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Author: Beard, Daniel Carter
Title: Three letters from Daniel Beard, illustrator and youth leader, to William T. Hornaday, naturalist and zoologist
Place Published: Various places
Publisher:
Date Published: c.1910-15
Description:

One is typewritten, the others handwritten. Eight pages in all.

"Uncle Dan" Beard, founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone (later to merge with the Boy Scouts of America), writes to his good friend William T. Hornaday, pioneer conservationist and the first director of the New York Zoological Park, now the Bronx Zoo. In one letter he calls his a "loyal comrad and a good fellow" and invites him over to "talk camp finre, Cook, Peary, and plan to get Harry Whitney for a guest of honor at our dinner..."

In the typed letter (on Camp-Fire Club of America letterhead), however, the tone is more serious, "The letter which I sent you is intended for your own private information... unfortunately... all such statements are looked upon as personal expressions aroused by professional jealousy..." He then states that "we can succeed better by insisting upon having them recognized in the Manuel [sic]... You who have not stood in his path cannot realize the very uncomfortable position which I have occupied ever since it seement to the advantage of certain parties to claim the authorship, and consequentloy the proproetorship of the Boy Scout Movement..."

The typed letter is lightly stained. Overall in very good condition.