Tony Woodlief has a great article on the evolution of the Boy Scout Handbook,
Boy, the Scout Handbook Keeps Changing
While the Boy Scout Law (“A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful . . .”) has scarcely changed, the Boy Scout handbook has seen numerous revisions since that first volume made its way into eager young hands. In addition to the 1910 original (it was a temporary guide until the 1911 “first” edition could be produced), there are 12 handbook editions. Nearly 40 million copies of the handbook have been sold since its inception.
The handbook has evolved as the Scouts have evolved in the last century.
As friends know, my family is very involved in the Scouts, and I have the great honor of being the mother of an Eagle Scout, so it’s great news to hear that Tony and his sons will be taking part in the Scouts experience.
Eagle Scout! Very impressive. Good for him.
Every time I had to move in the last 50 years I always find my Boy Scout Handbook and all my merit badges in a metal boxan debate whether to throw them all away. And every time I got the book out, read it again and then put it back into the box. It appears that I will never just toss my 1955 edition away even if the ends of the pages are curled and some of the pages are stuck together from dropping a 50/50 bar on it.