Max I. Silber
Encyclopedia
Max I. Silber was an American
businessman from New Hampshire
who through his philanthropic works became not only a formative figure for Boy Scouting in New Hampshire
, but a distinguished citizen of his home state. A devout Jew, Silber was an active supporter of religious Scouting programs, and was distinguished not just by the Jewish Committee of Scouting, but by the Roman Catholic Committee on Scouting as well. Perhaps the most famous endeavor of Silber's was the development of his "friendship gifts" which were most commonly belt buckles made of bronze. These buckles have evolved into popular Scouting collectibles.
, in 1911. At the age of 14, he became a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 in Manchester. Silber earned his Eagle Scout
in 1936, the Explorer Scout Ranger Award
, and was recognized as a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow
in 1958.
in August 2003. Silber died on June 15, 2004 in Nashua, New Hampshire. He is buried along with his wife Edith and son Allan at the Temple Beth Abraham Cemetery in Nashua, New Hampshire
.
. His involvement with Scouting beyond his troop was extensive, holding many positions, including unit commissioner, district commissioner, council commissioner, district chairman and council president. He was a member of the council executive board for 65 years. Silber served as the Region One chairman in 1957 and on regional jamboree committees in 1960, 1964, 1969, 1973, and 1977. He also served on the Jewish Relationships Committee of the BSA National Council and on the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.
In recognition of Silber's service, he was awarded the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, and Silver Buffalo awards and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
. He was also awarded both the Jewish Shofar
award, and the Roman Catholic St. George Award as testament to his hard work to promote Scouting to those of any faith.
Perhaps the most famous contribution to Scouting that Silber has become known for were his belt buckles. In 1950, Max was chosen to be a Scoutmaster for the National Scout Jamboree. He was in the metal ingot business and had souvenir buckles produced for the event which he gave out as friendship gifts. Over the next half century, he made fifty more buckles for national Scout jamboree, world jamborees, New Hampshire jamborees and other special occasions as well as recognition buckles for significant awards such as Eagle Scout
, Vigil Honor, and Wood Badge
. His buckles have become world famous and are considered highly prized collectors' items. Amongst collectors, some of the Silber buckles fetch prices in the hundreds of dollars as evidenced on auction sites such as eBay.
The tradition of creating buckles has been carried on by the museum he founded, the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum, in cooperation with his daughter, Natalie Weil of Southport, North Carolina
, and artist Rob Hoitt, formerly of Manchester. To date, they have produced two official "Max" buckles. Since the late 1990s, Silber started the tradition of offering two versions of each buckle. One version is made from white bronze, and is issued as a collector's edition of the buckle. The second, is generally offered in red bronze and is issued as a contingent version of the buckle, which for national and world jamborees are given to the contingent of the Daniel Webster Council
, any buckles left over after this are also made available to the public in a limited edition. In 2007, Hoitt proposed a one-time change in the tradition of red bronze buckles to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Scouting's founding. The contingent buckle for the 21st World Scout Jamboree
was made of polished naval brass with a royal blue lacquer.
There are also several collectors buckles made to commemorate specific milestones or programs such as the Exploring Division, Region One, Northeast Region, and two Camp Carpenter buckles amongst others. Some of these buckles were released in unlimited editions to act as a constant fundraiser to sustain the Lawrence L. Lee Scout Museum where they are exclusively available.
† There may also exist "flat cast" test samples or limited variations in metals used for testing purposes, as these were not considered "official." In the cases of the 1950 and 1953 National Jamborees, there was an initial run in brass as well; which according to folklore was made from the many .22 shells littering the ground in the rifle range at Camp Carpenter.
* The 1979 Iran buckles were for the most part melted down. The number reflected is of those that are known to remain.
, with whom he was personally acquainted. In 1978, a Scouting Library was named for him to honor his contributions to Scouting and the community. The museum has grown through donations from Scouters, families of Scouters and visitors to include one of the largest collections of Scouting memorabilia. The museum has also traditionally hosted a Jamboree on the Air station, as well as hosting the New England Tradeoree each fall.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman from New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
who through his philanthropic works became not only a formative figure for Boy Scouting in New Hampshire
Scouting in New Hampshire
Scouting in New Hampshire has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.- Early history :...
, but a distinguished citizen of his home state. A devout Jew, Silber was an active supporter of religious Scouting programs, and was distinguished not just by the Jewish Committee of Scouting, but by the Roman Catholic Committee on Scouting as well. Perhaps the most famous endeavor of Silber's was the development of his "friendship gifts" which were most commonly belt buckles made of bronze. These buckles have evolved into popular Scouting collectibles.
Early life
Max I. Silber was born in Manchester, New HampshireManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, in 1911. At the age of 14, he became a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 in Manchester. Silber earned his Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in 1936, the Explorer Scout Ranger Award
Ranger Award
The Ranger Award is an award available to youth in the Venturing program and requires the same caliber of work as Boy Scout Eagle Award. It is designed to encourage youths to acquire a high level of proficiency in outdoor skills.-Award:...
, and was recognized as a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
in 1958.
Personal life
Max married Edith Kamenske in June 1934. Their marriage lasted 65 years until her death in May 2000. One of their children, Allan, succeeded Max as the president of Kamenske & Company, but died after a long battle with Hodgkin's lymphomaHodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
in August 2003. Silber died on June 15, 2004 in Nashua, New Hampshire. He is buried along with his wife Edith and son Allan at the Temple Beth Abraham Cemetery in Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
.
Scouting
After 1929 Max became a Scout leader, eventually becoming a Scoutmaster. During his tenure, Silber influenced the lives of many young adults including future U.S. Senator Warren RudmanWarren Rudman
Warren Bruce Rudman is an American attorney and Republican politician who served as United States Senator from New Hampshire between 1980 and 1993...
. His involvement with Scouting beyond his troop was extensive, holding many positions, including unit commissioner, district commissioner, council commissioner, district chairman and council president. He was a member of the council executive board for 65 years. Silber served as the Region One chairman in 1957 and on regional jamboree committees in 1960, 1964, 1969, 1973, and 1977. He also served on the Jewish Relationships Committee of the BSA National Council and on the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.
In recognition of Silber's service, he was awarded the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, and Silver Buffalo awards and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
. He was also awarded both the Jewish Shofar
Shofar
A shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
award, and the Roman Catholic St. George Award as testament to his hard work to promote Scouting to those of any faith.
Buckles for Friendship
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, Vigil Honor, and Wood Badge
Wood Badge
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement...
. His buckles have become world famous and are considered highly prized collectors' items. Amongst collectors, some of the Silber buckles fetch prices in the hundreds of dollars as evidenced on auction sites such as eBay.
The tradition of creating buckles has been carried on by the museum he founded, the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum, in cooperation with his daughter, Natalie Weil of Southport, North Carolina
Southport, North Carolina
Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and artist Rob Hoitt, formerly of Manchester. To date, they have produced two official "Max" buckles. Since the late 1990s, Silber started the tradition of offering two versions of each buckle. One version is made from white bronze, and is issued as a collector's edition of the buckle. The second, is generally offered in red bronze and is issued as a contingent version of the buckle, which for national and world jamborees are given to the contingent of the Daniel Webster Council
Daniel Webster Council
Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two...
, any buckles left over after this are also made available to the public in a limited edition. In 2007, Hoitt proposed a one-time change in the tradition of red bronze buckles to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Scouting's founding. The contingent buckle for the 21st World Scout Jamboree
21st World Scout Jamboree
The 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in July and August 2007, and formed a part of the Scouting 2007 Centenary celebrations of the world Scout Movement. The event was hosted by the United Kingdom, as 2007 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Scouting on Brownsea Island.The event was...
was made of polished naval brass with a royal blue lacquer.
There are also several collectors buckles made to commemorate specific milestones or programs such as the Exploring Division, Region One, Northeast Region, and two Camp Carpenter buckles amongst others. Some of these buckles were released in unlimited editions to act as a constant fundraiser to sustain the Lawrence L. Lee Scout Museum where they are exclusively available.
The buckles
| Buckle | Year | Event/Honor | Location (If applicable) | Editions† | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |2007 | 21st World Scout Jamboree 21st World Scout Jamboree The 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in July and August 2007, and formed a part of the Scouting 2007 Centenary celebrations of the world Scout Movement. The event was hosted by the United Kingdom, as 2007 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Scouting on Brownsea Island.The event was... |
Brownsea Island Brownsea Island Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. The island is owned by the National Trust. Much of the island is open to the public and includes areas of woodland and heath with a wide variety of wildlife, together with cliff top views across Poole... , United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
White Bronze Naval Brass |
100 150 |
|
 |
2005 | 16th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
100 250 |
 |
2003 | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... Jamboree |
Gunstock Mountain Resort Gunstock Mountain Resort Gunstock Mountain Resort is a sports complex located on Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, New Hampshire, and is owned by Belknap County. Activities include alpine and cross-country skiing, snow tubing, ski jumping, snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, and skateboarding.-History:The original Gunstock... , NH New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
100 300 |
| 2002, 2003 | 20th World Scout Jamboree 20th World Scout Jamboree The 20th World Scout Jamboree took place in the naval base in Sattahip, Thailand. It was the second World Jamboree to be held in Southeast Asia after the Philippines hosted the event in 1959.... |
Sattahip, Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
50 300 |
|
 |
2001 | 15th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
Red Bronze | 300 |
 |
1999 | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... Jamboree |
Gunstock Mountain Resort Gunstock Mountain Resort Gunstock Mountain Resort is a sports complex located on Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, New Hampshire, and is owned by Belknap County. Activities include alpine and cross-country skiing, snow tubing, ski jumping, snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, and skateboarding.-History:The original Gunstock... , NH New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
125 350 |
 |
1998, 1999 | 19th World Scout Jamboree 19th World Scout Jamboree The 19th World Jamboree in Chile, the first ever in South America, took place at a site in the foothills of the Andes, some south of the capital city of Santiago... |
Picarquín, Chile Chile Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far... |
Red Bronze | 300 |
 |
1997 | 14th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
Red Bronze | 300 |
 |
1995 | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... Jamboree |
Sunapee Ski Area Mount Sunapee Mount Sunapee is a -long mountain ridge in the towns of Newbury and Goshen in western New Hampshire. Its highest peak, at the north end of the mountain, is above sea level. The mountain has three secondary peaks, White Ledges at ; North Peak at ; and South Peak at... , NH New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
50 350 |
 |
1995 | 18th World Scout Jamboree 18th World Scout Jamboree The 18th World Scout Jamboree was held August 1 to 11, 1995 and was hosted by the Netherlands on a polder near Dronten, Flevoland. 28,960 Scouts and staff members from 166 countries and territories participated in the event, the largest representation of countries to date, including 34 countries... |
Flevoland Flevoland Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital... , Netherlands |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
50 300 |
 |
1995 | Camp Carpenter 50th Anniversary | Manchester, NH | Red Bronze | 500 |
 |
1993 | 13th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
Red Bronze | 550 |
 |
1995 | Eagle Scout Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America) Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men... |
White Bronze | Unlimited | |
 |
1992 | Silver Beaver | Silver | Unlimited | |
 |
1991 | 17th World Scout Jamboree 17th World Scout Jamboree The 17th World Scout Jamboree was held August 8 to 16, 1991 and was hosted by South Korea at Soraksan National Park, near the border with North Korea, and some 200 km, six hours by road, from Seoul.... |
Soraksan, South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... |
Red Bronze | 350 |
 |
1991 | Commissioner's Buckle (Re-Release) | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... |
Red Bronze | 200 |
 |
1989 | Museum/Library 20th Anniversary | Red Bronze | Unlimited | |
 |
1989 | Vigil Honor | Red Bronze | Unlimited | |
 |
1989 | 12th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
Red Bronze | 1300 |
 |
1987/88 | 16th World Scout Jamboree 16th World Scout Jamboree The 16th World Scout Jamboree was held 30 December 1987 to 7 January 1988, the first World Scout Jamboree held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to change the date from the traditional August to January to coincide with summer... US Contingent |
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Red Bronze | 500 |
 |
1987/88 | 16th World Scout Jamboree 16th World Scout Jamboree The 16th World Scout Jamboree was held 30 December 1987 to 7 January 1988, the first World Scout Jamboree held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to change the date from the traditional August to January to coincide with summer... |
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Red Bronze | 1200 |
 |
1988 | "Adventure '88" Daniel Webster Council |
Sunapee Ski Area Mount Sunapee Mount Sunapee is a -long mountain ridge in the towns of Newbury and Goshen in western New Hampshire. Its highest peak, at the north end of the mountain, is above sea level. The mountain has three secondary peaks, White Ledges at ; North Peak at ; and South Peak at... NH New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... |
Red Bronze | 1000 |
 |
1985 | Eagle Scout Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America) Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men... |
Red Bronze | Unlimited | |
 |
1985 | 11th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
Red Bronze | 1400 |
 |
1985 | 14th Australian National Scout Jamboree | Cataract Scout Park Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Red Bronze | 125 |
 |
1984 | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... Jamboree |
Hopkinton Hopkinton, New Hampshire Hopkinton is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census. It consists of three villages: Hopkinton, West Hopkinton, and Contoocook... Fairgrounds, NH New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... |
Red Bronze | 1200 |
 |
1983 | 15th World Scout Jamboree 15th World Scout Jamboree The 15th World Scout Jamboree was held in 1983 and was hosted by Canada at Kananaskis, Alberta, an area of Provincial Park 4,000 feet in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 80 miles west of Calgary, Alberta... |
Calgary Calgary Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Red Bronze | 1100 |
 |
1981 | 10th National Scout Jamboree | Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P... , VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
Red Bronze | 1200 |
 |
1981 | Commissioner's Buckle | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... |
Red Bronze | 300 |
 |
1979 | 15th World Scout Jamboree 15th World Scout Jamboree (cancelled) The 15th World Scout Jamboree was scheduled to be held in July 1979 and was to be hosted by Iran at Nishapur, but was cancelled due to political instability.... |
Nishapur Nishapur Nishapur or Nishabur , is a city in the Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern Iran, situated in a fertile plain at the foot of the Binalud Mountains, near the regional capital of Mashhad... , Iran Iran Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia... |
Red Bronze | 100* |
 |
1979 | Exploring | Red Bronze | 100 | |
 |
1977 | 9th National Scout Jamboree | Moraine State Park Moraine State Park Moraine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek, and Worth townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The main feature of the park is its man-made lake, Lake Arthur, formed by impounding Muddy Creek, which is and is used for... , PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
Red Bronze | 1450 |
 |
1977 | All Out for Scouting | Red Bronze | 400 | |
 |
1976 | Wood Badge Wood Badge Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
68 Unlimited |
|
 |
1976 | Northeast Region | White Bronze Red Bronze |
125 125 |
|
 |
1975 | 14th World Scout Jamboree 14th World Scout Jamboree The 14th World Scout Jamboree was held July 29 to August 7, 1975 and was hosted by Norway at Lillehammer, on the shore of Lake Mjøsa.King Olav V and Harald V of Norway, who then was crown prince, opened "Nordjamb '75", as it became popularly known, in the presence of 17,259 Scouts from 94 countries... |
Lillehammer Lillehammer is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was... , Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
Red Bronze | 1100 |
 |
1974 | Silver Buffalo | Silver | 25 | |
 |
1973 | Lawrence L. Lee Museum | Red Bronze | Unlimited | |
 |
1973 | 8th National Scout Jamboree | Farragut State Park Farragut State Park Farragut State Park is a state park of Idaho, USA, on the southern tip of the Lake Pend Oreille in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. Formerly the site held the Farragut Naval Training Station, a major training base of the U.S. Navy during World War II. The base was named after David Farragut, the... , ID Idaho Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state.... & Moraine State Park |
Red Bronze | 2000 |
 |
1972 | Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that serves most of New Hampshire.-History:In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United States, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire. Initially there were only two... Boypower |
Red Bronze | 350 | |
 |
1971 | 13th World Scout Jamboree 13th World Scout Jamboree The 13th World Jamboree was held August 2–10, 1971, on Asagiri Heights on the western side of Mount Fuji, in Fujinomiya, Japan, approximately 80 miles southwest of Tokyo.... |
Fujinomiya, Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Red Bronze | 700 |
 |
1970 | Camp Carpenter 25th Anniversary | Manchester, NH | Red Bronze | 350 |
 |
1969 | 7th National Scout Jamboree | Farragut State Park Farragut State Park Farragut State Park is a state park of Idaho, USA, on the southern tip of the Lake Pend Oreille in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. Formerly the site held the Farragut Naval Training Station, a major training base of the U.S. Navy during World War II. The base was named after David Farragut, the... , ID Idaho Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state.... |
Red Bronze | 1000 |
 |
1967 | 12th World Scout Jamboree 12th World Scout Jamboree The 12th World Scout Jamboree was held July 31 to August 9, 1967 and was hosted by the United States at Farragut State Park, in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, the second World Scout Jamboree in North America.... |
Farragut State Park Farragut State Park Farragut State Park is a state park of Idaho, USA, on the southern tip of the Lake Pend Oreille in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. Formerly the site held the Farragut Naval Training Station, a major training base of the U.S. Navy during World War II. The base was named after David Farragut, the... , ID Idaho Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state.... |
Red Bronze | 1000 |
 |
1964 | 6th National Scout Jamboree | Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:... , PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
Red Bronze | 1000 |
 |
1964 | 1964 World’s Fair | Red Bronze | 400 | |
 |
1960 | 5th National Scout Jamboree | Colorado Springs, CO Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... |
Red Bronze | 800 |
 |
1957 | 4th National Scout Jamboree | Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:... , PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
White Bronze Red Bronze |
50 750 |
 |
1955 | Region One Region One Region One may refer to:*The Barima-Waini region of Guyana*Region One School District in Connecticut, USA* Region 1 DVD... |
Red Bronze | 500 | |
 |
1955 | 8th World Scout Jamboree 8th World Scout Jamboree The 8th World Scout Jamboree was held in 1955 and was hosted by Canada at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The Jamboree saw the introduction of the World Membership Badge which is still worn on the uniforms of Scouts the world over.... |
Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Red Bronze | 700 |
 |
1953 | 3rd National Scout Jamboree | Irvine Ranch, CA California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
Red Bronze | 800 |
 |
1950 | 2nd National Scout Jamboree | Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:... , PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
Red Bronze | 700 |
† There may also exist "flat cast" test samples or limited variations in metals used for testing purposes, as these were not considered "official." In the cases of the 1950 and 1953 National Jamborees, there was an initial run in brass as well; which according to folklore was made from the many .22 shells littering the ground in the rifle range at Camp Carpenter.
* The 1979 Iran buckles were for the most part melted down. The number reflected is of those that are known to remain.
The Museum & Library
The Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum, established in 1969, was a place for Max to display Scouting Memorabilia that he acquired during his many trips nationally and internationally in the service of Scouting, including many items related to Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement, and his wife Lady Olave Baden-PowellOlave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
, with whom he was personally acquainted. In 1978, a Scouting Library was named for him to honor his contributions to Scouting and the community. The museum has grown through donations from Scouters, families of Scouters and visitors to include one of the largest collections of Scouting memorabilia. The museum has also traditionally hosted a Jamboree on the Air station, as well as hosting the New England Tradeoree each fall.
Professional life
Professionally, Max was the President of Kamenske & Company, a manufacturer of brass and bronze ingots.Honors
- Brandeis UniversityBrandeis UniversityBrandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
in Waltham, MA confers the Max I. Silber Award to the university’s outstanding female student-athlete. - The United Way of Greater Nashua, NH confers The Max I. Silber Community Service Award to members of the community who exemplify the ideals of community service and volunteerism.
- The National Eagle Scout AssociationNational Eagle Scout AssociationThe National Eagle Scout Association is an organization of men who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America...
chapter for New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
is named The Max I. Silber Chapter. - Camp Carpenter in Manchester, NH has a campsite named "Silber" in his honor.
- In 2004, Just after his death, the New Hampshire Scouting Service Club acquired the Amateur Radio Callsign 'N1S' (S being for Silber) for use during its Jamboree On The Air station, and dedicated the event to his memory. The club still uses the call each October to this day.