Episode 48: Juliette Gordon Low – The Girl Scouts

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Episode 48: Juliette Gordon Low – The Girl Scouts

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Photo courtesy – U.S. Mint Episode 48: Juliette Gordon Low – The Girl Scouts Juliette Gordon Low & the Girl Scouts From 18 Girls in Savannah to a Global Movement Hello, hello, hello—and welcome to another journey through history. Today we’re traveling to Savannah, a beautiful Southern city known for its moss-draped oak trees, historic squares, and charming architecture. But Savannah is also the birthplace of a movement that changed the lives of millions of girls around the world. The story begins with a determined woman named Juliette Gordon Low—known affectionately to friends and family as “Daisy.” And now, more than a century later, her legacy is being honored on the Juliette Gordon Low Quarter, part of the American Women Quarters Program issued by the United States Mint. She was a Woman Ahead of Her Time To understand Juliette Gordon Low, we need to step back to the early 1900s. In those days, opportunities for women and girls were limited. Women could not vote yet. Social expectations were strict. Girls were often taught to be quiet, polite, and prepared for traditional roles. But Juliette Gordon Low believed girls deserved something very different. She believed they should be curious, adventurous, independent, and confident. And she believed they should learn skills that would help them make a difference in the world. In 1911, while traveling in England, Juliette Gordon Low met a man named Robert Baden-Powell. He had founded the Boy Scouts, a movement designed to teach boys outdoor skills, leadership, and service. The idea sparked something in Juliette Gordon Low immediately.She saw how powerful this type of program could be—but she believed girls deserved the same opportunities. So she returned home to Savannah with a bold plan. On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls in Savannah. Those girls became the very first troop of what would become the Girl Scouts of the USA. At the time, the organization was first called Girl Guides, modeled after a similar group in Britain. But the name soon changed to Girl Scouts. Those first meetings focused on things that were unusual for girls at the time: hikingcampingfirst aidleadershipcommunity service And perhaps most importantly—confidence. Juliette Gordon Low encouraged girls to believe they could do anything. What started with just 18 girls in Savannah quickly began to grow. Girls across the country were drawn to the idea of adventure and service. They learned to: build campfiresnavigate outdoorswork together in teamsserve their communities These were skills that prepared girls not just for childhood—but for life. The movement spread quickly. In the 1920s, Girl Scout troops began appearing beyond the United States. Troops formed in places like: ChinaSyriaMexico One of the earliest Native American Girl Scout troops formed on the **Onondaga Nation Reservation in New York in 1921. Mexican American girls formed a troop in Houston in 1922. By 1925, a troop was registered in Shanghai, showing just how quickly the movement had grown. What Juliette Gordon Low started in Savannah had become international. When the Great Depression struck in the 1930s, Girl Scouts stepped forward to help. Troops collected: foodclothingsupplies for families in need They also worked to welcome immigrants into their communities. The Girl Scouts even printed information about their organization in several languages, including: YiddishItalianPolish This helped new immigrant families understand and join the movement. Inclusiveness became one of the organization’s core values. During World War II, Girl Scouts once again stepped forward to serve. Troops across the country participated in national war efforts. Girls collected: scrap metalcooking fatsclothing They also planted Victory Gardens to help support food supplies. Some troops even operated bicycle courier services, delivering important messages and supplies. Girl Scouts also organized Defense Institutes, where women learned emergency skills and ways to help children remain calm during air raids. Even Japanese American girls held in wartime internment camps in Utah and California formed Girl Scout troops—demonstrating the power of community even during difficult times. The spirit of service continued after the war. During the Korean War, Girl Scouts assembled “Kits for Korea,” packages filled with supplies for Korean civilians. The organization also continued pushing for equality and inclusion. By the early 1950s, progress toward racial integration was already happening within Girl Scouts—even in the segregated South. In the 1960s, Girl Scouts became increasingly active in conversations about equality and social change. The organization held Speak Out conferences across the country where girls could discuss issues of race and justice. A national program called ACTION 70 encouraged girls to work toward overcoming prejudice and building stronger relationships among communities. Girl Scouts...

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