Oct. 31, 1860

• Birth of Juliette Gordon

December 12, 1886
• Juliette Gordon Marries William Mackay Low


 1910

•  Girl Guide movement begins in England


 1911

•  Juliette meets Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts in England, and his sister, Agnes Baden-Powell founder of Girl Guides in England
• Juliette starts a Girl Guide company (troop) in the Scottish valley where she is spending the summer


1912

•  March 12, Juliette Gordon Low establishes the first Girl Scout troop in the U.S. with 18 girls
•  Margaret Daisy Gordon, Juliette's niece, becomes the first registered Girl Guide in America
• 108 Girls enrolled as members following the first troop meeting
• The Tenderfoot Pin, (the trefoil), is chosen as the symbol to be used by Girl Scouts
• Thanks Badge, an adult award, is introduced.
 
1913
•  Girl Scouts becomes the new name for Girl Guides in America
•  W.J. Hoxie prepares the first official G.S. handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country
•  June 1, National Headquarters established in Washington, D.C.
 
1914
•  Trefoil design for membership badges is patented and becomes the official membership symbol
• By now, 22 proficiency badges are in existence


1915

• Girl Scout membership reached 200 troops, 5,000 girls
• Juliette Low sells her pearls to support the Girl Scout Movement
• First Annual Convention held in Washington, DC
• A Constitution and Bylaws are adopted
• Juliette Gordon Low is elected National President of the Girl Scouts, 1915-1920
• National membership dues of 25 cents adopted


1916

•  G.S. national headquarters is moved to New York City
• Juliette Gordon Low introduced the Golden Eaglet award - the highest award in Girl Scouting
•  The first Brownie-age troop is organized in Marblehead,Massachusetts
 
1917
•  Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, the country's First Lady, becomes the first honorary president of Girl Scouts, a tradition that continues today
• Editorial Department is established at National Headquarters
• The first issue of The Rally, a monthly publication for girls begins
•  First troop of physically disabled girls in the United States is organized in New York City
• The first National Training School for Girl Scout leaders is established in Boston


1918

• Design of the Girl Scout Pin to include the letters "GS"


1919

• Concept of an International Council of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts began
• The Golden Eaglet, a black-and-white silent film, produced
Premiered in new York City's Fine Arts Theater on January 16th
Believed to be the first motion picture produced by a public service organization
• First nationwide celebration of Girl Scout Week; the week beginning on the Sunday that included JGL's birthday, October 12.
• First Blue Book of Rules published
 
1920
•  At this time there are nearly 100 Girl Scout Councils in 11 states and the territory of Hawaii, with almost 70,000 girl members and over 3,000 troops
•  Juliette Low retires as President of Girl Scouts and takes the title "Founder of Girl Scouts"
•  October 31 becomes known as Founders Day in Girl Scouts
• First International Conference of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts held in England
• The U.S.A. introduced the song "Taps" to the Girl Guide and Girl Scout movement
• Scouting for Girls, new handbook is published
• American Girl magazine is published, titled changed from The Rally
• Camp Edith Macy at Briar Cliff Manor, NY is opened as a national training center
 
1922
•  Camp Andree Clark established as the first national Girl Scout camp, Briar Cliff Manor, NY, Adjacent to Camp Edith Macy
• Field News, a monthly bulletin for Girl Scout leaders, began publication
 
1923
•  The name Field News changes to The Girl Scout Leader
• Formal training is made a requirement for leaders
• Design of the Girl Scout pin changed - the eagle's shield now had seven stars, placed in two rows and seven stripes


1924

• Normal Rockwell draws Girl Scout cover for Life Magazine
• International Conference of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts held in England
 
1926
• International Conferences held at Camp Edith Macy
• Program to include Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 7-9
• Brown Book for Brown Owls published as the first official leader's guide to program for USA Brownie Girl Scouts


1927

•  First group of U.S. Girl Scouts goes to an international event in Switzerland
•  Juliette Gordon Low dies
• Juliette Low World Friendship Fund is established in her memory to support projects and events promoting international understanding
• New Girl Scout handbook is published
•  First United States Girl Scout Troops on Foreign Soil are registered
• First celebration of Thinking Day, February 22
 
1928
•  International Council is replaced by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is formed
 
1929
•  At the end of the year there are over 200,000 Girl Scouts
 
1930
• World Flag design is adopted
•  First all-Indian Girl scout troop registers at the Indian Boarding School in Pawnee, Oklahoma
 
1932
•  March 12 is designated as the official Girl Scouts birthday
• Our Chalet opened in Adelboden, Switzerland, a gift of Mrs. Helen Storrow of Boston
 
1933
•  The Girl Scout handbook is transcribed into Braille and large type


1934

• Mariner Scout program officially launched


1935

• The first documented council-wide cookie sale of commercially baked cookies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Girl Scout program to include older girls, ages 14-17
 
1937
• 25th anniversary of Girl Scouting in the United States
• National and International Silver Jubilee encampment held at Camp Andree Clark; 100 girls from the USA and 26 other countries came together to celebrate


1938

• Girl Scout membership reached one half million
• Girl Scout program reorganized into three separate groups:
Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 7-10,
Intermediate Girl Scouts, ages 10-14 and
Senior Girl Scouts ages 14-18
•  Over 1 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are sold


 1939

• The Girl Scout Chalet, a replica in miniature of Our Chalet in Switzerland, opened at the New York World's Fair
Served as a headquarters for Girl Scouts and their friends
Displayed and sold Girl Scout Equipment
• Our Ark opens in London, England
•  Over 2 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are sold
 
1940
• Curved Bar award introduced, 1940 - 1963


1941

• Wing Scout program developed for Senior Girl Scouts - emphasis on the study of transportation
 
1943
•  First Girl Scout calendar is produced for council fund raisers
• "A Million or more by 44" was the membership objective
 
1944
• Girl Scout check for 15,430,000 hours of service given to FDR
• Senior Girl Planning Conference held at Camp Edith Macy
•  1 million members register in Girl Scouts
•  A Liberty Ship, "S.S. Juliette Low" of the Merchant Marines is launched
•  More than 1/4 million girls go to Girl Scout camps


1945

• First Lou Henry Hoover Memorial Forest is dedicated


1946

• The World Badge adopted at the 11th World Conference in France
 
1947
•  The name of the organization officially changes to Girl Scouts of the United States of America
 
1948
•  The U.S. Postal Service issues a 3 cent commemorative stamp honoring Juliette Gordon Low.
750,000 stamps are sold in Savannah on the first day of issue
• Design of the World Badge was adopted at the 12th World Conference in Cooperstown, NY
 
1949
• WAGGGS Pin introduced in the USA
•  Almost 1.5 million are registered in Girl Scouts
 
1950
•  GSUSA is incorporated under a Congressional Charter
 
1951
•  First Brownie Girl Scout Handbook for girls is published
•  Motto becomes "Be Prepared"
 
1952
• Rockwood, in Potomac, Maryland dedicated as a National Girl Scout camping center (1952-1979)


1953

•  GSUSA purchases Juliette Gordon Low's birthplace in Savannah, Georgia
• Site of Our Cabana is acquired by WAGGGS


1954

• Annual Girl Scout week celebration is changed from October to March


1956

• Juliette Gordon Low's birthplace is dedicated, October 16
• First Senior Girl Scout Round-Up in Michigan:  5,000 girls attended


1957

•  3 million members in Girl Scouts
•  The first world center for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in the
• Western Hemisphere , Our Cabana, opens in Cuernavaca, Mexico
 
1958
•  The present Girl Scout headquarters in New York City are dedicated


1959

• Our Ark moved to Earls Court, London, England


1960

• Juliette Low Centennial is celebrated
 
1962
•  50th anniversary of Girl Scouts
•  The Girl Scout Rose and Brownie Girl Scout Marigold developed to honor Girl Scouts
• Post Office issues a 4 cent commemorative Girl Scout stamp
•  First Roundup for Senior Girl Scouts is held in Vermont
 
1963
•  Girl Scouts are divided into 4 age groups:
Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 7-9
Junior Girl Scouts, ages 9-11
Cadette Girl Scouts, ages 12-14 and
Senior Girl Scouts, ages 14-17
•  New handbooks and leaders' guides are published
• Junior program to include the Sign of the Arrow and the Sign of the Star
• Our Ark is renamed Olave House
 
1964
•  First Reader's Digest Foundation Grants are provided for
• Senior Girl Scout troops to do community service projects
•  Girl Scout handbook is published in Braille
 
1965
•  Brownie handbook is published in Spanish


1966

• Sangam, the fourth World Center, opens in Poona, India
 
1968
•  Campus Girl Scouts becomes an official part of Girl Scouts
•  National Center West, Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming is established


1969

• Eco Action, a nationwide environmental education and improvement project is launched
 
1970
•  30 millionth member of GSUSA is registered
 
1972
•  New wording of Girl Scout Promise and Law are adopted
• Eight new Cadette Challenges are introduced
 
1973
•  Portrait of Juliette Low is presented to the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.
•  Brownie membership is extended to 6 year olds
 
1974
•  Bust of Juliette Low is placed in Georgia's Hall of Fame
 
1975
•  Over 123 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are sold


1976

• More that 150 Girl Scouts, 14-17 are delegates to the National Convention
• Edith Macy National Center celebrates 50th anniversary
 
1977
•  Worlds to Explore: Handbook for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts is published
• The Five Worlds of Interest in Girl Scouting are introduced
• Junior Aide patch, Brownie B's, Bridge to Juniors are introduced
 
1978
•  Contemporary version of Girl Scout trefoil is launched as the official emblem featuring three-profile silhouettes of girls' faces
• From Dreams to Reality, a career exploration project for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts is published
• Girl Scouts prepare to celebrate the UN's 'Year of the Child'
 
1979
•  Juliette Low is inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY
• American Girl magazine ceases publication
 
1980
•  The Silver Award and the Gold Award becomes the second highest and highest awards in Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts
• Sign of the Rainbow, Sign of the Star, Sign of the Satellite and Bridge to Cadettes introduced into the Junior Girl Scout program
 
1982
• Girl Scouts celebrate 70th anniversary
• Edith Macy Conference Center dedicated
•  April 22 is established as Girl Scout Leader Day
•  Lifetime memberships are offered to adults for the first time
 
1983
•  The Juliette Gordon Low Federal Complex is opened in Savannah, Georgia. This is the second Federal building to be named after a woman.
 
1984
•  Daisy Girl Scout age level program for 5 year olds or girls in kindergarten is launched
• Delegates vote to change the wording of the Girl Scout Promise


1985

• Contemporary issues resource, Tune Into Well-Being, Say No To Drugs  introduced


1986

• Brownie Girl Scout Try-Its are introduced
• Contemporary issues resource, Staying Safe, Preventing Child Abuse introduced
• The Sign of the World introduced into the Junior program
 
1987
•  Girl Scout 75th anniversary celebrated; theme, Tradition with a Future
•  The Post Office issues a stamp to commemorate GSUSA


1989

• The National Historic Preservation Center opens at National Headquarters
 
1991
• Earth Education programs introduced


1996

•  New wording for Girl Scout law is adopted
•  New, separate handbooks for Cadettes and Seniors are published
 
1997
•  85th anniversary of Girl Scouts
•  Girl Scouts from all across the United States meet on the mall in Washington, DC, to sing songs in honor of 85th anniversary
•  New interest project book for Cadettes and Seniors is published, stressing community service and career exploration in every badge
•  Girl Scouts continues to be the largest voluntary organization for girls in the world