Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
WILBERDING, Henry
WILBERDING, Henry. (Holdorf, Oldenburg, Germany, May 31, 1865--Dubuque, IA, Sept. 10, 1942). Wilberding established the Wilberding Tailoring and Cleaning Business in Dubuque in 1889. In 1916, while attending a tailor's convention in Philadelphia, Wilberding was caught in a rain without a coat or umbrella. Under such poor conditions, he met a Boy Scout with an umbrella who assisted him. He returned to Dubuque, organized a group of businessmen, raised money and hired the first Scout executive.
Wilberding may be considered the person most responsible for the resurgence of the Boy Scout movement in Dubuque. This face is ironic because initially he was opposed to the organization in part because BOY SCOUTS wore uniforms that seemed to him to be militaristic. He was determined his sons would have nothing to do with the organization.
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Source:
"How Scouts Grew in Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, January 31, 1960, p. 5
Dodge, Edward N. Business Men of Iowa, Des Moines: Midwest Publications, Inc. 1953, p. 782