The 1969 National Boy Scout Jamboree Farragut State Park, Idaho Page 1
The Jamboree headed
west to Farragut State Park, in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho.
Farragut State Park had hosted the 1967 World Jamboree. Visiting the
Rocky Mountains would be a great adventure to most Scouts. It was a
long way from the east coat, but with many interesting places to
visit enroute. The 1969 Jamboree was smaller, 34,000 Scouts with an
estimated 50,000 visitors. I was surprised at the low number of
visitors, but that’s the published number. The Jamboree theme was
Building to Serve. Richard Nixon was President of the USA but did
not visit the 1969 Jamboree. He had visited in 1950 and 1953 as V.
P. Special acknowledgement to Conrad Auel of Pennsylvania. The “dean” of 1969 collecting for his assistance. The weather was ideal, not a drop of rain, although some trails had to be closed because of fire danger. On July 20th the Apollo 11 mission the command module was circling the moon and men landed on the moon. The Jamboree had three huge screens in the Arena where Scouts watched the moon landing. |
Scouts received two embroidered pocket badges and neckerchiefs, an ID card and baggage tags. |
In the embroidery process small differences
can often be attributed to the needle embroidering on top of
embroidery. Also “registration” the position or tension on the loom
can sometimes be responsible for details like the deer's ear and
antlers touching the trees leaves. But with noticeable different
backings it’s my belief that these badges were made from different
embroidery looms, and probably different manufacturer. There is a
plastic back variety that was issued as part of the 1973
reproduction set. It’s most similar to Type A only with a plastic
back. Its been my policy to describe differences and let people
collect what they wish. It appears that insignia from the 1969 Jamboree was more limited than at previous or later Jamboree’s. There is a notation in the souvenir booklet that near the end of the Jamboree surplus pocket and back patches and neckerchiefs would be sold only to registered participants. It was necessary to have your Jamboree ID card punched to prevent Scouts from purchasing multiples. |
The non fully embroidered 3” round is often identified as a protype, but it seems to have been more widely distributed than most. They were available at the Jamboree and I’ve been told that some were presented to staff members for exceptional service. Note the background is not fully embroider. |
Cut edge border Private Issue made in the orient or prototype? A similar Medical Staff private issues has a Caduceus. I suspect that the badge without the Caduceus is from that source. Some believe the cut edge to be a prototype, but all national prototypes were made by USA manufacturers on Swiss embroidery looms. An oriental badge with a cut edge does not fit the national prototype pattern. |
There was a shortage of Adventure Awards for the 1964 Jamboree and the problem was repeated in 1969. There are two varieties of the Building to Serve strip. Type A, was issued at the Jamboree. More Scouts participated than expected. The B variety, was supplied after the Jamboree. It appears that like in 1964 the strips were to be sent to Scouts that earned it, but in many cases that didn’t happen. Years after the Jamboree supplies of Type B came into the collecting community. Some people called them fakes but they appear just to have been supplies that were ordered by National, but never distributed. |
The gold neckerchief, is the official neckerchief. The red neckerchief is the souvenir neckerchief. I have not identified varieties. The white silk (Rayon) Ladies Scarf is often mistaken for a neckerchief. |
On the left - The 4 1/2” thick Pack emblem
had been used for several Jamborees. The 3” thin leather emblem was
new and only used in 1969. It is in the catalog as a Jamboree
“coaster”. To the right - The 4 1/2” round badge is a private issue. It appears to have been made in the Orient. The National BSA nor any delegation received any profits from the sale of these badges. Howard Ang may have made these patches. Ang was aggressively pursuing Scouting business and offered quality emblems at a discount price. There are a number of attractive cloisonne (enamel) pins and neckerchief slides that are souvenirs (not officially issued) at the 1969 Jamboree. Made in the Orient by sources other than a council or the national BSA. |
Besides the ordinary decals sold at the Trading Post there were a couple of large 12” decals that were plastered on almost anything to make it look more Jamboree official. |
Paul Myers Goshen,
Indiana gimogash@comcast.net |