Guide to the Sacramento Boy Scouts Troop 1 records

Amanda G. DeWilde

Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library

828 I Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 264-2976

Fax: (916) 264-2884

Email: sacroom@saclibrary.org

URL: http://www.saclibrary.org

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento Room

Title: Sacramento Boy Scouts Troop 1 records

Identifier/Call Number: MC 50

Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (1 Archival Box)

Physical Description: .5 Terabytes

Date (inclusive): 1917-2006

Abstract: Founded in 1916, Troop 1 of the Sacramento Boy Scouts of America has prepared hundreds of Sacramento youths through outdoor activities, leadership training and community service. This collection is comprised of records of the local organization dating from around the time of its incorporation to the present.

Historical Note

In March 1916, a group of boys at First Methodist Church at 21st and J Streets in Sacramento applied to the newly-formed national Boy Scouts of America to form the area's first incorporated scouting unit – Troop 1. W. George Spilman served as the group's scoutmaster and First Methodist Church sponsored the group. In October 1920, the Sacramento Council formed to govern and support troops in the area. The Council later expanded to encompass most of Northern California and was renamed Golden Empire Council in 1937.

The 1930s was a period of great growth for Troop 1 in Sacramento. Wesley Hetherington, who served as Scoutmaster from 1932 to 1938, was instrumental in developing the troop and in 1937 oversaw the construction of Camp Cody, the troop's private encampment in the Sierras near Echo Summit. When a new lodge was dedicated at Camp Cody in 1960, it bore his name. Camp Cody's first director was Robert McCurry of McCurry Foto Co. in Sacramento. Both Robert and his brother, Harold McCurry, were scouts under Hetherington and eventually went on to earn the distinction of Distinguished Eagle Scout in 1976, the first brothers to do so. Also in the 1930s, the Troop 1 Mother's Club began hosting dinners, cake sales and shows to raise funds for scout camps and activities.

Following a period of rapid growth, Troop 1 experienced declining membership into the late-1940s and 1950s. In 1946, Ben Ali Temple of the Shrine took over sponsorship, and soon after, the group temporarily moved its meeting location. In the 1956, Troop 1 celebrated its 40th anniversary with an alumni reunion featuring hundreds of former scouts and almost all previous scoutmasters. The troop would host similar celebrations every ten years in the decades to come. Around 1958, the troop started an Explorer Post catering to older scouts. Under the leadership of George Morrow in the early 1960s, Troop 1 began to grow again. Morrow was awarded the Outstanding Eagle Award at the troop's centennial celebration in 2016. By then, the troop had claimed more than 1,700 boys as members, 416 of whom earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Sacramento Boy Scouts of America Troop 1 records, MC 50, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised of the records of Sacramento Boy Scouts Troop 1 dating from around the time of its incorporation to the present. It includes administrative records, troop anniversary program materials; scripts and programs from investiture ceremonies; records and ephemera from Camp Pollock and Camp Cody; issues of the troop newsletter, Spigot; news clippings profiling Troop 1 members and activities; film reels with club activities from 1932 to 2006; and 7,606 digital files comprised of images and oral histories covering decades of troop history.

Administrative Series I 1917-2000

Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet4 Archival Folders

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of records documenting the administration of Troop 1 and includes the Boys Scouts of America Constitution and By-Laws, 1917; Boy Scouts of America charter for Troop 1 granted to Ben Ali Temple AAONMS, 2000; lists of scoutmasters up to 1976; Troop 1 Philosophy & Operating Guidelines, n.d.; copies of troop enrollment forms, 1920-1940 and additional enrollments forms, 1967-1968; alumni lists; and rosters, including scouts and leadership, 1931-1969.

Anniversaries Series II 1966-1986

Scope and Contents

This series is primarily comprised of correspondence with scouts, scout leaders, committee members and elected officials regarding the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversary celebrations (1966, 1976 and 1986). Also included are anniversary celebration programs and related ephemera.

Court of Honor and Tenderfoot Investiture Ceremonies Series III 1967-1976

Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet1 Archival Folder

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of undated scripts for Court of Honor and Tenderfoot Investiture ceremonies along with Court of Honor programs from 1968 and 1976, and a list of merit badges awarded at a Court of Honor ceremony in 1967.

Camps Series IV 1937-1973

Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet1 Archival Folder

Scope and Contents

This series includes records and ephemera from Camp Cody, Camp Pollock and other camporee events. It is comprised of correspondence; a Long Term Camp Notice application from 1954; Camp Cody flyers for parents, 1946, 1954; Camp Cody ribbons; Camp Cody Committee meeting minutes, 1973; a sketch of Camp Cody lodges; a plank donors certificate for funding Camp Cody lodges; and plans for a stage at Camp Pollock.

Spigot newsletter Series V 1939-1946

Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet1 Archival Folder

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of issues of the Troop 1 scout newsletter published from November 1939 to June 1946.

Newspaper clippings Series VI 1962-1976

Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet1 Archival Folder

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of news clippings, the bulk from the Sacramento Bee, covering Troop One activities in the 1960s and 1970s.

Photographs and film Series VII 1932-2006

Physical Description: 3 Reels

Physical Description: 561 Gigabytes

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of films documenting troop activities from 1932 to 2006 and images and oral histories in digital form covering both the history of Troop One and Camp Cody. All films and images have been digitized to a Seagate 1 TB external hard drive that is enclosed.