Stacy Cordery: "Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-02-23/stacy-cordery-juliette-gordon-low-remarkable-founder-girl-scouts
Daisy in London, c. 1890
Photograph by Alice Hughes. Girl Scouts of the USA—Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Used by Permission
On the eve of the Girls Scouts' centennial, Diane and her guest discuss the life of its founder, Juliette Gordon Low. Known as "Daisy," Gordon Low wanted American girls to share in the independent skill-building activities that the British Girl Guides enjoyed. From her living room in Savannah, Georgia, Daisy recruited and formed troops for the organization that would eventually become a national movement.
Guests
Stacy Cordery
professor of history, Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois
Read An Excerpt
Reprinted by arrangement with Viking, A member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., from Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts by Stacy A. Cordery Copyright (c) 2012 by Stacy A. Cordery:
Program Highlights
More than 50 million young women have been Girl Scouts at some point in their lives. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. celebrates its centennial next month. Historian Stacy Cordery has written a new biography about its creator. The book is titled "Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts."
First Interest In Low
Cordery was in the Brownies when she first learned about Low, and she was very impressed that Low had accomplished so much in spite of her disability (she was deaf). Low wasn't born deaf; she had been plagued by ear infections and problems her whole life, and in her teens, a doctor attempted a treatment involving silver nitrate, which severely worsened her condition. On her wedding day, a piece of rice got lodged in her ear and caused further infection, worsening her condition even more.
Low's Early Life
Low grew up in Savannah, Georgia, one of six children in a fairly wealthy family. Born in 1860, her early life was affected by the civil war. Her mother was from Chicago; her father, a proud Georgian who fought in the Civil War for the Confederates. "So her early years then were colored by the privations of war and the fact that her father was this, you know, larger than life romantic figure in this Confederate uniform. And all the glory to people around her were in these uniforms and I think that, like most children who are lucky enough to avoid the battle for it itself, she played games about war with her sisters and so forth," Cordery said.
Low's Married Life
Low married a young Savannah man with roots in England, Willie Low, but it was a difficult marriage. Low had a mistress, and Juliette threatened to divorce him. But he fell ill, and she felt she had to drop the divorce proceedings. When he died, he left his fortune to his mistress. Low learned that life is unpredictable.
The Start Of The Girl Scouts
Low had worked as a volunteer in settlement houses in England, and she e3ventually started a girl scout troop in Scotland, for poor girls. "So she saw how her guiding experiences helped these girls to, she believed, a better future. She gave them solid skills and fun and tea. You know, food is always helpful when you are bringing kids together," Cordery said. "She thought these girls would be better served if they could get some kind of economic independence," she said.
You can read the full transcript here.
Comments
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I was dismayed to find out even the Girl Scouts have become part of the "War on Women" as a politician in Fort Wayne, IN declared he won't support them citing they promote abortion & homosexuality based on an allegation! When will women band together to stop these religious extremists from taking us back to the Dark Ages?!
Here's the link to this story-
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/fort-wayne-lawmaker-wont-honor-girl-scouts
Thanks, Julie
When I was 8 and 9 years old, I was being abused by an older boy in the neighborhood, until I joined the Girl Scouts and began to recite the pledge, including the words, "A Girl Scout is clean in thought, word, and deed." With the support of this higher authority and the weight of the pledge in mind, I was finally able to stand up to my abuser and say, "no more."
I wish EVERY Girl Scout chapter would embrace women's history and encourage girls to "adopt" a role model she can admire and have as a historical mentor forever. Women's history is a tremendous source of inspiration and self-esteem. What's more when girls do their own research to uncover an untold story, that's incredibly empowering!
Thank you for a fascinating show.
Bonnie Hurd Smith
My sister and I were both girl scouts growing up, and my mom was a leader. Now I'm a co-leader of my daughter's Junior troop. I love the organization, and the wonderful women I have met. And I love being able to help the girls discover new things to try. We are going to the 100th anniversary celebration in Lansing, MI on March 10, with my mom.
Is Stacey planning on hosting any book signings in the NJ/NYC area? I have her book and would love to have it signed by Stacey. Thank you Debbie
Well done Diane. Thanks for sharing on this 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts. All of my girls (and I) are active, including our foster children. Thanks to you for always having a stimulating show.
Diane, nice job regarding the cookie sale caller. This time should be used to ask questions about Juliette.
I have collected many, many Girl Guide and Girl Scout items at Estate sales and such. I have noticed that many women who's husbands where stationed in Europe where involved in both organizations. How many countries where part of the Girl Guide program?
I have been a Girl Scout Leader now for 9 years - Personally my girls do the work and I supervise and direct. As they get older they take on more of the leadership and I am there to be a mentor and consultant. They get out of it what they give.
Girlscouts is anything but obsolete and irrelevant. In my opinion, there will never be a time when a girl doesnt need friends, purpose and an outlet that allows her to gain self-confidence.
In today's world there is so much peer pressure on girls to conform. Girl Scouts teaches girls to be self-sufficient, caring and honorable. What could be obsolete about that??
Proud Leader of Cadet Troop
I have been involved with girl scouts as a leader since 1981. Although the girl scout organization has made many changes throughout the years, the one guiding principle that shines through, is "Trust the Girls". What this should and can mean, and does in many troops, is that the girls can use the program to do just what Daisy began with in Scotland. They can tailor it to fit their interests, use it to gain experience for their adult pursuits be that science/law/industry/hobby or home.
There are few organizations that have given girls a chance to be leaders and protected their right to self-improvement by their own choice, and it is an unrecognized gem of an opportunity in this day and age. I believe that it fits perfectly into the current push to support girls in any arena they want, and it is attempting to create inner flexibility to push that envelope and open any door, for any girl... at her direction.
Thank you for your conversation, My daughter is a senior Girl Scout we have been part of our troop for 8 years. I understand the caller's thoughts about not enjoying cookie sales, however the lessons the girls learn from this are valuable. These girls learn early to approach customers , ask for business, engage in commerce, use manners whether they were successful in sales or not. They learn to shrug off rude customers and to appreciate the good ones. All with spirit and a smile. We have fantastic times and valuable lesson in our troop family from death and divorce, and watching the mothers of the troop support each other. Now I know these are lessons that Juliette was dealing with as well, Thank You Julliette! Whether we are learning about working with austistic childern or learning to dance the Booty Pop, the girls keep it relevant!
I must respond to the man calling and complaining about cookie sales. When I had my Brownie Troop, we would first choose the activity we wanted to raise money for, calculated how much we needed to make off of sales, set our goal and then we all worked at our "sales pitches". Yes, moms and dads took the sign up sheets to work (why not?), but, most of my little brownies made many phone calls to friends, relatives to sell their cookies. The cookies sell themselves. In fact, one year, we set up at a local ski area. When the word got out that Girl Scout Cookies were being sold, we had folks find us (including kids who were working the kitchen). Cookie sales help the troops and the girls get "cookie credits" based on their sales that help them pay for summer camps or fun items from the local council store. I could go on longer about the benefits and value of this annual fund raiser..but, I will stop to go and make a cup of tea to enjoy with my freshly opened box of thin mints. :)
The recent problem with GS cookies was the use of palm oil which is responsible for destroying the land wherever it's harvested. The Girl Scouts have responded to calls for them to stop using palm oil or use responsibly harvested palm oil so now it's OK to buy the cookies again.
In the mid-1970's, I was in an operetta in Charlotte, NC, about "Daisy." Apparently, someone else found her fascinating enough to write an operetta about her!
The comments about the War on Women and the supposed actions of the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood, etc are completely unfounded and just internet garbage. If you go to the website of the Indiana Girl Scouts you will see all these issues clarified.
The Girl Scout program teaches girls and young women to be stewards of their physical environment (recycling programs, camping, river clean -up) as well as exemplary volunteers who make enormous contributions to communities all over the world! The Girl Scout Gold Award is a year long project that senior Girl Scouts can attempt to earn - only a small number of girls earn this prestigious award because it requires a commitment of a substantial number of hours of planning and implementation. Most importantly the project ultimately must be sustainable beyond the scope of the single girl's efforts in order for the girl to have earned the award! In Central Maryland fewer than 70 girls per year earn this award. Selling cookies provides the funds girls need to go camping, travel, learn skills from computers to first aid and much more. The Girl Scout program is tremendously important to providing all girls with opportunities they might otherwise not have. In Central Maryland there is even a Beyond Bars program to help incarcerated mothers interact in positive ways with their daughters through the Girl Scout program.
Thank you for this great show. I was a proud Girl Scout (and a Brownie) in the 60s. Scouting instilled a lifelong desire to do good deeds and to give back, along with important skills in outdoor activities (camping, respect for environment, etc), in first aid, and most importantly in tolerance and fairness. The recent smear campaign from the right is so distressing...it gets to the heart of an overall disrespect, belittling, and all out war on women and girls. Thanks for talking about the GSA's beginnings and the remarkable woman who brought it about...and for reminding everyone of the value of supporting girls everywhere
I was sorry to hear that Diane Rehm was unable to join Girl Scouts because her family could not afford it. In our area, at least, no girl is turned away for economic reasons. We have a fund to pay the membership for those who can't afford it, and a uniform is not required. Most girls purchase only a sash or a vest. I do remember when patterns could be purchased so that girls could make their own uniforms, and perhaps Girl Scouts should consider making these available again.
I would like to invite Ms. Rehm to join now. It's never too late to be a Girl Scout.
There should not be a financial impediment to joining girl scouts or forming a troop. Annual registration fees are $12 and your local council will provide financial aid to girls unable to pay. There is no uniform requirement beyond the membership pin. Wearing a uniform or vest or sash is up to the individual troop. Dues are also a troop decision. A troop does not have to require dues and can use their cookie proceeds to fund troop activities. Choosing and funding activities are troop decisions.
Well done MarthaB!
I agree, that Diane and Stacey should be named honorary GS since they promote the principles Daisy would have taught and required from her girls.
I'm buying the book today. Not just because the biography of Juliette Low she wrote sounds great, but because the author's personal bio appeals to me. First, she's from Michigan. Next, her academic credentials got me "hooked"--my husband is a UT Ex also. Then one of my sisters went to Mounmouth College. And both my parents (now in their 90s) are alumni of Monmouth from the very early 1940s. My father majored in history and is a retired history prof. My mother was a member of Kappa Delta (that chapter is no longer active), which is relevant because Girl Scouts is an official philanthropy of that national sorority. My daughter also joined Kappa Delta last year at college in Indiana. My mother was involved with scouting and as a leader, all 5 of her daughters were scouts, I was also a leader, and my daughter was a scout. Congratulations on the book and happy 100, Girl Scouts.
It is too bad Diane's comments concerning the cost of Girl Scouting were not corrected before the end of the show.
The ONLY uniform required for a Girl Scout is the pin and that is given to the girl by the troop when she is inducted into the Girl Scouts.
The dues are set by the girls based on the activities they want to accomplish.
All badges are provided by the troop after the girl has earned them.
There is a portion of the cookie sales that goes into the troop and the troop is supposed to plan activities based on the money earned by the girls.
Mothers selling cookies is totally against the rules of Girl Scouting.
Girls are to be making the decisions and doing the activities but, for safety reasons, adults are to be with the girls at all times. There is no more door-to-door selling except to close neighbors because of safety concerns.
The young lady who spoke was quite eloquent but like any young girl, she mentioned only the fun things and not the lessons. Camping is a way to teach the girls self-sufficiency. My troops camped all the time. They did all the planning and carrying out of the activity.
My husband and I helped form a program aide program for the girls in our area. The girls learned to be leaders and role-models to the younger girls.
Finally, the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is not very well-known, is more difficult to earn than the Boy Scout Eagle award. I have a son who earned his Eagle Scout Award at 14 and my daughter earned her Gold Award at 17 because a girl cannot even begin to work on her Gold Award until she is a Senior GS beginning at 16.
Girl Scouts is first and foremost a service organization that teaches girls self-sufficiency, confidence, poise and responsibility for their own actions. It is hardly an obsolete organization.
And it is unfortunate it and the Gold Award are not more widely recognized for the wonderful opportunity it is for the girls of our nation.
Dear Diane et al.
I want to thank you for your topic today re: The Girls Scouts and Juliet Low. The timing is perfect as malicious remarks are being circulated by who knows who about this wonderful Organization.
I was hoping for a way to help dismiss the lies but could not think of anything and what a good source The Diane Rehm Show to publicize the truth.
My mom (98), daughter, granddaughter and I have all participated as scouts and scout leaders in the Scouts.
As to being relevant to the age, when is in not relevant to have a circle of friends, a tribe if you will? This is a very important benefit of belonging.
Thank you for your show. I listen often and so enjoy your even presentation and interesting topics.
gail vossler
At the end of the show, Diane was lamenting that she couldn't afford to be a Girl Scout when she was a girl. It has changed. Thanks to fundraising efforts like SHARE (share in her real expenses), there are many financial aid options out there. One-third of my Girl Scout troop is on financial aid. Girl Scout scholarships pays for the uniform, books and dues. Cookie sales supplement the rest. Summer camps are subsidized and many activities are sponsored by generous individuals and companies to support girls. All a girl needs to be in uniform is her Girl Scout pin anyway. I have always loved knowing that Juliette Low wanted Girl Scouts to be inclusive. That tradition is still there--all girls are welcome to join Girl Scouts, regardless if they can pay for it. And, I urge women and men to become Girl Scout leaders. There are girls who are waiting for troops, but the adults in their lives can't provide the leadership they need.
Gardensquad (1 of 2):
The Progressive era saw many wonderful social empowerment projects proliferate across the Western world: the girl scouts, boy scouts, YMCA, YWCA, Red Cross, Key Club, etc., as well as many political advocacy & workers' rights associations.
While a modest middle class was coming into being (it didn't really take off until after the 2nd World War), this was mostly a time when widespread poverty & great inequality spread alongside rapid industrial development & prosperity for a few industrialists & their professional lackeys. Before the 1930s, there were little to no legal protections for workers or tenants or public assistance programs to enhance upward mobility. Educational opportunities for the poor were limited at best. In this context, the great voluntary armies of the Progressive era spread like wildfire.
Today we are facing a very similar situation: massive economic contraction & erosion of social & legal protections for poor & middle class people. Creeping poverty is met by crumbling infrastructure - including water & sanitation systems - due in part to a tax system too reliant upon wage incomes & not enough on capital gains & corporate profits. Yet all this is occurring alongside a period of marked technological innovation. In short, the Gilded Era has returned. Like it's predecessor, today's Gilded Era must coincide with & be succeeded by a new Progressive Era. Like then, however, the call cannot be met only with political & macroeconomic reforms. Voluntary associations - sponsored in part by philanthropists - need to assist with class mobilization & fill in the training & motivation gap left by closing schools & overworked parents. So far - much because of the individualist cultural revolutions that characterized post-war 20th century consumer society - philanthropists have failed to grasp the importance of facilitating voluntary, collaborative empowerment organizations analogous to those that dominated the Progressive era.
Gardensquad (2 of 2):
Imagine a youth & young adults club focused on urban organic gardening & green housing: for flat renters, not just folks with a backyard. Let's call it Gardensquad. Our food safety net is deteriorating: austerity hawks may cut or dilute SNAP programs; healthy food prices have long been inflating in relation to junk food & can scarcely be found in many poor neighborhoods, fueling obesity. Pesticides & potentially unsafe GMOs increasingly saturate the food supply. It increasingly consists of poorly regulated imports, whose prices vary with commodity speculation, global fuel stock, climate, & geopolitics.
What if public & charter schools hosted or began these home horticulture collaboratives, while an enlightened philanthropist donated a few billion $ for equipment, supplies & training?
Gardensquads could share or barter members' surplus, with members specializing while the group pooled products to offer diversity linked to meal designs. What wasn't consumed by chapters could be donated or sold at local produce stands at schools or other venues. Web-based freeware could facilitate planning, cataloging, monitoring & instruction. Community gardens & kindly neighbors could grant extra yard space. Regional & state summits could award finest produce, highest yield, best sharing ideas, etc. Linked chapters could even exchange less perishable items via truck. Audacious Gardensquads could teach water filtration, add chickens or liaison w/ alpaca farms for spinning & weaving wool. Ok, that last one's a bit much.
What a wonderful way to educate, inspire & feed kids w/ healthy food during hard times! People should research the story of Organopónicos, the decentralized, organic farming system Cuban communities developed after oil imports were suddenly cut off following the USSR's demise. The 2006 film, "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" by Faith Morgan documents some of these innovations.
Gardensquad: donations anyone?
I posted a link to this show on my sister's facebook. She has been a staffer for Girl Scouts in Upstate S.C. for 20 odd years now, and her colleagues are a remarkable group of people as is my sister.
Thank you Diane and Stacy for talking about Juliette.
She started a program that is so relevant today.
I have had so many girls in my troops who turned from silly incompetents to the most accomplished and wonderful women because of the program - Girl led, girl planned is our motto. Once a girl plans and runs workshops for younger girls, does a Silver and Gold Award project, goes on a trip to a foreign land (my own daughter went to Canada, England and Mexico, for example - and I wasn't always around) learned to swim, sail, canoe, kayak, watersurf, climb low and high ropes, use and carry a pocket knife, build a fire and cook over it, lash a washstand, rock climb, climb the rigging on a whaler, help other people at all times, she is a brave and good person. Who would not want their daughter to be that way? Thanks, Juliette.
As a Girl Scout leader, I can assure any and everyone that the Girl Scouts do NOT take a stand on abortion or anything included in the ridiculous allegations that have surfaced lately. It's election season, and it's also our anniversary. That makes the Girl Scouts a wonderful target for ultra conservatives who really have no idea what they're saying. We aren't a part of Planned Parenthood. We believe in inclusion. We also believe in making girls of courage and character. People who have questions can go to the Girl Scouts of the USA website to find out more.
As a side note, some of these people are demanding boycotts of cookie sales. The proceeds from the cookies go toward scholarships for girls, as well as service projects in the communities that the girls live in. Boycotting hurts ALL girls. Please, buy cookies this year to support our younger generation!