A Brief Disclaimer
VirtualBoxwell.org is not an official website of the Middle Tennessee Council. VirtualBoxwell is the creation of dedicated volunteers and former staff members. Questions about camping/site reservations or current programs should be directed to the Middle Tennessee Council.
A Note on Credits and Attributions
All photos used on VirtualBoxwell.org are protected under a Creative Commons License with Attribution. Read more here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The following is what is called “provenance.” In a work of history, this is generally considered the bibliography. In archives, which is more appropriate here, “provenance” is where the material comes from and to whom it originally belonged. This list is accurate as of the original release of the version three website. Any additional changes will be noted on the Staff news updates. If any of our information is incorrect, please let us know.
Having said that, there have been countless hours of effort put into providing all of this information. From scanning photos to conducting interviews to transcribing interviews to collating and organizing the data to put it into usable formats—the list is simply endless.
To give you an idea, take the photos used for the campsites portion of this website (the photos used for the maps). There were almost 6 gigabytes worth of photos taken for that aspect of the project, which had to be sorted, tagged, and resized if used. The maps themselves were all created from existing maps, which means they all had to be created from scratch. All of this resulted in over 100 manhours of work to prepare these maps. So you can see, a simple project requires an enormous amount of work!
Thus, it is imperative that we make a simple point: We have no problems with your use of our material, but use of that material must be acknowledged and/or cited.
Thus, a note on Attribution. We have gone to great lengths to identify where all of our photos originate. We have attempted to note the photographer where available. Much of what is here is in a “Collection.” Collections are groups of photos, often taken by the owner, but sometimes collected from various sources. As with archives, it is sometimes impossible to know where every single item originates. However, every photos belongs currently to someone and this has been noted by the term “Collection.”
All text on this website was written by Grady Eades. Eades is an Associate Professor of History at Volunteer State Community College. Any source material, such as interviews, articles, or books, are noted were relevant.
VirtualBoxwell.org has been hosted by Web-Hosting-Inc.com (formerly Christian Web Hosting) since 2002.
A Special Thanks to Michael Seay and Russell Parham. These two men were not only staff members, but the Reservation Business Managers. Between the two of them, they documented almost 30 years of Boxwell’s history—an invaluable donation!
Home Page: Banner Images
- Cripple Crab in winter – Photo by Willie Claude; provided by Lori Locke
- Aerial Photo of Boxwell – Photo by Michael Seay
- Stahlman Waterfront, July 6, 1960 – Photo from Cooper-Ragsdale Collection
- Ward Akers and Ed Human (Bruce Atkins?) at Boat Harbor – photo by James Akers; Chris “Kit” Eckert Collection
- Sunset behind flags – Photo from Kerry Parker
- Highway 109 Hanging Sign – Photo from Cooper-Ragsdale Collection
- Abandoned backpack at Stahlman Dining Hall, 1990 – Photo from Kerry Parker
- “Virtual Boxwell .Org” logo – Original logo by Chuck Creasy, modified by Grady Eades
- VirtualMusem Pod--Image created by Michael Eades; Boxwell logo created by Chuck Creasy, modified by Grady Eades
- VirtualBoxwell Flickr Pod--Collection of Michael Seay
- Orders Pod--Collection of Cameron Grady
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The Primer
People & Positions Pod--original Unknown; digital by Russell Parham
Places & Things Pod--Collection of Michael Seay
Stories & Legends Pod--Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America, Fiftieth Anniversary March 1, 1970--Harmon & Crook Advertising; Ken White, Designer; Al Clayton, Photographer; James Carson, Writer
People and Postions
Carl Adkins--Photo by Carl Head, 2007
Ward Akers--Akers at Parnell Cabin Dedication, Photo by Michael Seay
Bruce Atkins--edited from photo of Atkins' Woodbadge patrol, 1967, Cooper-Ragsdale Collection
Leslie G. Boxwell--Original part of MTC's Wall of Council Presidents, original photographer unknown; digital by Russell Parham
E. W. Craig--Cooper-Ragsdale Collection
E. E. Murrey--Original part of MTC's Wall of Council Presidents, original photographer unknown; digital by Russell Parham
R. L. Parnell--Original part of MTC's Wall of Council Presidents, original photographer unknown; digital by Russell Parham
E. B. Stahlman--Original part of MTC's Wall of Council Presidents, original photographer unknown; digital by Russell Parham
Tom Willhite--Photo by Russell Parham
Places and Things
Boxwell Map--From 1959 Boxwell Reservation Development Fund Booklet, MTC; collection of Charlie Ray Smith
The Dump--photo by Grady Eades, 2008
Explorer Island Bridge--photo by Grady Eades, 2010
Grizzard Gateway--photo at dedication ceremony by Michael Seay, July 1976
Hanging Entrance Sign--collection of John Cooper-Ernie Ragsdale
Pump House--photo by Michael Seay, April 1972
Stories and Legends
1976 Stahlman Staff Photo--Collection of Russell Parham
Parnell Dining Hall--Photo by Michael Seay, 1974; based on interview with John Estes, Mike Brown, David Dotson and John Walker, conducted by Grady Eades
Compound Shop Building--Photo by Michael Seay, 1974; based on interview with Tom Willhite, conducted by Russell Parham, 2002
Parnell AY Staff Site--photo by Grady Eades, 1993
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The Camp
All photos used here were taken by either Grady Eades, Cameron Grady, or Russell Parham in June 2016.
Camp Directions Map--Originally from 1989 MTC Leaders' Guide; Modified by Grady Eades, 2011
How Do I Get to Boxwell photo--Collection of Grady Eades
Camp Stahlman pod--Collection of Russ Parham; Camp Stahlman mini-window--Collection of Roman Reese
Camp Craig pod--Collection of Grady Eades; Camp Craig mini-window--Collection of Cameron Grady
Camp Parnell pod--Collection of Michael Seay; Camp Parnell mini-window--Collection of Michael Seay
CubWorld pod--Collection of Grady Eades: CubWorld mini-window--Collection of Grady Eades
High Adventure pod--Collection of Grady Eades; High Adventure mini-window--Collection of Grady Eades
Reservation Pod--
Collection of Grady Eades; Reservation mini-window--Collection of Grady Eades
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The Virtual Museum: Permanent Collection
An Actual Museum Photo (Pump House)--Collection of Grady Eades
Camp Life Section
- Highway 109 Hanging Sign, Caution Camp Open Sign, Grizzard Gateway – Michael Seay Collection
- Stahlman Check-In – Russell Parham Collection
- Cripple Crab, Baggage/Luggage Run – Kerry Parker Collection
- Cogioba Entrance Sign – Grady Eades Collection
- Medical Check-in--Cooper-Ragsdale Collection
Camp Sites Section
- Troops in Formation 1989, Showerhouse Cleaning, Wawoka (site 4), Waiting behind Dining hall – Russell Parham Collection
- Making Rope – Collection of Steve Eubank
Trading Post Section
- Standing Indian and Sun & Goose Patch and Modern Trading Post– Grady Eades Collection
- Boxwell Belt Buckle – Steve Eubank Collection
- Camp Murrey Patch – Kerry Parker Collection
- Postcard 2– Floyd “Q-ball” Pearce Collection
- Postcard 1- Russell Parham Collection
Program Section
- Burning Flag – Grady Eades Collection
- Mardi Gras Photos – Russ Parham Collection
- Critter Crawl and Volleyball Photos – Michael Seay Collection
- Mile Swim 1990 – Kerry Parker Collection
Campfires Section
- Burning Eagle, Bradford and Houser with guitars– Grady Eades Collection
- Friday night Campfire Emcee – Chris “Kit” Eckert Collection
- Stahlman Sunday Night Campfire Area – Russ Parham Collection
- Campfire flames – Cameron Grady Collection
- Stahlman Friday Night Campfire--Collection of Ian Romaine
- Craig Friday Night Campfire--Collection of Howard Glosson
Dining Hall Section
- Mike Brown singing, Car in Dining Hall – Grady Eades Collection
- Family Style and Monitors--Chris "Kit" Eckert Collection
- Staff Shenanigans--Tom Roussin Collection
- Woodbadge flags--Russ Parham Collection
- Stahlman Dance--Collection of Ian Romaine
The Reservation
The Third Boxwell: Rock Island
- Rock Island Photos—Cooper-Ragsdale Collection
The Fourth Boxwell: Old Hickory Lake
- All Aerial Photos, Parnell Commissary, Sewer Plant, Pump House, Crab Construction, Ward Akers— Michael Seay Collection
- Stahlman Opening, Stahlman Office Tent-—Russell Parham Collection
Recent Renovations Section
- Cripple Crab, Stahlman Showerhouse—Collection of Kerry Parker
- Craig Construction, Stahlman Office, Stahlman Trading Post, Health Lodge—Collection of Michael Seay
- CubWorld Gateway, Pirate Ship, and Castle—Collection of Russell Parham
- Woodbadge Shed, Parnell Program Shelter, new Craig Waterfront, Weaver Amphitheatre, Boat Harbor, Stahlman Staff Hut, Pool Construction, High Adventure Center, High Adventure Gateway, Boat Harbor Program Shed--Collection of Grady Eades
Cedar Valley Section
- All photos from Floyd “Q-ball” Pearce Collection
Staff Section
- Eagle Trail—Collection of Grady Eades
- Stahlman Staff Marching—Collection of Russell Parham
- Eddie Stephens—Collection of Steve Eubank
- Parnell 1967, 1989 Stahlman Color Guard—Collection of Russell Parham
- Stahlman Kitchen Staff—Collection of Jerry Barnett
- Parnell Staff meeting—Collection of Perry Bruce
- Craig Staff Serving—Collection of Kerry Parker
- Camp Take-Down--Collection of Chris "Kit" Eckert
Staff Reunion Section
- 1983 Reunion Photos—Collections of Kerry Parker and Russell Parham
- 1983 Reunion, 1980-1984 Group photo; 1999 Reunion, 1990-1994 Group Photo; 1999 Reunion, 1970s Group photo--Russell Parham Collection
- 1999 Reunion: 40th Anniversary Patch; 2009 Reunion Patch, 2009 Reunion Memorabilia table--Collection of Grady Eades
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The Virtual Museum: Special Exhibitions
Farmer Bush with cows--Collection of Russell Parham
1959 Capital Development Campaign
Source material: Creighton, Wilbur F. and Leland Johnson, Boys Will Be Men: Middle Tennesse Scouting Since 1910, Nashville: Parthenon Press, 1983.; High Adventure for Middle Tennessee Boys: Boxwell Reservation Development Fund, 1959.
- The Big Four – Kerry Parker Collection
- Capital Development Fund Booklet – Charlie Ray Smith Collection
- Stahlman Opening Photos – July 1960, Russ Parham Collection
- Council Presidents' Photos--Hall of Presidents, Middle Tennessee Council--Collection of Russell Parham
Camp Murrey
Source Material: Taped interviews with Chester LaFever, Jimmy Joe Jackson, and Steve Eubank.
- Murrey Dining Hall – Michael Seay Collection
- Murrey Dining Hall, Murrey Waterfront, family camping, Chester LaFever at Waterfront, Women Teaching Swimming, Murrey Cabins – Photos from John Cooper-Ernie Ragsdale Collection
- Murrey indoor activities, Murrey Waterfront 1970 – Chris “Kit” Eckert Collection
- CubWorld Showerhouse, Cub-A-Lot Castle, Indian Mound, Temple Mound, Renovated Dining Hall and Murrey Portrait Photo – Russell Parham Collection
- Cubworld Pirate Ships and Cub Fort--Collection of Grady Eades
- Construction of Lancaster Pirate Ship--Collection of Kerry Parker
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The Staff Gallery
Stahlman Staff pod--Collection of Russ Parham
Craig Staff pod--Collection of Russ Parham
Parnell staff pod--Collection of Kerry Parker
Rock Island Staff pod--Collection of Cooper-Ragsdale
Woodbadge pod--Collection of Russ Parham
Adminstrative Staff pod--Reservation Director Ed Human--Collection of Michael Seay
Staff Photos
Specific collections are not noted with the staff photos as they are more "public" than other photos. Nevertheless, as a general rule, all staff photos follow the same general paramaters:
- 1960s Staff Photos
- Early photographers unknown. Collections of Kerry Parker and Russ Parham.
- All credits given with other photos.
- 1970s Staff Photos
- Staff Photos by Michael Seay and Russell Parham. Collections of Michael Seay and Russell Parham.
- All credits given with other photos.
- 1980s Staff Photos
- Staff Photos by Russell Parham. Collection of Russell Parham.
- All credits given with other photos.
- 1990s Staff Photos
- Staff Photos by Russell Parham. Collection of Russell Parham and Grady Eades.
- All credits given with other photos.
- 2000s Photos
- Staff Photos by John Kasper. Collections of John Kasper, Ian Romaine, Cameron Grady, and Ian Weir.
- All credits given with other photos.
- 2010s Staff Photos
- Staff Photos by John Kasper and Meredith MaGuirk. Collections of Cameron Grady, Lee Craft, Ian Weir, Meredith MaGuirk and John Kasper.
- All credits given with other photos.
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About Us
- VirtualBoxwell.org image created by Michael Eades—screenshot of version 2.
- Steve Eubank, Eddie Stephens and others, Parnell 1976 – Collection of Steve Eubank
- Boxwell Alumni Photo--T: Lee Craft, Steve Eubank, Kerry Parker, Eddie Knox, Charlie Ray Smith; B: Grady Eades, Russ Parham--Photo by Grady Eades
History of a History Pod--Screenshot of VirtualBoxwell.org by Michael Eades
- Credits & Attributions Pod--Collection of Steve Eubank
- Orders Pod--Collection of Cameron Grady
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