Original 57 merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)

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Original 57 merit badges of the Boy Scouts of America
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In 1911, 57 merit badges were issued by the Boy Scouts of America. Many of them exist to this day and are listed below in green. [1] Many of the others have been discontinued or reintroduced with different names. Of the discontinued original merit badges, four were offered in 2010 as part of the Boy Scouts of America centennial. These merit badges are listed in beige.

Contents

Soon after the introduction of merit badges, the ranks of Life, Star, and Eagle were created to recognize the earning of merit badges; Star was moved before Life in 1924.

Original merit badges

Merit badgeSubject matterOriginal LogoStatus
Agriculture Agriculture PlowMerged into Plant Science, 1975
Angling Angling, Fishing FishRenamed Fishing in 1952
Archery Archery Bow and Arrow
Architecture Architecture ArchLogo used continuously for 100 years
Art Art PaletteLogo used continuously for 100 years
Astronomy Astronomy Star
Athletics Athletics WingfootLogo used continuously for 100 years
Automobiling Automobile safety Red WheelExists today as Traffic Safety
Aviation Aviation Airplane
Bee Farming Beekeeping BeeDiscontinued 1995
Blacksmithing Blacksmithing AnvilReplaced by metalworking
Bugling Bugling BugleLogo used continuously for 100 years
Business Business Crossed quillsRenamed American Business in 1966.
Camping Camping Tepee
Carpentry Carpentry PlanePartially replaced by Woodwork, 1952. Carpentry introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.
Chemistry Chemistry Retort flaskLogo used continuously for 100 years
Civics Citizenship FacesRenamed Citizenship, later split into Home, Community, Nation, and World
Conservation Conservation ForestExists today as Fish and Wildlife Management and Environmental Science
Cooking Cooking Cooking utensils
Craftsmanship Artisan CalipersSplit into various Building and Handicraft merit badges
Cycling Cycling White Wheel
Dairying Dairy farming Butter ChurnMerged into Animal Science, 1975
Electricity Electricity Lightning BoltLogo used continuously for 100 years
Firemanship Fire safety Crossed nozzlesRenamed Fire Safety in 1995
First Aid First aid CrossLogo used continuously for 100 years
First Aid to Animals Veterinary medicine Cross w/DogRenamed Veterinary Medicine
Forestry Forestry Pine Cone
Gardening Gardening Ear of Corn
Handicraft Handicraft Hammer and PlungerSplit into various Building and Handicraft merit badges
Horsemanship Equestrianism Horseshoe
Interpreting Interpreting HandshakeDiscontinued 1952
Invention Inventing GearDiscontinued 1915
Leatherworking Leatherworking Leather StampRenamed Leatherwork
Lifesaving Lifesaving Life preserverLogo used continuously for 100 years
Machinery Machinery WrenchDiscontinued 1995
Marksmanship Shooting TargetSplit into Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting
Masonry Masonry TrowelDiscontinued in 1995
Mining Mining ShovelRenamed Geology
Music Music LyreLogo used continuously for 100 years
Ornithology Ornithology HummingbirdWas originally required for Eagle, replaced by Bird Study
Painting Paint PaintbrushLogo used continuously for 100 years
Pathfinding Orienteering Indian HeadReplaced by Orienteering. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.
Personal Health Physical Fitness HeartReplaced by Personal Fitness in 1952
Photography Photography Camera
Pioneering Pioneering Pick and Ax
Plumbing Plumbing FaucetLogo used continuously for 100 years
Poultry Farming Poultry RoosterMerged into Animal Science, 1975
Printing Printing Printing PressMerged into Graphic Arts, 1987
Public Health Public Health TorchLogo used continuously for 100 years
Scholarship Scholarship Torch & BookLogo used continuously for 100 years
Sculpture Sculpture Head
Seamanship Boating AnchorSplit into Motorboating and Small Boat Sailing, 1964
Signaling Semaphore Semaphore FlagsDiscontinued in 1992. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge. Reinstated again in 2015 as Signs, Signals, and Codes
Stalking Tracking RaccoonDiscontinued 1952. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge, and renamed Tracking
Surveying Surveying Telescope
Swimming Human swimming Man Swimming
Taxidermy Taxidermy TalonDiscontinued in 1952

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References

  1. Duersch Jr., Fred (2003). Merit Badge Field Guide. Downs Printing Inc. pp. i–xi.

See also