Founder of the Girls Scouts – Juliette Gordon Low – Had a Severe Hearing Impairment

A Famous Georgian

By the Points of Light Institute

Founded Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 1912 to develop and strengthen their leadership skills; to provide support, kindness, and compassion to those in need; and to prepare to serve as responsible citizens of their community and country. Her efforts have enabled millions of girls, from 5 to 17, to enjoy fun, friendship, and learning opportunities in a nurturing Girl Scout environment.

" The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers." — Juliette Gordon Low

Born: October 31, 1860 Savannah, Georgia
Died: January 17, 1927 Savannah, Georgia

Girl Scouting in the United States was founded by a remarkable woman named Juliette Gordon Low. She was an environmentalist, a crusader, a woman dedicated to the service of thers.

Above all, she was certain the future belonged to the young. In developing the Girl Scout movement in the United States, Low brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them opportunity to learn about nature and develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare themselves not only for traditional homemaking roles, but also for roles as professional women, in the arts, sciences and business, and for active citizenship in many other activities. From an initial group of just 18 girls in 1912, Girl Scouting has grown to nearly 3.3 million girl scouts in the late 1990's. It is the world's largest voluntary organization for girls and has influenced the lives of more than 50 million girls and adult leaders.

Born into the wealthy Gordon family of Savannah, Georgia, just a few months before the start of the Civil War, Juliette had a happy childhood but was not destined for the life of a conventional, southern, society woman. "Daisy," as Low was known to her family and friends, had a strong will, good wit and a tomboy's interest in the outdoors and adventure. While her education at private schools in Virginia and a French school in New York City developed her artistic skills, she also traveled extensively and learned how to fish, wood-carve and blacksmith.

In 1886, at the age of 26, Juliette Gordon married William McKay Low, a wealthy Englishman. At the time of the wedding, she had already lost some of her hearing in one ear. Ironically, as she was leaving the wedding ceremony, a grain of rice landed in her good ear and the doctor who removed it punctured her eardrum. Eventually, Low became almost totally deaf.

After their society wedding, Low moved to England with her new husband, but divided her time between the Scotland, England and America. During the Spanish-American War, Low returned to help her mother organize a convalescent hospital for soldiers in Florida, where her father was stationed as a general in the U.S. Army.

At the end of the war, Low returned to England and faced a failing marriage. The couple agreed to divorce but William Low died in 1905 before proceedings were finalized. After spending several aimless years traveling through Europe, Low settled in Paris to study sculpture -- and met the man who would inspire her to begin the work for which she is most remembered today.

In 1910, Low met General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a British war hero who had founded the Boy Scouts in England only three years earlier. Low shared Powell's love of the outdoors and became interested in his new youth program for boys. In England, it had also resulted in the formation of a similar organization for girls, known as the Girl Guides. Within one year there were Girl Guides or Girl Scouts in Australia, South Africa, and Finland. Within two years, similar groups were formed in Sweden, Denmark, Poland and Canada.

This new movement was just the sort of thing that appealed to Low and soon she was back in Scotland, leading a Guide group of her own. As her interest in the Girl Guides grew, Low was eager to introduce the program to American girls.

Low was 50 years old when she moved back to the U.S. to start Girl Scouts. The idea of starting a Girl Scout program was considered unconventional in her hometown of Savannah since the role of women and girls was rigidly defined. But Low felt that girls should think of themselves as capable of becoming whatever they wanted to be; to be able to survive the natural elements. She wanted girls to feel entitled to an education, career and family if they wanted.

On March 12, 1912, eighteen girls in Savannah were registered as Girl Scouts. The first registered member on record was Daisy Gordon, Low's niece. By the time of World War I, there were enough Girl Scouts in the United States to make a real contribution to the war effort. These girls helped to realize Low's dream of girls learning to be active, vital citizens of their country.

Low found a joy and a purpose in life in the organization of Girl Scouts and worked relentlessly for many years establishing a solid foundation for the movement. She personally donated, secured, and financed much of the Girl Scout's program needs in the United States for the first few years and her generosity was also felt overseas. She spent time at camps and knew many of the girls well.

Even in its infancy, Girl Scouting in the United States was progressive. Early editions of the American Girl Guide Handbook advised girls that, "really well-educated women can make a good income," as architects, doctors, accountants, scientists, and aviators. Although the wording was different, the handbook also reflected such present-day concerns as ecology, organic foods, organic cosmetics, physical fitness, and pollution control. The 1916 version of this handbook, written by Low herself, showed how progressive she meant the institution to be. It provided for an aviation badge at a time when aviation was in its infancy - and definitely not a world for women.

Low believed that girls could and should plan their own program, make their own decisions, run their own troop. She saw their adult leaders as helpers and advisors, never as directors. Whenever a new program idea was suggested, and some adult committee member questioned whether it would work, her answer was, "Ask the girls. If they don't like it, the Angel Gabriel himself couldn't make them accept it!" She not only loved girls, she respected them. She respected their judgment and preferences.

Juliette Gordon Low is remembered as a woman who worked for peace and goodwill. Her dream was to have young people make the world a friendly, peaceful place. She wanted young people to understand themselves and others. She wanted to give something special to the world, and that was Girl Scouting. She never had any children of her own, but her "adopted family" of Girl Scouts numbered 167,925 at the time of her death.

Today, this "family" has grown to millions of members, and every one of them owes a debt of gratitude to the woman who made it all possible - Juliette Gordon Low.


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