Description:

Baden-Powell Robert



Robert Baden-Powell, Excellent ALS Re: Boy Scouts

 

3pp autograph letter signed by Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941), career soldier and Founder of the Boy Scouts, as "Robert Baden Powell" at the bottom of the third page. Written at Woodleigh in East London, South Africa on February 19, 1927. On his imprinted bifold stationery. Expected wear including paper folds, minor chipped edges, and isolated stains. A 1.5" long closed tear along the well-worn central vertical fold. Else very good to near fine. 5.125" x 8".

 

Robert Baden-Powell wrote his correspondent Lt. Col. Smedley Williams in part:

 

"Just a line to thank you and congratulate you on the success of the Rally today. I was very pleased with all that I saw, and I hope that it will have done a lot of good both in and for the movement.

 

If you have any campaigns in contemplation either for getting Scouters or funds or for opening up new troops or new districts now is the time to do it, while the iron is hot, & proper & Press are interested.

 

I shall be off for my holiday early tomorrow, and look forward to seeing you on Wed.

 

I will write you a letter thus giving any criticisms or suggestions that may have occurred to me, such as you can publish or not to your Scouters or the public as you may feel inclined.

 

Perhaps you will let me know here on Wed. whither there are any special points to which you would like me to draw attention.

 

Meantime don't forget

 

1. Ideas for readjustment of boundaries

2. Effect of Scouting in a school.

3. Educational value of jamborees.

4. List of Scouters & Troops.

etc. etc. etc."

 

In September 1926, Robert Baden-Powell travelled to South Africa, where he remained for six months, hoping to iron out the racial tensions in the fledgling scouting movement there. Originally, it was proposed that Indians be allowed to become Scouts, but in segregated troops.  If this worked, then blacks and “coloureds” would be formed into troops. However, this was unacceptable to Scouts in the Transvaal, where a separate movement for non-whites, called “Pathfinders,” had been instituted.  For some, Scouting was to be a whites-only privilege. In 1927, Natal refused to start a “Pathfinder” group and began to register Indians as Boy Scouts.  Similarly, the provincial commissioner for Cape Colony, C. L. Mansergh, decided to ignore a separate organization for “coloureds” called “Paladins” on the grounds that if he recognized them, the Boy Scouts would remain an all-white preserve. Clearly, Robert Baden-Powell faced a difficult situation with each side lobbying for his support.  His efforts at compromise proved futile as, in 1931, the South African government created a youth movement for boys of Dutch descent – the Voortrekkers.

 

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