The First National Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America took place in 1937. Originally scheduled to take place in 1935 to celebrate their silver jubilee, an outbreak of polio in Washington, D.C. and the neighboring states, caused it to be canceled and pushed back, finally taking place from June 30 to July 9, 1937. Twenty-five thousand scouts attended the event taking place on the National Mall at the foot of the Washington Monument using equipment loaned by the United States Army. Scouts from all around the United States arrived by train, while representatives of several foreign countries' scouting groups traveled by boat and even by foot. The event was celebrated by the entire city with Federal buildings being opened for visits, Mount Vernon offering daily visits, and many local residents volunteering their time. U.S. President Roosevelt took part in the celebration and a special message from Lord Baden-Powell was broadcast from London to the scouts during the jamboree calling for International Friendship. It was a display of American patriotism with American flags on display; the event took place in the American capital in front of the White House during the week of the 4th of July.
Background Cancellation of 1935 event
In 1935, a Jamboree was scheduled to take place from August 21 to August 30, 1935, in Washington, DC. 25,000 scouts were expected to attend.Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 01 Aug. 1935. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1935-08-01/ed-1/seq-10/> However, the area was seeing an increase in cases of "Infantile paralysis" (Polio) with 20 new cases reported in Virginia on July 31, 1935. Federal and State officials gathered to evaluate the situation and decide whether to cancel the Jamboree.The Washington Times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 31 July 1935. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1935-07-31/ed-1/seq-21/> It is finally decided that the event should be canceled to protect the health of the scouts. By then preparations for the events were well on the way and it was not until August 8, 1935, that they halted by President Roosevelt. A year's postponement was called for rather than a cancellation. The President had personally been affected by Polio 14 years earlier.Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 09 Aug. 1935. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1935-08-09/ed-1/seq-1/> The cost of the event for 1935 was estimated to be $650,000 and would be covered by insurance, including refunding the scouts their $25. However, many scouts from overseas were already on their way. The disassembling of the 1400 tents already set up would be overseen by the US Army who had loaned the tents left over from World War I.Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 09 Aug. 1935. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1935-08-09/ed-1/seq-4/> In the end, the insurance paid $250,000 to the National Council to be used for the next Jamboree.Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 11 Dec. 1935. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1935-12-11/ed-1/seq-19/>
Radio address by President Roosevelt
On February 8, 1936, President Roosevelt made a radio address to the Boy Scouts promoting scouting and appealing to older scouts. At the end of his message, he announced that the jamboree would take place in the early summer of 1937.Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 09 Feb. 1936. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1936-02-09/ed-1/seq-3/>
Breakfast with Congressional leaders Ahead of the First National Jamboree, a breakfast took place on May 21, 1937, at the Senate restaurant gathering Senators and Representatives along with Boy Scout leaders.
In attendance were: Sol Bloom, Representative from New York William Gibbs McAdoo, Senator of California and honorary vice-president of the Boy Scouts of America William B. Bankhead, Speaker of the House Daniel C. Roper, Secretary of Commerce James E. West, head of the Boy Scouts in the District Colin H. Livingstone, first President of the Boy Scouts of AmericaEvening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 21 May 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-05-21/ed-1/seq-4/>
All in attendance were or had been associated with the Boy Scouts of America. Speeches were made on the importance of scouting and the scout salute was made next to official Jamboree poster.The Washington Times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 21 May 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1937-05-21/ed-1/seq-2/>
Official poster
The Lithography by Howard Chandler Christy which would be used as the Jamboree Poster was presented in May 1937. The poster featured a Boy Scout in a brown uniform with a yellow neckerchief with his hat in his left hand sitting on grass at the edge of a cliff. Behind were the founding fathers with George Washington's hand on the boy's right shoulder along with the United States Capitol. Behind them all was a flying American flag. Next to the Scout is an open book with "1787-1937" written on the left page and "The Constitution of the United States of America" written on the right page.
1937 First National Jamboree The first national jamboree was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. occupying 350 acres for ten days from June 30 to July 9, 1937, attended by 25,000 Scouts. Region campsites were set up around the Washington Monument and Tidal Basin.
Logistics
Most arrived by train coming in Union Station. Most of the railroads had agreed to reduce their fares to 1 cent per mile in coach for scouts and their leaders when traveling in parties of 10 or more. An additional 25 cents would be charged to transport their camp gear several city blocks from the train station to the Mall.Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 11 April 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-04-11/ed-1/seq-27/> On June 29 alone, 64 special trains arrived in the city just for the Jamboree.Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 29 June 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-06-29/ed-1/seq-1/> The first group of 5,000 Scouts mostly from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia arrived on June 26.The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 26 June 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1937-06-26/ed-1/seq-3/> The last group arrived in the evening of June 29 from Santa Rosa, California.The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 29 June 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1937-06-29/ed-1/seq-1/>
The US Army provided most of the equipment for the Jamboree: 3,901 tents (1,835 16x16 "pyram" tents, 1,800 small 9x9, 140 16x50, 30 14x14 usually used by Army Chaplains and 126 40x80) 400 mattresses 20,000 cots 20,000 bed sacks 16,000 blankets 29,000 canteens, 195 Army field ranges 125 flags 9,000 meat platters 1,600 rakes 3,200 shovels 1,000 hand axes 854 sterilizing bags 40 field telephone unites 900 coffee pots 1,632 of each for butcher knives, cook spoons and meat forks 13,000 serving spoonsEvening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 03 July 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-07-03/ed-1/seq-5/>
If the tents were placed end to end, it would cover one square mile. The Boy Scouts of America were to return everything at the end of the Jamboree and would cover any damage to the equipment. The equipment was sourced from Army posts in a 100-mile radius of Washington, D.C. as well as from Columbus, Ohio, New York City and Philadelphia
To feed the scouts and their leaders, 25 kitchens were set up on the Jamboree grounds. From there, the 816 provisional troops would get their food and take them back to their troop dining tents in thermos cans. It was estimated that 250 tons of food would be consumed daily including 900 bushels of potatoes, 13,000 pounds of bread, 50,000 eggs and 1,200 gallons of canned vegetables would be used at each meal. 25,000 quarts of milk would be drunk while 4,000 pounds of butter would be consumed daily.The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 25 June 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1937-06-25/ed-1/seq-3/> According to an advertisement by Melvin Ice Cream in the local newspaper, 1,071 gallons of their ice cream were served at each meal, representing 30,000 service a day.Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 28 June 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-06-28/ed-1/seq-7/> In total, 100,000 meals were served every day served on paper plates. Each scout was responsible for bringing and cleaning their own silverware.Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 27 June 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-06-27/ed-1/seq-45/>
There were two shower houses with 18 large high-powered sprays for every group of 1,250 boys.
Five theater tents were set up for Scout talent shows. On the first day of the Jamboree, 25 campfires were set up.
75 doctors, 75 male hospital assistants, and 3 dentists volunteered their time for the Jamboree to men the 20 stations on-site to treat cuts, bruises, cases of sunburns and do a few teeth extractions.Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 01 July 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-07-01/ed-1/seq-24/> One hundred beds were reserved for the occasion at the Marine Hospital and two American Red Cross ambulances were on duty 24/7 in case of sickness or accident. The fear of polio that had led to the cancellation of the 1935 Jamboree was still present.
Personal communications
Telephones and two telegraphs were set up on the grounds so parents could easily reach their children.
The Washington Post Office handled thousands of extra pieces of mail a day from the Scouts and their parents. This was the most mail they had encountered for any convention. A Camp Post Office was set up with branches in every section of the camp. Several mail trucks were called every day.Jamboree Tops Mail Loads Of Conventions Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 09 July 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-07-09/ed-1/seq-6/> Valley Forge Council used three homing pigeon on three separate journeys to send messages from the Jamboree to Norristown, Pennsylvania, taking only 3 hours and each time the birds were returned to camp by train in the custody of a Pigeon fancier.Pigeons Kept Busy - A-6 -Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 09 July 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-07-09/ed-1/seq-6/>
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