Here is a super nice Lone Scout membership badge that was used from 1916-1921. This branch of the Boy Scouts of America was formed by Boy Scouts of America organizer William D. Boyce. While visiting fellow newspaper owners in London, he had an encounter with a British Boy Scout. After getting lost in the London fog in the Spring of 1907. After being guided by this Scout to his destination he eventually got the opportunity to meet Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. After returning back home, he encouraged several friends, and together they incorporated and organized the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. Due to differences in concept and opinion William Boyce a few years later left his position with the BSA, and returned to Illinois to his regional newspapers. He eventually realized that rural boys were missing out on Scouting, not living close to a town, or couldn't travel to a town with a Scout troop. So in 1915, with his own newspaper companies money, bankrolled the Lone Scouts of America. Designed for boys who could still do Scouting activities on their own with the aid of a parent, etc. with a strong emphasis on writing and correspondence. By 1924 however, he realized he could no longer subsidize the organization. Therefore he merged the LSA in March of 1924 with the Boy Scouts of America. By 1922 the LSA had 422,000 members, and in 1925 only about 45,000 boys joined the BSA. The BSA had to recruit the new members and at that time it was tough to do so. Many boys lived in Canada, Puerto Rico, and other countries. So it became very difficult to get these boys recruited. By 1930 the Lone Scout program had dropped to only about 4,000 members in the BSA. Today Lone Cub Scouting, and Lone Scouting still exists today as a program option within the BSA, but it is now down to only a few hundred members. This old original membership badge/pin is in near mint condition, and measures about 15/16" in length, by about 3/4" across the widest point. Don't miss out on adding this great piece of early Scouting history to your collection. We attempt to be as accurate as possible with our descriptions, so there are no surprises to the lucky buyer. Our photos should tell you just about all of the rest. Please email us with any questions or concerns that you may have. You will be answered in a timely manner. If asking on or near the weekend, give us a little more time to respond, as we may be away on business. Also just to note, our shipping charges include insurance. We have had too many problems with the U.S. Postal service in the past.