The Silver Eagle: A History of Eagle Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America, 1908-2024

Abstract

This thesis explores the national history of Eagle Scouts from 1910 to 2024 and details the first individuals that earned the award in the 1910s. The chapters are split into two major sections into the national history and 1910s Eagle Scouts. Two of the major reoccurring themes in the history of Eagle Scouts involve the concepts of microcosm and representation. Eagle Scouts share a distinctive connection to American society, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Scouting Movement in the United States. At the heart of major events and stories, Eagle Scouts participate as significant actors and leaders that influence the activities and outcomes throughout the course of history. This thesis demonstrates the significance and historical reach of Eagle Scouts by exploring the group’s impact on American society in the national history and how these individuals became crucial to the Boy Scouts of America’s activities in the 1910s.