History of Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA)

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 tireless 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 ankle-length blue uniforms, playing basketball in a curtained-off court, and going on camping trips.

Nurtured by Daisy's personal funding (she sold her necklace of rare matched pearls for $8,000 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.
Four universities offered courses in crafts for Girl Scout leaders, and several other universities offered scholarships for Girl Scouts.
The organization formed an Executive Committee.
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; and registration of Black troops began.
Membership further diversified with the registration of Native American troops by the end of the 1920s.
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 Join the Relief Effort

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.
The first nationally franchised sale of Girl Scout cookies® took place in 1936, and by the end of the decade had grown into an important money-earning project for local troops.
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 II: 1980s

Re-incorporation of Girl Scouts of the USA 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.

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: 3.6 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.