1. GIRL SCOUTS THROUGH THE AGES: A LOOK AT GIRL SCOUTS IN AMERICA
My bullet points are three highest awards in Girl Scouts for three levels:
-the 1st is the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting (Senior)
-the 2nd is the Silver Award (Cadette)
-and the 3rd is the Bronze Award (Junior)
I did much of my work on an iMac, and when I transferred the file, some things changed around. I could not figure out how to keep the file from changing, so I apologize if the pictures are out of whack or the text is off the page. I ended up finishing at home, and organized the PP so it looked good on the iMac.
Colleen M AHAP-NOP Horace Greeley H.S Chappaqua, NY

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
How did Girl Scouts as an organization reflect the changing roles of women in society?

3. Origins Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low
Four of the first badges
Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low
Called Girl Guides for its first year
The first troop meeting was held on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia
The idea came from Lord Baden Powell, who founded Boy Scouts in England, and his sister, Agnes, who founded Girl Guides
At this time, a woman’s future was limited, as was her schooling
One of the first troops (circa 1912)

4. Purpose
The purpose of Girl Scouts was to establish self-development, good citizenship, and love of the outdoors
Because of her marital problems (after his death, Low’s husband left his estate to his mistress), Low encouraged independence in girls
While still promoting the ideals of the era (housekeeping, child care, etc), Girl Scouts also emphasized independence, physical fitness, and careers for women
Juliette Low awarding the Golden Eaglet, the highest award in Girl Scouts at the time

5. Uniforms
In this time period, women usually wore long dresses that covered their wrists, neck, and ankles
Problem: Juliette Low wanted the girls to be able to move around
The end result was a short dress, cinched around the middle with a belt, with thick stockings for winter and lighter tights for warm weather
In 1912, the uniform was actually blue
It was changed to khaki in 1914, and to the now-famous green in 1928

6. Uniforms Uniforms were a way for the organization to be recognized
When they were in public, people would be able to associate the girls with a specific organization
This would connect Girl Scouts with a helpful, not revolutionary, purpose
At first, the badges were sewn onto the sleeves of the dress
Only later were vests and sashes created
present
1970s
1940s

7. Badges and Handbooks
Originally the badges were to let the girls show off their prowess in “acceptable” activities, such as sewing, cooking, etc
The handbook contained “helpful” information on how a proper lady should think and act
While Girl Scouts professed some new ideas, the organization mostly stayed true to the ideas of the “ideal woman” of that time
1920 Girl Scout Handbook
The first handbook (1913)

8. The Girl Scout Laws
A Girl Scout’s Honor is to be Trusted. 2. A Girl Scout is Loyal. 3. A Girl Scout's Duty Is to be Useful and to Help Others 4. A Girl Scout is a Friend to All, and a Sister to every other Girl Scout no matter to what Social Class she May Belong. 5. A Girl Scout Is Courteous. 6. A Girl Scout Keeps Herself Pure. 7. A Girl Scout Is a Friend to Animals. 8. A Girl Scout Obeys Orders. 9. Girl Scout is Cheerful. 10. A Girl Scout is Thrifty.
The values of this time period were reflected in the laws
Cheerful- “…(she) should sing even if she dislikes it”
Women were meant to make the world more pleasant

9. A “medieval” representation of the Girl Scout Laws and Promise
In 1916, the 6th Law was changed to Cheerful, and the 9th Law was changed to Pure
In 1917, the 4th Law was changed to read: A Girl Scout is a Friend to All and a Sister to Every Other Girl Scout
After 1917, the laws would not be changed again until 1972
At that point, Girl Scouts itself, as well as their ideals, had undergone many changes
A “medieval” representation of the Girl Scout Laws and Promise

10. Girl Scouts team up to preserve fruits and vegetables to prevent
World War I ( )
While the men went off to fight in Europe, someone had to pick up the jobs that they left behind
Women began to work in jobs that had never before been done by females
Girls helped to conserve and preserve food, sold war bonds, worked in hospitals, and collected peach pits for use in gas mask filters
The war gave girls the chance to earn over 25 badges
Child Nurse, etc
Girl Scouts team up to preserve fruits and vegetables to prevent
food shortages

11. Mrs. Felegara with her troop in 1941
Elizabeth Felegara
1938
Elizabeth Felegara was in the first Chappaqua Girl Scout troop in 1937
Some of her activities included hiking, photography, knots and lashing, and learning Morse Code
In the early 1940s (during WWII), she and her troop helped their mothers (who were nurses) in local army hospitals
“I suppose we were the forerunners of The Candy Stripers.”
(primary source document)
Mrs. Felegara with her troop in 1941

12. A Victory Garden booklet
Elizabeth Felegara
The girls planted Victory Gardens, even in 1940, before Pearl Harbor
“We…had a Victory Garden Contest…which I won…”
One who was of age had to (and wanted to) look like a lady
“…we asked Betty White to speak to the girls about good grooming- taking showers, using deodorant, a tad of lipstick, etc.”
Makeup was becoming popular
Women were becoming an everyday part of society, and they wanted to look presentable
A Victory Garden booklet

13. Lou Henry Hoover Throughout her life, Mrs. Hoover loved Girl Scouts
"To me…scouting has always been the most important.”
She became the leader of Troop VIII
She served on every branch of Girl Scouting: from troop leader, to president of the national organization, to national board member
An example of the “new woman”- active in society
As First Lady, she was the honorary head of Girl Scouts
Mrs. Hoover making her first radio address in the White House, accompanied by two Girl Scouts

14. The Great Depression (1929-1939)
During the Depression, membership in Girl Scouts continued to grow, partially because it provided relief and opportunities to girls (especially poorer ones)
The girls did community service to help those severely affected by the Depression
Collecting clothing, making quilts, carving wood toys, gathering food, assisting in hospitals, participating in food drives and canning programs, and providing meals
Theatre, movies, art, dance, and music were all distractions from the hopelessness of everyday life, and the Girl Scouts participated in and created more of them
Gathering food for neighbors in need

15. Girl Scouts learn about aviation through the Wing Scout program
WWII ( )
During the war, Girl Scouts rose to the occasion and greatly helped on the home front
They operated bicycle courier services, invested over 48,000 hours in Farm Aide projects, collected fat and scrap metal, and grew Victory Gardens
They collected over 1.5 million pieces of clothing and shipped them to Europe for the freed prisoners of war
Pamphlets were given out about service projects and how to act in an aid raid
Girl Scouts learn about aviation through the Wing Scout program

16. Girl Scouts collect scrap metal for recycling for the war effort.
WWII
Up until this point, there wasn’t an event that really gave the Girl Scouts a chance to help and prove themselves
Women met the needs of the nation by taking on jobs in factories that were once occupied by men
After the war ended, many women didn’t want to go back to their old lives, which paved the way for the “revolution” of women in the workplace
The Girl Scouts of WWII became the women who fought for the right to work in “a man’s world”
Girl Scouts collect scrap metal for recycling for the war effort.

17. 1950s
Two Senior Girl Scouts prepare
for a camping adventure.
Girl Scouts encourage international friendships.
Brown vs Board of Ed (1954) shocked many in the demand for desegregation of the schools
However, the Girl Scouts has already begun mixing races
Ebony Magazine (1952)- “Girl Scouts in the South are making steady progress toward breaking down racial taboos."
Some of the “social outcasts” that were Girl Scouts expended much effort to include were the daughters of migrant agricultural workers, military personnel, Native Americans, Alaskan Eskimos, and the physically challenged
Much of the rest of society hadn’t accepted these groups as equal to whites yet

18. 1950s
However, women were still considered inferior to men, and only there to serve and please males
There were textbooks detailing what a good wife should and should not do
“Don't complain if he's home late for dinner, or even stays out all night.”
“His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.”
“Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.”
“In all things be led by your husband's wishes…”

19. 1960s The 60s were a time of great social unrest
Martin Luther King, Jr and others fought for black civil rights
The Girl Scout National Council publicly announced that the organization supported civil rights
In this time, Girl Scouts was divided into Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior Scouts, depending on age
NASA invited 100 girls to see the launch of Apollo 12 at Cape Kennedy, Florida
By 1969, over 43% of women were working
In the 1950s, a woman’s place was in the house
Girl Scouts witness the
Apollo 12 moon launch at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

20. The Girl Scout Law
1972 I will do my best: To be honest To be fair To help where I am needed To be cheerful To be friendly and considerate To be a sister to every Girl Scout To respect authority To use resources wisely To protect and improve the world around me To show respect for myself and others through my words and actions.
The law became one sentence, focusing more on the qualities expected of every human being, and not just a woman
Reason: women had become more valued members of society, and not just people to take care of the home

21. 1970s
In 1975, Gloria D. Scott became the first African-American National Girl Scout President
In response to the growing environmental awareness, an program called Eco-Action was born
The win in 1973 by Billie Jean King in “The Battle of the Sexes” created more feminist feeling- maybe men weren’t really better than women at all
Anna Mae McCabe Hays becomes the first woman general in the U.S. Army
Shortly before this, women were in their own separate unit
Girl Scouts taught girls many things needed in the military- there were numerous Girl Scouts-gone-soldiers

22. Two informational pamphlets
The informational pamphlet Tune In to Well-Being, Say No to Drugs was first published in 1985
This was part of the “Say No To Drugs” campaign led by First Lady Nancy Reagan
In response to the growing threat of the AIDS epidemic
As the US reached out to other countries, Girl Scouts did too
In New York, the Edith Macy International Center opened
It would later serve as a meeting place for Girl Scouts of all countries, and a place where customs could be shared
Two informational pamphlets

23. The explosion of Challenger 7
In 1986, the spacecraft Challenger exploded, killing all seven astronauts, including school teacher and former Girl Scout, Sharon Christa McAuliffe.
Sandra Day O'Connor, also a Girl Scout alumna, became the first female Supreme Court Justice.
Christa McAuliffe
The explosion of Challenger 7
Sandra Day O’Connor

24. 1990s
Nearly four million Girl Scouts, girls and adult leaders, tackled illiteracy alongside First Lady Barbara Bush in the Right to Read service project
Girls came from being almost totally illiterate to helping others who were- how they had progress from their beginnings in 1912
Girl Scouts began a health and fitness national service project, Be Your Best, to promote different ways of being healthy, keeping fit, and eating right
This came along with the new food pyramid, which happened to be drastically different from the previous ones

25. The Girl Scout Law The part “courageous and strong” was new
1992 I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
The part “courageous and strong” was new
It reflected the new idea of what a woman should be, or rather, what she did not have to be
Women now had a say in their own lives

26. 9-11-01 Girl Scout Patch (not earned, just to show support)
September 11th, 2001
After the tragic events of 9/11, Girl Scouts everywhere banded together to help
In NY, hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout cookies were sent to the volunteers working at Ground Zero
Thousands of women (some former Girl Scouts) joined the military to fight al Qaeda
60 years ago, women fought in separate units, most of which never saw actual combat
No event since Vietnam had the general public been this involved in a national crisis
They performed community services, hosted remembrance ceremonies, and wrote thank-you letters to rescuers
Girl Scout Patch (not earned, just to show support)

27. Afghanistan and Iraq
One soldiers actually began going over to Afghanistan and Iraq, Girl Scouts started collecting food, clothing, and money to send to both the soldiers and the natives
When asked by President Bush, almost every Girl Scout donated $1 to the children of Afghanistan
There continues to be a drive with every cookie sale that sends cases over to the soldiers
In March 2004, Girl and Boy Scouts were founded in Iraq
A Brownie high-fives a soldier while delivering cookies to be shipped overseas to the troops

28. Modern Girl Scouts
Membership in GSUSA went from 18 girls in 1912 to 3.3 million in 2007
Currently, wearing uniforms is not demanded for every meeting as it was in the beginning
Not many girls wear the white gloves and skirt
There are over ten different kinds of cookies sold each year
Girl Scouts has become one of the most influential and well-known organizations in the world
They have continued to give girls the opportunity to change the world around them
Girl Scouts are extremely valuable
By earning different awards, they are also helping their community

29. THE END

30. Extra Info The Highest Award
Golden Eaglet of Merit, 1916 to (the first Girl Scout top award)
Golden Eaglet, 1919 to                                      
Curved Bar Award, 1940 to                                               
First Class award, 1963 to                               
Girl Scout Gold Award®, 1980 to present                  
The Highest Award
Each of these awards tested the strength of character, as well as the motivation, of the girl earning it
The Gold Award includes 30 hours of leadership, Interest Project Patches, and several other time consuming prerequisites
The project
Must have continuity, leadership, and community service, as well as being at least 65 hours

31. Bibliography
2001. Legacies: A Girl Scout Uniform. Smithsonian. 7 June 2007 <
Challenger 7 Astronauts Space Today Online. 7 June 2007 <
Discovery Education, comp. "1960s." Women of the Century Discovery Channel. 7 June 2007 <
"Everything2." Girl Scout Law. 23 July The Everything Development Company. 2 June 2007 <
Felegara, Elizabeth F. Letter to Betsy Towl. Letter Describing Mrs. Felegara's Experience as a Girl Scout in Chappaqua. Horace Greeley Historical Society, Chappaqua.
Four of the First Girl Scout Badges. Girl Scout Museum. GSUSA. 7 June 2007 <
The Girl Scouts are (a) Time-Honored American Institutions. They Were Founded in GSUSA. Watching America. GSUSA. 4 June 2007 <
"Girl Scouts of the USA." General Information About Scouting. 8 Dec Boy Scouts. 1 June 2007 <
Girl Scouts Treat Soldiers in Iraq. Topix.net. Topix.net. 7 June 2007 <
Gsusa, comp. Girl Scout Badges and Signs. New York City: GSUSA, 1980.
Gsusa, comp. "Girl Scouts Timeline." Girl Scouts of the USA GSUSA. 2 June 2007 <

32. Bibliography
Gsusa, comp. Senior Girl Scout Handbook. New York City: GSUSA, 1963.
Gsusa, comp. Senior Girl Scouting. New York City: GSUSA, 1945.
Gsusa, comp. Worlds to Explore: Handbook for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts. New York City: GSUSA, 1977.
Gsusa. Junior Girl Scout Handbook. New York City: Girl Scouts, Inc, 1963.
The Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor. Sylcanus Thayer Award Recipients. West Point. 7 June 2007 <
"How to Be a Good Wife." From Home Economics Textbook June 2007 <
Lewis, Chris H. "American Women in the 1950s." American Studies. Colorado University. 6 June 2007 <
Lone Star Girl Scout Coun, comp. History of Girl Scouts. GSUSA. 2 June 2007 <
Low, Juliette. How Girls Can Help Their Country. Bedford: Applewood Books, June 2007 <
Maher, Colleen A. 1940s Uniform Chappaqua. New Castle Historical Society.
Maher, Colleen A Uniform Chappaqua. New Castle Historical Society.
Middleton, Ken. "1970s." American Women Through Time. Middle Tennessee State University. 7 June 2007 <
On January 28, 1986 America Was Shocked by the Destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the Death of Its Seven Crew Members Rhode Island. Historica Images. Brown University. 7 June 2007 <

33. Bibliography
Pojer, Susan, comp. "America in the 1960s." HistoryTeacher.Net. 7 June 2007 <
Program Division, Girl Sc. Girl Scout Handbook. 13th ed. New York City: GSUSA, 1952.
Program Division, Girl Sc. Girl Scout Handbook. New York City: Girl Scouts, Inc,
Rare Girl Scout Patch Rare Girl Scout Patch. eBay. <
San Fransisco, San Fransisco. Diablo Day Camp. San Fransisco Bay Girl Scout Council. 4 June 2007 <
Troop 1440, comp. "History of the Girl Scout Organization." 25 Feb GSUSA. 2 June 2007 <
When the Four Winds Met. By Oleda Schrottky. Dist. Gsusa
The White House. "Iraqis to Participate in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts." Iraq Fact of the Day. 2 Mar The White House. 7 June 2007 <