Girl Scout History Project

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History Center

Ann Robertson
1–2 minutes

The Girl Scout History Project is operated by historian and political scientist Ann Robertson. It is independent of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital although blog posts often feature events or memorabilia from the Nation’s Capital collection.

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital established an Archives and History Committee in 1983 to acquire, develop, and maintain archival collections to ensure the preservation of materials which document the founding, development, organization, management, and achievements of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital and its legacy councils.

Historical materials are housed at the Nation’s Capital History Center in Frederick, Maryland, which opened in 2015. A separate center located in Winchester, Virginia, closed in fall 2025, and its contents have been merged with those in Frederick.

The Frederick History Center is open to visitors on the afternoon of the first Sunday of each month. Visits by request may also be available.

History-themed programs are held at the History Center in Frederick on weekends. These include workshops to earn the Girl Scout Way badges as well as selected vintage badges. More information is available at the Nation’s Capital events calendar.

History Team members welcome field trips and research visits. Team members have history-themed exhibits at Service Unit Thinking Day Celebrations, training blitzes, weekend events, and day camps.

Want to learn about Girl Scout history? The History Team has hosted researchers ranging from Bronze Award seekers to PhD candidates. Several recent scholarly books and journal articles have specifically thanked the History Team for help with their projects. Please submit specific research questions in advance, so that appropriate materials will be on hand for your visit.

The all-volunteer History Team meets in Frederick on Thursdays. Programs are held on weekends and the Frederick Center is open for visitors

Want to join the Team? Request a program? Borrow vintage uniforms? Have a donation or a mystery item to identify?

Contact History Team Leader: Ann Robertson.

6 responses to “History Center”

  1. Angeal Avatar
    Angeal

    When will more workshops be offered? What weekend each month is it opened?

    Reply
  2. Arielle Masters Avatar
    Arielle Masters

    Do you know if there are photos/memorabilia from local GS camps in the ’70s-’80s?

    Reply
  3. Lillian Steele Avatar
    Lillian Steele

    This from LJ Steele. I am a former Girl Scout from the late 1960s-1970s. Some of our troops were disbanded years ago due to a lack of interest. Mt grandmothers church does have an all-Black Girl Scout Troop, and they are wonderful. It is located at St John’s AME Zion Church and is located in Mocksville, NC which is in Davie County, NC. Davie County is not that far from Forsyth County, NC where Winston-Salem, NC is located also.

    Finally, I graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1986 and worked as a K12 Educator and also as a Museum Professional at Old Salem,Inc. which is still opened for school and scout tours. In fact, my former supervisor who became a missionary for the Presbyterian Church, USA was a wonderful person, and she was a former Girl Scout in Pennsylvania. She made me feel a part of Old Salem and did not like discrimination towards anyone at all.
    I have not seen her in many years, but she was also a teacher of Home Economics and switched to Museum Education when she and her now deceased husband moved here to NC many years ago. You folks would have loved to have met her. Carol was the best ever supervisor.
    Thanks so much.
    LJ Steele, MA Retired K12 Educator and former museum professional with Old Salem,Inc. 1986-2029. lilliansteele084@gmail.com

    Reply
  4. Lillian Steele Avatar
    Lillian Steele

    So far, I cannot locate any of the 1960s-1970s Girl Scout scrapbooks. My best friend the late lawyer Lynn Hicks-Troutman died several years ago from a stroke. I did get to meet her cousin from Virginia but have since lost all contact with him and his wife, He was her dad’s cousin and he and his wife are first rate folks. They took care of her final wishes. She is missed by many folks from her old high school and so do I. LJ Steele. lilliansteele084@teachers.org.

    Reply
  5. Marie Daly Avatar
    Marie Daly

    Is the project still active? I am still in touch with my friends in Troop 75, Waltham, MA, who graduated from high school in 1965. I have donated most of my memorabilia to the Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill, Waltham.

    Reply
    1. Ann Robertson Avatar
      Ann Robertson

      Yes, this project is still active. I’m still in touch with my old troop. Green bonds are the strongest!

      Reply

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