Girl Scout History

Throughout its long history, Girl Scouts experienced many firsts and milestones. They were made possible by the strength and dedication of countless far-sighted individuals mostly volunteers who tirelessly served girls and promoted Girl Scouting.

Beginnings 18 Girls

Founded in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia, by visionary Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts started with a membership of only 18 girls and a dream. Juliette, referred to as "Daisy," dreamed of giving the United States "something for all the girls." She envisioned an organization that would bring girls out of their cloistered home environments to serve in their communities and experience the open air. Within months, girl members were hiking through the woods in their knee-length blue uniforms, playing basketball in a curtained-off court, and going on camping trips.

 

Nurtured by Daisy's personal funding she sold her extremely valuable necklace of rare matched pearls to finance operations in the early days and her unique brand of enthusiasm, the Girl Scout movement attracted the attention of many talented, educated women and girls by providing an outlet for their abilities. Initially, Girl Scouting in the United States was dependent on the British Girl Guide example for its name, uniform, handbook and basic ideas. By 1920, Girl Scouts was growing in its independence, with its own uniform; its handbook, Scouting for Girls; and its own constitution and bylaws, contained in the Blue Book of Rules for Girl Scout Captains.

Dream Realized

Within a few years, Daisy's dream for a girl-centered organization was realized.

• Scattered troops coalesced into a national organization (the organization incorporated in 1915 and began holding annual conventions).
• Girl Scouts established a system of national training schools for leaders.
• A number of colleges and institutions of higher learning offered Girl Scout Leadership Training Courses to young women and many universities began offering scholarships for Girl Scouts.
• The Executive Board inaugurated a fund raising plan to finance the organization and relieve the burden on Juliette Low.
• A National Director position was funded.
• In 1917, the organization chartered the first Girl Scout council in Toledo, Ohio; the first troop for disabled girls met in New York City; first Girl Scout troops were formed in Hawaii; and the first Black troop began.
• Membership further diversified with the establishment of the first Native American Girl Scout troop in 1921 outside of Syracuse, New York and the organization of the first troop of Mexican-American girls in 1922 in Houston, Texas.
  When the United States entered World War I, Girl Scouts served their country on the home front, working in hospitals, growing vegetables, and selling defense bonds. After the war came The Golden Eaglet, a feature film about Girl Scouting shown in theaters across the country, and The American Girl (earlier called The Rally), a popular magazine for young girls.

By the time Girl Scout membership reached 137,000 in 1926, the organization had its own national training center for Girl Scout leaders, Camp Edith Macy in upstate New York.

Girls in Green From the Great Depression to World War II  By 1929, membership was over 200,000, the khaki uniform was replaced with a green one, and Girl Scout camps were setting national standards for safety and health.

The severe economic hardships of the Great Depression in the 1930s tested the resourcefulness of the organization and its members. Girl Scouts proved worthy of the challenge as they joined the relief effort, collecting clothes, food, and toys; volunteered in hospitals; and worked on community canning projects.

In 1936, the national Girl Scout organization began the process to license the first commercial baker to produce cookies that would be sold by girls in Girl Scout councils. Enthusiasm for Girl Scout cookies® spread nationwide. In 1937, more than 125 Girl Scout councils reported holding cookie sales.

With the coming of war in the early forties, Girl Scouts again served on the home front, collecting fat and scrap metal and growing Victory Gardens.

Post World War II1980s

Re-incorporation of Girl Scouts of the USA in 1950 under a congressional charter began the 1950s. Bought in 1953 and later restored, the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, Georgia, was opened as a house museum and national program center for girls in October 1956.

The social unrest of the 1960s was reflected in organization actions and Girl Scout program change, including introduction in 1963 of four program age levels for girls: Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior Girl Scouts.

The National Board went on record as strongly supporting civil rights. Senior Girl Scout Speakout conferences were held around the country and the "ACTION 70" project was launched in 1969, both as nationwide Girl Scout initiatives to overcome prejudice.

"Eco-Action," a national environmental program, and swearing in of the first Black National President, Gloria D. Scott, were turning points of the seventies.

The 1980s began with the introduction of new program resources, a new Daisy Girl Scout age level for girls five years old or in kindergarten, and the opening of Edith Macy Conference Center. It also introduced a series of publications dealing with contemporary issues, such as child abuse, youth suicide, literacy, and pluralism

Girl Scouting in the 1990s and Beyond 3.7 Million Strong

During the nineties, Girl Scouting experienced a renewed emphasis on physical fitness with the inauguration of a health and fitness national service project in 1994 and the GirlSports initiative in 1996.

Throughout its history, Girl Scouting has held on to its traditional values while maintaining a contemporary outlook a dual focus expected to continue in the 21st century.