Original 57 merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)

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 forest 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.

Original 57 merit badges of the Boy Scouts of America

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 badge Subject matter Original Logo Status
AgricultureAgriculturePlowMerged into Plant Science, 1975
AnglingAngling, FishingFishRenamed Fishing in 1952
ArcheryArcheryBow and Arrow
ArchitectureArchitectureArchLogo used continuously for 100 years
ArtArtPaletteLogo used continuously for 100 years
AstronomyAstronomyStar
AthleticsAthleticsWingfootLogo used continuously for 100 years
AutomobilingAutomobile safetyRed WheelExists today as Traffic Safety
AviationAviationAirplane
Bee FarmingBeekeepingBeeDiscontinued 1995
BlacksmithingBlacksmithingAnvilReplaced by metalworking
BuglingBuglingBugleLogo used continuously for 100 years
BusinessBusinessCrossed quillsRenamed American Business in 1966.
CampingCampingTepee
CarpentryCarpentryPlanePartially replaced by Woodwork, 1952. Carpentry introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.
ChemistryChemistryRetort flaskLogo used continuously for 100 years
CivicsCitizenshipFacesRenamed Citizenship, later split into Home, Community, Nation, and World
ConservationConservationForestExists today as Fish and Wildlife Management and Environmental Science
CookingCookingCooking utensils
CraftsmanshipArtisanCalipersSplit into various Building and Handicraft merit badges
CyclingCyclingWhite Wheel
DairyingDairy farmingButter ChurnMerged into Animal Science, 1975
ElectricityElectricityLightning BoltLogo used continuously for 100 years
FiremanshipFire safetyCrossed nozzlesRenamed Fire Safety in 1995
First AidFirst aidCrossLogo used continuously for 100 years
First Aid to AnimalsVeterinary medicineCross w/DogRenamed Veterinary Medicine
ForestryForestryPine Cone
GardeningGardeningEar of Corn
HandicraftHandicraftHammer and PlungerSplit into various Building and Handicraft merit badges
HorsemanshipEquestrianismHorseshoe
InterpretingInterpretingHandshakeDiscontinued 1952
InventionInventingGearDiscontinued 1915
LeatherworkingLeatherworkingLeather StampRenamed Leatherwork
LifesavingLifesavingLife preserverLogo used continuously for 100 years
MachineryMachineryWrenchDiscontinued 1995
MarksmanshipShootingTargetSplit into Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting
MasonryMasonryTrowelDiscontinued in 1995
MiningMiningShovelRenamed Geology
MusicMusicLyreLogo used continuously for 100 years
OrnithologyOrnithologyHummingbirdWas originally required for Eagle, replaced by Bird Study
PaintingPaintPaintbrushLogo used continuously for 100 years
PathfindingOrienteeringIndian HeadReplaced by Orienteering. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.
Personal HealthPhysical FitnessHeartReplaced by Personal Fitness in 1952
PhotographyPhotographyCamera
PioneeringPioneering
PlumbingPlumbingFaucetLogo used continuously for 100 years
Poultry FarmingPoultryRoosterMerged into Animal Science, 1975
PrintingPrintingPrinting PressMerged into Graphic Arts, 1987
Public HealthPublic HealthTorchLogo used continuously for 100 years
ScholarshipScholarshipTorch & BookLogo used continuously for 100 years
SculptureSculptureHead
SeamanshipBoatingAnchorSplit into Motorboating and Small Boat Sailing, 1964
SignalingSemaphoreSemaphore FlagsDiscontinued in 1992. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.
StalkingTrackingRaccoonDiscontinued 1952. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge, and renamed Tracking
SurveyingSurveyingTelescope
SwimmingHuman swimmingMan Swimming
TaxidermyTaxidermyTalonDiscontinued in 1952

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

See also
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