The Boy Scout Movement was founded by British Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Scouting's first manual was both written and illustrated by Baden-Powell in 1908. The early American troops took their cues from Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys because there was no semblance of a national movement in the United States. The YMCA men who started most of the early troops saw Boy Scouting merely as a promising adjunct to their programs for boys. Millionaire Chicago publisher William Dickson Boyce became involved in Scouting in 1909. He was visiting London in August of that year. One afternoon, the city was enshrouded in pea-soup fog. Boyce lost his bearings in the murk and was approached by a boy of about 12 carrying a lantern who offered to guide him to the address he was seeking. When Boyce produced a shilling, the boy replied, "No, sir, I am a Scout. Scouts do not accept tips for Good Turns."
The unknown Scout took Boyce to British Scout headquarters. From that moment forward, Boyce's interest in Scouting grew. Boyce came home determined to start Boy Scouting in America. He apparently knew nothing of the troops already operating or of the YMCA's promotion of Scouting.
On February 8, 1910, Boyce filed incorporation papers for the Boy Scouts of America in the District of Columbia. The purpose, he said, "Shall be to promote, through organization, and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods which are in common use by Boy Scouts."
It did not take long for the Movement to move South. The first Boy Scout Troop started in the City of Atlanta was organized in the early months of 1911. A campaign was held in July of 1916 raising about $4,000 to form a local council. By the end of 1916, the Boy Scouts of America had a chartered local council in Atlanta, Georgia. Negotiations were completed whereby Allen A. Jameson was selected as the first Scout Executive of the Atlanta Council. He was the co-author of the first National Hand Book for Boys.
The new Boy Scouts of America quickly established a national office, developed a temporary handbook, sought out Baden-Powell's endorsement (which they got), and began to work to get a Congressional Charter from the US Congress (which they got in 1916).
Still today, Scouts are guided by the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law, having come to the aid of their neighbors and communities in ways both large and small. Whether it's planting victory gardens, promoting literacy or donor awareness, or coming to the aid of disasters victims, the Boy Scouts of America built a tradition of service that helped shape the nation.