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Lone Scouts collection, 1915-1997

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Lone Scouts
Title
Lone Scouts collection
Dates
1915-1997 (inclusive)
Quantity
21 cubic ft. (17 record, 2 document, 7 F-17, 1 F-22 boxes)
Collection Number
08244
Summary
The Lone Scouts were a unique club for isolated rural boys who could not find enough members to form a boy scout troop. Eventually, the club turned into a men’s fraternal organization called the Elbeetian League. The collection contains Lone Scout and Elbeetian League memorabilia, publications, and correspondence.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
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Historical Note

William D. Boyce founded The Lone Scouts of America in 1915. He was the same magazine publisher who founded the Boy Scouts in 1910, but he wanted the Lone Scouts to be independent. By using his network of paper boys, W. D. Boyce was able to distribute his magazine, The Lone Scout, to youngsters in rural areas where there were not enough boys to form a Boy Scout troop. The venture struggled until 1924, when the Boy Scouts absorbed the Lone Scouts organization, which was in financial disarray. By 1927, however, the Lone Scouts was reborn as the Elbeetian Legion because Charles J. Merlin had kept the organization alive through exchanging correspondence and newsletters. With time out for World War II, the informal fraternal organization met faithfully in conventions since 1934. As alumni of the Lone Scouts, they called themselves the Elbeetian Legion after the first initials of a publication called The Lone Beaver Tribune or L.B.T. Many of the Lone Scouts got their start in journalism by writing Lone Scout newsletters.

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Content Description

The Lone Scouts collection contains adult Elbeetian Legion correspondence and some young correspondence from the early Lone Scout pen pal days. Most of the collection, however, consists of copies of the Elbeetee national newsletter and many more copies of local newsletters published from Lone Scout days through the 1990s. The Elbeetee and smaller newsletters such as The Friendly Provoker, or The Old Timer contain short editorials, reminiscences, jokes, compliments and other items that might fit into a small town newspaper Annual LBT Conventions are always heavily promoted. A lot of these materials are included on duplicate microfiche negatives. A complete set of handbooks has been preserved along with examples of medallions, badges and patches. Miscellaneous items include research papers, publicity materials, application forms, membership cards, and so forth.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Lone Scouts collection, 1915-1997, Collection Number 08244, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by the Lone Scouts at the date of processing. For more information about the Lone Scouts at the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, see:

Lloyd C. Haefka Lone Scout papers, Collection Number 08410 Barton Baker papers, Collection Number 09845

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

Many members of the Lone Scouts donated their materials to the American Heritage Center from 1983 to 1997.

Custodial History

Custodial History

Created by combining AHC collections.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by John Hanks in April 2005.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Processed by John Hanks
2006

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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