Juliette Gordon Low

American reformer Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) was the founder of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. With a mission of providing healthy activities for girls while instilling a sense of good citizenship, the Girls Scouts has grown to include millions of members in troops across the country.

Juliette Gordon Low was a wealthy socialite of the United States and Great Britain who spent most of her life enjoying the recreations of the privileged classes. However, after meeting the founder of the Boy Scouts, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, she discovered a social cause to which she would devote the rest of her days - the formation of a similar organization for girls in the United States. An enthusiastic organizer and fundraiser, she led the formation of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 1915, using her own fortune as the primary source of financial support for the group in its early years. By the time of her death, the Girl Scouts had become a successful national organization with thousands of members.

Low was born Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon in Savannah, Georgia, on October 31, 1860. The second of six children, Low was part of a distinguished and wealthy family. Her mother, Eleanor Lytle Kinzie Gordon, hailed from Chicago and had written a book about the experiences of her adventurous father, a government agent who had worked on the western frontier among Native Americans. Low's father, William Washington Gordon II, had made his fortune as a cotton trader in the South. During Low's childhood, her father served in the Civil War as a Confederate officer; he later served the reunited nation as a general in the Spanish-American War. Low, who was known to her family as "Daisy," inherited traits from the personalities of both parents: like her mother, she possessed a great deal of charm and wit, but she also had her father's instinct for organization and leadership. Her talents were apparent in the active summers she would spend with her sisters and cousins at her aunt's estate in northern Georgia, where she took the lead in organizing camping and hunting trips. She also had a gift for artistic pursuits and enjoyed writing and acting in the plays that the children would put together.

Entered Elite Social Circles

Low was sent to private schools in Georgia, Virginia, and New York. In New York, Low pursued her artistic interests by continuing to write plays and act in dramatic productions; she also studied painting. After completing her schooling, she traveled to Europe, where she would spend part of each year for the rest of her life. It was on a trip to England that she began a courtship with the English millionaire William Mackay Low. For four years, the two carried on a romance, despite the disapproval of William Gordon, who considered his daughter's suitor to be a libertine. The couple was eventually married in Savannah, in December of 1886. As the wife of a wealthy landowner, Low was introduced to the highest levels of British society. Her husband was a friend of the Prince of Wales and Low had the honor of being presented to Queen Victoria at the royal court. The Lows entertained frequently at their Scottish estate as well as in England and the United States.

Over the coming years, however, Low found herself becoming increasingly lonely and frustrated. Her husband frequently traveled to exotic spots around the world for hunting expeditions and other adventures while Low remained at home. A back injury prevented Low from horseback riding, one of her favorite pursuits, so she returned to art to fill her days. She took up painting again and began working on larger projects such as carving a mantelpiece for one home and designing a set of iron gates for another. She also continued traveling, taking a female companion when her husband did not join her. By the early 1900s, the marriage was coming to an end. William Low's affair with another woman had become well-known, and in 1902 his wife agreed to begin divorce proceedings. Complications arose when William Low died before the divorce was settled and left his entire estate to his mistress. After months of legal negotiations, Low was finally awarded $500,000. That amount provided her with the means to continue her previous style of life, spending part of the year in London and Scotland and the colder months in the United States, particularly Savannah.

Inspired by Boy Scouts Founder

In 1911, when she was 51, Low's social circles brought her into contact with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a hero of the Boer war who had founded the Boy Scouts organization. The two became good friends and Baden-Powell introduced Low to his sister, who had founded a similar group for girls known as the Girl Guides. The social aims of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides - to provide healthy activities for children while instilling a sense of responsible citizenship - struck a chord in Low, who soon founded her own Girl Guide troops in Scotland and England. Her enthusiasm for the cause quickly evolved into a desire to introduce the Girl Guides program in the United States.

Returning to Savannah, she established the first U.S. unit of the Girl Guides on March 12, 1912. Her group included two small troops of girls that met in the carriage house behind Low's home. The Girl Guides, dressed in a uniform of a sailor-style blouse, blue tie, navy skirt, and dark stockings, engaged in a variety of sports and outdoor activities such as camping. Other girls in Savannah were eager to join in the fun, and the response convinced Law that a nationwide organization should be formed. Her plans were interrupted, however, by the death of her father, to whom she had been greatly devoted. She spent the following year with her mother in England before returning to her work on the Girl Guides.

Founded Girl Scouts of America

Low had hoped to form a group known as the Girl Scouts through a partnership with an already existing American group, the Campfire Girls, which had been founded in 1910. When this arrangement failed to materialize, Low sprang into action to make her dreams of a Girl Scouts organization a reality. She drafted several prominent Americans to serve on a board of directors, created a national headquarters, personally traveled to a number of states to launch organization efforts, and used her own money as the main source of funding. Her efforts came to fruition in 1915, when the Girl Scouts of America officially incorporated. Low began serving as the Girl Scouts' first president, a position she would hold for five years. By 1916, there were more than 7,000 girls participating in Girl Scouts.

The World War I years saw an enormous amount of growth in the Girl Scouts, which participated in a number of activities to help support the war effort. The public notice that this drew brought in new members and increased donations. But the rapidly expanding organization soon overtook Low's ability to adequately finance the group. While continuing to encourage generous donations from others, she also began instituting cost-cutting measures in her own home in order to provide money to her scouts. Some friends felt that her measures, such as not turning on the electric lights in the house until after five each day, would never save her enough to make up for the large amounts she spent on her girls' organization; other acquaintances suggested that such "hardships" were just an act to solicit more donations. Whatever the truth was behind these stories, Low's ultimate concern was always the Girl Scouts.

Remembered as "the Best Scout"

By 1920, the Girl Scouts had become so large that it required a full-time administrative staff to manage the duties that had previously been handled by volunteers. Low, expressing confidence in the new leaders, retired from her post as president with the title of "Founder," but continued many of her activities within the Girl Scouts. Although she was losing her hearing and was diagnosed with cancer a few years later, she traveled to England to attend the World Camp of the Girl Scouts in 1924 and volunteered to bring the event to New York state in 1926. She could barely disguise the pain she was suffering as she hosted the week-long World Camp in New York. Knowing that she did not have long to live, Low made a final trip to England to say goodbye to friends and then came home to Savannah. In tribute to her unflagging efforts to bring the Girl Scouts to children across the country, organization executives sent a telegram to her stating that she was "the best scout of them all." She died in Savannah on January 18, 1927. The Girl Scouts organization has continued to prosper since the death of Low, bringing her ideals to millions of girls in an organization that has reached every state in the nation.

Further Reading

Choate, Anne Hyde, and Helen Ferris, editors, Juliette Low and the Girl Scouts: The Story of an American Woman, 1860-1927, Doubleday, 1928.

Saxton, Martha, "The Best Girl Scout of Them All," American Heritage, June/July, 1982, pp. 38-47.

Schultz, Gladys D., and Daisy Gordon Lawrence, The Life of Juliette Low, J. B. Lippincott, 1958.

Juliette Gordon Low (center) standing with two Girl Scouts

Juliette Gordon Low (born Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon in Savannah, Georgia, October 31, 1860 – January 17, 1927) was an American youth leader and the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912.^[1]

She became known as "Daisy" because her friends and family called her that. Her mother's family came from Chicago and her father was a Confederate Captain in the American Civil War. Daisy was always jumping into new games, hobbies and ideas. Another one of her nicknames was "Little Ship". She acquired this nickname while living with her maternal grandparents John H. Kinzie and Juliette Augusta Magill Kinzie in Chicago during the Civil War. Her grandfather, John Harris Kinzie, was a Native American agent and young Juliette often played with Native American children. Juliette loved to hear the story about her great-grandmother, who was captured by Native Americans. Even though she was a captive, she was always joyful, so the Native Americans started calling her "Little-Ship-Under-Full-Sail". She was the adopted daughter of the Seneca chief Cornplanter in the years she dwelt with the tribe, Eventually, the Seneca said they'd give Juliette's great-grandmother whatever gift she wanted, and she chose to go back home. The Seneca let her go. The shorter version of the nickname was bestowed on young Juliette.

Juliette was educated in several prominent boarding schools, including the Virginia Female Institute (now Stuart Hall School) and Mesdemoiselles Charbonniers (a French finishing school in New York City).

When she was about 25 years old, Juliette suffered an ear infection that was treated with silver nitrate. This treatment damaged her ear, causing her to lose a great deal of her hearing in that ear.

At the age of 26, she married William Mackay Low,^{[note 1]} the son of a wealthy cotton merchant in Savannah and England. His mother was a native of Savannah, Georgia. Their wedding took place on December 21, 1886, which happened to be her parents' 29th wedding anniversary. A grain of rice thrown at the wedding became lodged in Juliette's good ear. When it was removed, her ear drum was punctured and became infected, causing her to become completely deaf in that ear. Her hearing was limited for the rest of her life, so she learnt Sign Language.

Her marriage to Mr. Low proved to be childless. However, there are three known descendants, Cameron Low Donahue, Stephen Low Donahue, and Kevin Low Donahue who are related to Juliette. Although the couple moved to England, Juliette continued her travels and divided her time between the British Isles and America. During the Spanish-American War, Juliette came back to America to aid in the war effort. She helped her mother organize a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers returning from Cuba. Her father was commissioned as a general in the U.S. Army and served on the Puerto Rican Peace Commission.

As early as 1901, due to her husband's drinking and philandering Juliette intended to get a divorce. However, her husband died from stroke in 1905 before the divorce proceedings could be finalized. When his will was read Juliette discovered that her husband had left his money to his mistress. She was left with a small widow's pension. It was in 1911 that Juliette met Second Boer War hero (and founder of the Scouting movement) Robert Baden-Powell and his sister Agnes. She and Sir Robert (later Lord) Baden Powell shared a passion for sculpture and art. She also enjoyed working with iron.

While in the UK, Juliette worked as a Girl Guide leader for troops she organized in Scotland and London. On returning to America in 1912, Juliette placed her historic telephone call to her cousin, Nina Pape: "Come right over! I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!" On March 12, 1912, Juliette gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. Margaret "Daisy Doots" Gordon, her niece and namesake, was the first registered member, but did not attend the first meeting. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year. The organization was incorporated in 1915, with Juliette serving as president until 1920 when she was granted the title of founder.^[2]

In personality, Daisy was known for being eccentric and charming. One commonly related anecdote recounts how, at an early Scout board meeting, she stood on her head to display the new Girl Scout shoes that she happened to be wearing. She also wrote poems; sketched, wrote and acted in plays; and became a skilled painter and sculptor. She had many pets throughout her life and was particularly fond of exotic birds, Georgia mockingbirds, dogs, cats, and a few horses. Daisy was also known for her great sense of humor.^[2]

Juliette Gordon Low developed breast cancer in 1923, but kept it a secret and continued diligently working for the Girl Scouts. Low died January 17, 1927, from this cancer, and was buried in her Girl Scout uniform in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah.^[2]

Contents 1 Museums 2 Honors 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

Museums

In Savannah, Georgia tourists and locals can visit three historic sites which relate to the life of Juliette Gordon Low. The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is one of the most visited house museums in Georgia. The Andrew Low House became her Savannah home after her marriage to William Mackay Low in 1886, and The Girl Scout First Headquarters is the former carriage house of the Andrew Low family. Juliette converted the carriage house into her Girl Scout headquarters shortly after the first meeting in 1912 and willed it to the local Savannah Girl Scouts upon her death in 1927.^[2]

Honors

• During World War II, a Liberty ship was named after her, the SS Juliette Low, hull number 2446. This ship was launched in Savannah, Georgia, on May 12, 1944, and scrapped in 1972.
• On July 3, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill authorizing a stamp in honor of Juliette Gordon Low. The stamp was one of few dedicated to women. She was only the eighth woman to be honored with a stamp. There have been three Girl Scout U.S. postage stamps.
• In 1953, Girl Scouts of the USA purchased and restored Juliette Low's childhood home in Savannah. It became known as the Juliette Gordon Low Girl Scout National Center, and is often referred to in Scouting as the Birthplace. In 1965, the house was designated a registered National Historic Landmark.
• In 1954, the city of Savannah, Georgia, honored her by naming a school after her. A Juliette Low School also exists in Anaheim, California and Arlington Heights, Illinois.
• On October 28, 1979, Juliette Low was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.
• On December 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill naming a new federal building in Savannah in honor of Juliette Low. It was the second federal building in history to be named after a woman.
• In 1992, a Georgia non-profit group honored Juliette Low as one of the first Georgia Women of Achievement. A bust of Juliette Low is displayed in the State Capitol.
• In 2000, The Deaf World in Wax, a traveling exhibit, featured Juliette Low as a famous deaf American.
• In 2005, Juliette Low was honored as part of a new national monument in Washington, D.C. named The Extra Mile Points of Light Volunteer Pathway. The monument's medallions, laid into sidewalks adjacent to the White House, form a one-mile walking path.^[1]

See also

Scouting portal

• Camp Fire Girls

Notes

1. ^ Known as "Willy" to his family, but called "Billow" by Juliette

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Extra Mile - Points of Light Volunteer Pathway
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Marti Gerdes, Robert W. Blythe, and Patty Henry (March 21, 2005) (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Juliette Gordon Low Historic District (Revised Documentation) / (1) Wayne-Gordon House (also known as the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace), (2) First Girl Scout Headquarters (Andrew Low Carriage House), (3) Andrew Low House, National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/ga/Juliette%20Gordon%20Low%20HD.pdf, retrieved 2009-06-22  and Photos to accompany original documentation, exterior and interior, from 1870, 1907, 1920, 1980, and 1986PDF (2.43 MB)

External links

• Inventory of the Gordon Family Papers, 1810-1968, in the Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill.
• New Georgia Encyclopedia
• History of the Girl Scouts of the USA
• Juliette Gordon Low biography — Women in History, Lakewood Public Library.
• Juliette Gordon Low — National Women's Hall of Fame.
• Juliette Gordon Low Biography — Girl Scouts of the USA.
• A virtual tour of Juliette Gordon Low's childhood home in Savannah, Georgia— Historic Landmark: The 1821 Wayne-Gordon House

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