Let's celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America by taking a look at Girl Scout items in the museum's collections, dating from circa 1922-1970.
This is the earliest Girl Scout photo in the museum's Lake County collections. The Girl Scouts were formed in 1912 in Savanna, Georgia by Juliette Gordon Low. This photo of Dorothy Gleiser of the Thistle Troop of Lake Forest was taken at Brae Burn Farm and is dated to circa 1922. LCDM 93.31.5.
Here is Dorothy Gleiser in her Girl Scout uniform in 1926. The uniform in this photo was donated to the museum in 1987. LCDM M-87.3.1
Dorothy Gleiser's Girl Scout uniform. This is a typical button-down-the-front coat dress uniform of the early 1920s. LCDM 87.3.1
"Girl Scouts Be Prepared" buckle from Gleiser's Girl Scout uniform, 1926. LCDM 87.3.1.
Girl Scout pin from Gleiser's uniform, 1926. LCDM 87.3.1
Cover for a guide book for Girl Scout leaders dating from 1937. LCDM 96.5.44
Cover of "Games for Girl Scouts: Brownie, Intermediate, Senior" from 1942. The 106-page booklet includes quiz and memory games, and also physical games the Scouts could play. LCDM 96.5.40
Page from "Games" booklet on how to do a "Balance Kick" and "Blind Man Squat." LCDM 96.5.40 pg 13
The museum's Fort Sheridan Collection has a nice selection of Scout photos (both Girls and Boys) for the Fort Sheridan troops.
The photo (above) taken in 1965 at Fort Sheridan: "Sergeant George Stacey of 204th Military Police Company shows members of a Fort Sheridan Girl Scout Troop how to affix reflector-type safety tape to their bicycles." LCDM 92.24.731
Cookies are probably the first thing that comes to mind for most people when they think of Girl Scouts. Here, members of the Fort Sheridan Troop sell cookies to a fireman, 1970. The sale of cookies as a way to finance troop activities began as early as 1917 with members baking the cookies themselves. LCDM 92.24.737.
"Girl Scouts of Fort Sheridan Troop 157 that received merit badges: (from left sitting in front of table) Jackie DeThorne, Jeana Grahm, Pattie Kapp, and Mary Compney, (back row from left) Kim Kusick, Kathy Phillips, Nancy Peddle, Nancy Phillips, Alesia Smith and Donna Marion. Troop 157 is headed by Mrs. Helen Hugger and Mrs. Eunice Elliott." March 24, 1970. LCDM 92.24.729
"Members of Girl Scout Troop 170, Fort Sheridan, hold a candle light ceremony in honor of Thinking Day, Feb. 22, 1970... Scouts are (from left) Kathy Kob, Beth Reaser, Linda Nunn, Anne Luke, Barbara Sovers, Wendy Ives, Denise Smith, Andrea Simmons, and Janice Kadomstei (center foreground)." Each year on February 22 the Girl Scouts celebrate World Thinking Day in which the girls participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. LCDM 92.24.712