What the historian does
- 1Collect — gather photos, clippings, awards, and memorabilia from troop events.
- 2Assemble — organize them into scrapbooks, albums, or digital archives.
- 3Preserve — store materials so they last (labeled, protected).
- 4Document the present — take photos and notes at current activities.
- 5Make it available — supply materials for courts of honor, anniversaries, media, and history projects.
- 6Coordinate — work with the scribe and webmaster to capture and share.
The role
- Preserving the troop's story and milestones.
- Supporting courts of honor, anniversaries, and recruitment with the troop's history.
- Building organization and documentation skills.
Notes
- Handle originals carefully — photos, clippings, and awards can't be re-created; store them safely.
- Photo and privacy sensitivity — follow the troop's rules on youth photos and permissions, especially before sharing publicly.
- Serve genuinely — advancement credit requires real service, not just the title.
Going deeper
- The troop's storyteller. The historian is why a troop remembers its Eagles, its big treks, and its milestones.
- Document today for tomorrow. Half the job is capturing the present — this year's campout is next decade's history.
- Careful with originals. Preserve and protect them.
Official source
Historian — Troop Leader Resources, Scouting America →Duties are paraphrased. Follow current youth-protection guidance on photos and coordinate with the webmaster.