Figure 1.--American Scouts mostly wore knickers for most Scouting activities in the 1930s. Shorts like the ones worn in most other countries were most commonly wore at camps or at the first National Jamboree held in 1937.

History

The Depression like much else affected the Scouting movement in America during the 1930s. Many boys who might have participated were unable to do so because of the cost. The American Scout movement was relatively small until after World War I (1914-18). The movement grew significantly in the properous 1920s. The War had created interest in Scouting in part through a wave of patriotism. The growth slowed in the early 1930s with the Great Depression, but began to grow again as economic conditions improved during the late 1930s. The new Cubbing progrm proved enormusly successful. For middle class boys Cubbing and Scouting duing the 1930s was virtually a rite of passage. There ere no important uniform changes duing the 1930s. There were, however, changes in the clothing styles that boys wore. By the end of the dcade, fewer boys were wearing knickers abd long pants were becoming more common. Even so, the Scout uniform was only knickers or short pants.

Chronology

American scouting: American Scouts began Cubbing in 1930. The local BSA councils in 1931 presented the first Silver Beaver awards presented by local councils. The Roman Catholic Church in 1931 established the first religious award. The Mortimer L. Schiff Memorial Scout Reservation presented to the BSA in 1932. The BSA in 1933 established the Schiff Scout Reservation. The BSA in 1933 authorized the Exploring and Rovering programs. BSA in 1934 approved the Order of the Arrow. Scouts in 1934 answered President Franklin Roosevelt's request to collect food and clothing for the needy and there were many as the Great Depression ravaged the country. Scouts throughout America in 1935 celebrated the Silver Jubilee (25 years) of American Scouting. The planned first National Jamboree in 1935 was cancelled due to epidemic of infantile paralysis. American Scouting membership in 1935 again passes 1 million. The BSA in 1935 introduced Senior Scouting for older boys. The BSA in 1936 held the first Wood Badge courses following the English syllabus. The BSA in 1936 published a new Handbook For Scoutmasters. Some major events were held during 1937. Scouts held the Scout O-Rama in New York City's Madison Square Garden during March 1936. It looks to have been quite a major event, although we have few details. One of the major events in American Scouting was the National Jamboree. The much anticipated 1st National Jamboree was held in 1937, approrpriately at the national capital in Washington, DC. Waite Phillips in 1938 gave the BSA 36,000 acres in New Mexico for Philburn Rocky Mountain Scout Camp. The Philburn Camp and it opens in 1939. The BSA added Air Scouting in 1939. The World's Fair was held in New York in 1939. The Boy Scouts assisted with the Fair in a variety of ways. AxService Camp was set up for the Scouts assisting at the Fair which was called the Service Camp. A special patch was issued for the participating Scouts. We note both Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts participating.

The Uniform

The American Boy Scout uniform did not change significantly in the 1930s. There was, however, a major development. The Cubbing program was added by the BSA in the 1930s. The BSA decided to make the style of the Cub uniform similar to the Scout uniform, but to differentiate by color. This was a different approach than in Bitain where Cubbing and Scouting originated. The British Scout Association had made the two uniforms entirely different. This was done so the Scout uniform would not look childish, something the older boys would not like. The BSA in America decided to essentially have the same style of uniform, but to achieve the deifferentiation through color. The only basic difference between the Cub and Scout uniform was the headwear.