foley First Class Metal Badge, 3 inch, 1911.

First Class Certificate, 1918.

TENDERFOOT BADGES
When a boy joined the Boy Scouts of America during the 1910s, like today, he was inducted as a Tenderfoot. Tenderfoot Scouts during the early 1910s received a small, metal badge with a pin fastener to mark their achievement. The pins were worn on the breast pocket. These pins were manufactured by T.H. Foley, and were used exclusively until approximately 1915. Beginning in 1915, these pins were made by another manufacturer. These later pins were unmarked.

TH Foley Tenderfoot Badge.

Riker Tenderfoot Badge.

COMBINATION RANK AND POSITION BADGE
Beginning in 1916, the Boy Scouts of America began to issue cloth combination rank and position badges. These badges allowed a Boy Scout to indicate as many as three aspects of his status, his rank, his position, and whether he was a patrol leader. If the Scout was a bugler, a bugle was added to the badge, or if the Scout was a scribe, a set of quills were added. If the Scout was a patrol leader, the insignia was rendered in grey/silver thread instead of yellow/gold. The Boy Scouts of America also issued combination metal badges during this period. There were three of these metal badges made, one for Tenderfoot Patrol Leaders, one for Second Class Patrol Leaders, and one for First Class Patrol Leaders.

Tenderfoot Scribe badge.

Tenderfoot Patrol Leader Scribe badge.

Second Class Patrol Leader badge.

Second Class Scribe badge.

Second Class Bugler badge.

First Class Patrol Leader badge.

First Class Patrol Leader Bugler badge.

First Class Scribe badge.

First Class Bugler badge.

Tenderfoot Patrol Leader Metal badge.

First Class Patrol Leader Metal badge.

MERIT BADGES
Once a Boy Scout became a First Class Scout, he could begin working on merit badges. In 1911 there were fifty-six badges described in the Handbook that a Boy Scout could earn, from Agriculture to Taxidermy.

Archery

Aviation

Automobiling

Carpentry

Civics

Craftsmanship

Cycling

Electricity

Firemanship

First Aid to Animals

Forestry

Gardening.

Handicraft.

Life Saving.

Leatherwork.

Marksmanship.

Ornithology.

Pathfinding.

Painting.

Personal Health.

Physical Development.

Poultry.

Public Health.

Scholarship.

Signalling.

Pathfinding Certificate.

Scholarship Certificate.

CONTEST MEDALS AND AWARDS
Boy Scouts in the 1910s often held public rallies or field days to demonstrate their skills to parents and other curious onlookers. Thousands of Boy Scouts and local citizens would converge on some public tract of land in order to watch the competitions and displays. The Boy Scouts with the best performances typically won buttons, trophy's, medals, or plaques to honor their achievements. These demonstrations often took the form of contests, with prizes awarded to the quickest Boy Scouts. These exhibitions provided crucial publicity for the Boy Scouts of America during the early years, allowing them to demonstrate to the public the type of training Boy Scouts received.

Silver Track medal.

Silver Award Medal, 1914.

Bronze Award Medal, 1916.

Bronze award medal.

Silver Award medal.

Silver Track medal.

Gold Track Medal.

Tug of War Medal.

Gold Award Medal.

Silver Award Medal.

Contest Medal in Official Box.

Bronze Signaling Medal.

Silver Signaling Medal.

Gold Signaling Medal.

Silver BSA Award Medal.

Gold Running Medal.

Bronze First Aid Medal.

Silver First Aid Medal.

Gold First Aid Medal.

Bronze Wreath Medal.

Silver Wreath Medal.

Gold Wreath Medal, "Scout Contest", "1917", "First".

Official Boy Scouts of America Contest Medals Manufactured By Dieges & Clust, circa 1915 to 1919. The earlest ones are those in the first row, with the ribbon draped behind the medal. The ones without this "drop ribbon" are generally considered to have been issued in the early 1920s, but I believe they were actually issued beginning in the late 1910s because I have seen one of this style engraved "BSA" and "1919".

BSA Trophy Plaque

Boy Scout "Champion Athlete" Medal, 1911.

Blind Boy Scouts Medal, 1912.

Yonkers, NY, "Rally" Medal, 1914.

Boy Scout Trophy, 1917.

Relay Signalling Contest Ribbon, 1911.

Boy Scout Kite Flying and Aeroplane Contest Trophy, 1915.

Milwaukee Contest Medal, 1917.

California Boy Scouts Scoutcraft Medal, 1917.

Silver Award Medal, "Second Prize", 1916.

Signalling Award.

Boy Scout Merit Award.

Boy Scout Award, Philadelphia.

Field Day button.

Boy Scout Ribbon Bar Pin.

N.J. Rally Award Ribbon, 1916.

Knot Tying Award Ribbon, 1917.

S.S. Barracuda Sea Scout Medal.

Various Locally Issued Awards

Boy Scout relay participant pin, 1913.

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER INSIGNIA

Uniform Strip, very late 1910s.

BSA Collar Badge.

Troop Numeral Collar Badge.

Early Collar Badge.

Troop Numeral Felt Badge.

Patrol Ribbon.

BSA Veteran Patch.

BSA Veteran Badge.

100% Duty Shield.

100% Duty Pin, D&C.

Unknown BSA badge.

Unidentified Boy Scout pin.

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Awards, Badges and Insignia

MERIT BADGES Once a Boy Scout became a First Class Scout, he could begin working on merit badges. In 1911 there were fifty-six badges described in the Handbook that a Boy Scout could earn, from Agriculture to Taxidermy.

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER INSIGNIA

MERIT BADGES
Once a Boy Scout became a First Class Scout, he could begin working on merit badges. In 1911 there were fifty-six badges described in the Handbook that a Boy Scout could earn, from Agriculture to Taxidermy.