Uniformed Youth Group Biography: Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941)

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Daniel Carter Beard, American illustrator and naturalist, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had a notable career as an illustrator. He was one of the founders (1910) of the Boy Scouts of America, he served for the remainder of his life as national scout commissioner. To boys all over the country he was known as Uncle Dan. Mt. Beard, adjoining Mt. McKinley, is named for him. He had an unusually diverse career that brought him into national prominence as an illustrator, reformer, naturalist, and co-founder of the Boy Scouts of America. The son of painter James H. Beard, he and two of his brothers, Frank and James C. Beard, became prominent New York-based illustrators and cartoonists after establishing a shared studio in 1878. Dan's illustrations appeared in many of the popular periodicals of the time. Among reformers of the late 19th century and early 20th century, Beard was well-known as an early and active supporter of the Single Tax Movement inspired by Henry George's 1879 book Progress and Poverty. Most of the illustrations presented here reflect that interest. Daniel Carter Beard founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905 and his colorful personality and leadership played an important part in the early American Boy Scout movement.

Childhood

Daniel Carter Beard was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1850 but grew up in Covington, Kentucky where he learned the many tales of Daniel Boone and the American pioneers.The son of painter, James H. Beard, had two of his brothers, Frank and James C.

Education

He graduated from Wallace's Academy, as a civil engineer and surveyor. He subsequently studied at the Art Students League, New York City.

Career

Daniel Carter Beard had an unusually diverse career that brought him into national prominence as an illustrator, reformer, naturalist, and co-founder of the Boy Scouts of America. He made insurance maps until he visited New York on vacation and stayed to study art. Dan's illustrations appeared in many of the popular periodicals of the time. Beard and his brothers became prominent New York-based illustrators and cartoonists after establishing a shared studio in 1878. His illustrations and articles graced the pages of St. Nicholas Magazine (where Jungle Book and Little Lord Fauntleroy first appeared) and Youth's Companion. These articles and accompanying illustrations were later compiled into books. Beard taught art from 1883 to 1890 at the Women's School of Applied Design. He illustrated many books (among them the first edition of Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court) and taught animal drawing. He was the president of the Society of Illustrators and of the Camp Fire Club. Near Mt. McKinley in Alaska is Mt. Beard that was named in his honor.

Reformer

Among reformers of the late 19th century and early 20th century, Beard was well-known as an early and active supporter of the Single Tax Movement inspired by Henry George's 1879 book Progress and Poverty. Most of the illustrations presented here reflect that interest.

Youth Groups

Beard became interested in work for boys. He was a strong proponent of youth groups, especially those that got the boys involved in healthy outdoor activities and promoted patritism.

The Society of the Sons of Daniel Boone

Beard founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905 even before Lord Baden Powell founded the English Boy Scouts. He desired to keep alive the spirit of the pioneers. His group was formerly called "The Society of the Sons of Daniel Boone". This group grew to become the largest pre-Scout boy's club in America. It developed into "The Boy Pioneers" in 1905. His writings on the group appeared in Recreation magazine for which he was an Editor. The boys were encouraged to keep an old unloaded gun as part of their fort. A fort was a brandh of the club. The forts would keep records of their good deeds in protecting forests and wildlife by cutting notches in their gun stocks. The boys chanted: "Cut a notch, cut a notch, cut a notch soon, for we are the Sons of Daniel Boone." The Pioneers were eventually merged into the Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts

Beard played an important part in the early American Boy Scout movement. He was a recognized woodsman, illustrator, and naturalist and thus was a valuable contributor to the fledgling movement. Beard was in many ways the pioneering spirit of the BSA. Although he was 60 years old when the BSA was founded, he quickly embraced the Scouting movement. He merged his own Sons of Daniel Boone with the BSA. The Scouts that knew him called him "Uncle Dan". He stood out from the crowd due to his snow-white moustache and goatee and buckskins that he wore. He was appointed the BSA's first National Commissioner and Chairman of the Court of Honor. He received the only gold Eagle badge ever awarded and the Roosevelt gold medal for distinguished service

Camp Fire

Beard's sister Lina was a founder of the Camp Fire Girls. He became the president of the Camp Fire Club.

Uniforms

Beard as the first BSA national Scout commissioner, helped design the original Boy Scout uniform and introduced the elements of the First Class Scout badge. It was his idea to Americanize the Boy Scout fleur-de-lis by adding the American eagle and shield. His design for the emblem was granted a design patent by the U.S. patent office on July 4, 1911.

Cubbing

Like Chief Scout James West, Beard was originally against a younger boy program for Scouting and felt the term "Cub" derogatory. Beard thought that younger boys were not yet ready for a rigorous Scouting program and that admitting younger boys would make the program less attractive for older boys. Given his attachment to guns--this may have been a good isea. His opposition was one reason that the BSA postponed for years the adoption of a Cub proram. Largely for this reason Cubbing was delayed in America until 1930 even thiugh it was very successful in other countries. Today Cubbing is the BSA's most popular program.

Books

Beard was a prlific writer. His best-known book, The American Boys’ Handy Book, was published in 1882. In addition to many articles on woodcraft and nature study, Beard wrote Boy Pioneers and Sons of Daniel Boone (1909), American Boys’ Book of Wild Animals (1921), and Wisdom of the Woods (1927). Beard's books included the following: American Boy's Handy Book, 1882, 1903 The American Girl's Handy Book, 1887 The American Boy's Book of Sport, 1890 Moonlight and Six Feet of Romance, 1892 The Outdoor Handy Book , 1896 Jack of All Trades, 1900, 1904? Field and Forest Handy Book, 1906 Animal Book and Campfire Stories, 1907 Boy Pioneers and Sons of Daniel Boone, 1909 Boat, Building, and Boating, 1912 Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties, 1914 , The American Boy's Book of Bugs, Butterflies and Beetles, 1916 The American Boy's Book of Sign's, Signals and Symbols, 1918 The American Boy's Book of Camp-Lore and Woodcraft, 1920 The American Boy's Book of Wild Animals, 1921 The Black Wolf-Pack , 1922, American Boy's Book or Birds and Brownies of the Woods, 1923 Do It Yourself, 1925 Wisdom of the Woods, 1926, 1927? Buckskin Book For Buckskin Men and Boys, 1929 Hardly A Man is Now Alive, 1939