From 1910 to 1914, no specific merit badges were required for Eagle Scout, nor was even being a Life or Star Scout first required. A first Class Scout could go directly to Eagle Scout by earning any 21 merit badges (none of which had to be among the five "requireds" for Life Scout! In fact, of the first nine Eagle Scouts on record, eight of them did not earn the Star or Life rank. A quote from the 1911 Scout Handbook reads "...Any first-class scout qualifying for twenty-one merit badges will be entitled to wear the highest scout merit badge. This is an eagle's head in silver, and represents the all-round perfect scout."
In 1914 the Committee on Badges, Awards, and Scout Requirements made certain merit badges compulsory for Eagle. When the number of Eagle Scouts declined in 1915, the committee said the drop "... is accounted for by the fact that the standard for the Eagle Scout Badge was raised by making compulsory the securing of the badges in Athletics or Physical Development, Camping, Cooking, First Aid, Life Saving, Pioneering, Pathfinding, Personal Health, Public Health, Bird Study, and Civics, in addition to 10 others which may be chosen from the various scouting subjects." In effect, this is when the Eagle Requireds, as know today, were added to the Eagle Scout rank advancement.
The 1934 and the 1940 Scout Handbooks list the same following Eagle Scout requirements:
I. Service as a Life Scout (at least 6 months)
Practicing the Oath, the Law, the Motto, the Good Turn
II. Earnestly trying to develop leadership ability.
III. Qualify for 21 Merit Badges (including)
1. First Aid
2. Life Saving
3. Personal Health
4. Public Health
5. Cooking
6. Camping
7. Civics
8. Bird Study
9. Pathfinding
10. Safety
11. Pioneering
12. Athletics or Physical Development
13. Swimming
14. __________
15. __________
16. __________
17. __________
18. __________
19. __________
20. __________
21. __________
The 1950 Scout Handbook changed the requirments somewhat and list the following Eagle Scout requirements:
I. Service as a Life Scout (at least 6 months)
Practicing the Oath, the Law, the Motto, the Good Turn
II. Qualify for 21 Merit Badges (including)
1. First Aid
2. Life Saving
3. Personal Health
4. Public Health
5. Cooking
6. Camping
7. Citizenship
8. Bird Study
9. Pathfinding
10. Safety
11. Pioneering
12. Athletics or Physical Development
13. Swimming
14. __________
15. __________
16. __________
17. __________
18. __________
19. __________
20. __________
21. __________
The 1961 Scout Handbook changed the requirments somewhat and list the following Eagle Scout requirements:
I. Service as a Life Scout (at least 6 months) and work actively as a leader in meetings, outdoor activities, and service projects of your unit. Earn one merit badge from the CONSERVATION group. Earn three merit badges from the CITIZENSHIP group.
II. Qualify for 21 Merit Badges (including)
1. First Aid
2. Life Saving
3. Personal Fitness
4. Nature
5. Cooking
6. Camping
7. Firemanship
8. Safety
9. Swimming
10. Public Health
11. One from the outdoor sports group.
12. One from the animal husbandry group.
13. One from the plant cultivation group.
14. One from the communication group.
15. One from the transportation group.
16. One from the building group.
17. __________
18. __________
19. __________
20. __________
21. __________
The 1972 Scout Handbook changed the requirments somewhat and list the following Eagle Scout requirements, including for the first time a leadership service project:
1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least six months as a Life Scout.
2. Show Scout spirit.
3. Earn a total of 24 merit badges, including the following: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Safety, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science, Personal Management, And Personal Fitness or Swimming or Sports
4. While a Life Scout, serve actively in one of the positions listed in Requirement 5 for Star Scout.
5. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to your religious institution, school, or town. This project must be approved by your Scoutmaster and troop committee before you start.
6. Take part in a personal growth agreement conference
More info to follow here as I find it!