Uniformed Youth Group Biography: Edgar M. Robinson (18??-1951)

Figure 1.--.

YMCA Executive Edgar M. Robinson played a major role in the early Scout movement. Surprisingly, his name is often not included on a list of American Scouting founders despite the key role that he played. Robinson was an experienced YMCA summer camp director. He had 20 years' experience in youth work when the BSA was founded in 1910. At that time few if any Scouters had any experience at all with youth work. Robinson did not have the chaismatic personality of other early Scouting leaders like Seaton and Beard. But he proved a highly effective manager. He immersed himself in work with boys. In 1900 he became the first boys'-work secretary of the Y's International Committee, with headquarters in New York City. Robinson was interested when he began hearing reports in 1908 and 09 about the new Boy Scout movement in England. He wanted to incorporate a Scouting program in the YMCA, but to his surprise he found Scouting associations were already being founded. He convinced William D. Boyce to turn ove manafement of the BSA to the more experienced YMCA. He then played a kety role in the success of the BSA and the absorbtion of rival associations. He was largely respoonsible for the choice of James West to relace him so he could retirn to YMCA work.

Parents

Childhood

Education

Personality

Robinson wanted to do youth work. He knew, however, that he did not have the engaghing personalities of the Y workers he saw at the summer camps that the Y was operating. He cerianlt did not have chaisma of luminaries like Ernest Seaton and Daniel Beard that were making names for themselves in youth work and outdoor pursuits. Robinson was balding and had a very formal look about him. A professor at Springfield college that knew him saud "He was tall, very dignified, and he loved the outdoors. He had a wonderful, sunny disposition. He was very formal, but outdoors he was a whole different person." [Peterson]

YMCA Career

Robinson was an experienced YMCA summer camp director. He had 20 years of experience in youth work when the BSA was founded in 1910. At that time few if any Scouters had any experience at all with youth work. He proved a highly effective manager. He immersed himself in work with boys. In 1900 he became the first boys'-work secretary of the Y's International Committee, with headquarters in New York City. Robinson was interested when he began hearing reports in 1908 and 09 about the new Boy Scout movement in England.

Role in Scouting

YMCA Executive Edgar M. Robinson played a major role in the early Scout movement. Surprisingly, his name is often not included on a list of American Scouting founders despite the key role that he played. Actually Boy Scouting in America began a makeshift YMCA arrangement that had never been planned. This was a rather surprising beginning for America's most centarlized youth organization. [Macleod, p. 146] Robinson was an experienced YMCA summer camp director. He had 20 years' experience in youth work when the BSA was founded in 1910. At that time few if any Scouters had any experience at all with youth work. Robinson did not have the chaismatic personality of other early Scouting leaders like Seaton and Beard. But he proved a highly effective manager. A few YMCAs set up troops even before the BSA was founded. The YMCA began establishing its summer camping program in the late 19th century. When Robinson learned in early May 1910 that William D. Boyce had actually incorporated the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) months earlier, he was concerned about the potential impact on the YMCA. Robinson urged Boyce to work with the YMCA, which had the experience and organizational skills to turn the BSA into an actual functioning organization. Not only vould the Y set up Scouting, they could provide a source of Scoutmasters. Not only did Boyce do so, but he agreed to turn over the management of the BSA to Robinson and the YMCA. Robinson had struck up a frienship with Ernest Thompson Seton as part of his Y summer camp work. Seaton played a critical role in the first years of the BSA. Robinson James West to replace him so he could return to the YMCA. He proved to be an able administrator. West was a strong leader and in desire to direct the BSA he alienated some of the founders like Boyce and Seaton, but he soon established his authority and served until 1943. [Peterson]

University Teaching

Robinson became a professor at Springfield College where the Y set up a training center. [Peterson]

Later Years

Robinson remained active in YMCA youth work until he retired in 1927. Strangely he rarely received a mention in Boys Scout literature. He died in 1951. [Peterson]

Sources

Macleod, David I. Building Character in the American Boy: The Boy Scouts, YMCA, and Their Forerunners, 1870-1920 (The University of Wisconsin Press, 1983), 315p.

Peterson, Robert. "The BSA's 'forgotten' founding father," Scouting Magazine.