Girl Scout National President, poet, and suffragist Birdsall Otis Edey penned the following message to Girl Scouts for 1925:
Leader Magazine (January 1925): 1
Mrs. Edey (and was there EVER a better name than “Birdsall Otis Edey”) is referring to the Girl Scout headquarters at 670 Lexington Avenue in New York City. Funds for the building came in part from the “buy-a-brick” campaign associated with “Dorothy,” the yellow brick girl.
Birdsall Otis Edey at a Girl Scout Rally in Central Park, 1920 (GSUSA NHPC)
A future post will profile the marvelous Mrs. Edey.
Happy New Year from the Girl Scout History Project!!
Girl Scouts is a non-partisan organization that promotes patriotism and citizenship education. While we cannot appear in uniform at partisan events or endorse candidates, we absolutely encourage girls and their parents to take an active part in election campaigns.
Mary Rafter, women’s rights crusader and leader of first Girl Scout Troop in Washington DC
When Girl Scouting was founded in 1912, women in the United States did not even have the right to vote. Many of the early Girl Scout leaders were active in the suffrage movement, including Mary Rafter, leader of the first troop established in Washington, DC, in December 1913.
The 19th Amendmentgave women the right to vote, and Girl Scouts stationed themselves outside polling places to watch children while their mothers cast their first ballots.
A Girl Scout babysits while the infant’s mother casts her ballot (GSUSA).
Over the years, the Girl Scout program has offered many proficiency badges that promote citizenship, as well as patch programs to learn more about the election process.
inside govt
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behind the ballot
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Perhaps that emphasis has contributed to the impressive number of former Girl Scouts involved in governance today. Former Attorney General Janet Reno,who passed away yesterday, was a lifetime Girl Scout.
Whatever happens in this election, the Girl Scouts will have a friend in the White House. Every First Lady since Edith Wilson has been honorary national president of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
First Lady Florence Harding wears her uniform on the White House portico (GSCNC Archives)
First Lady Florence Harding (1921-1924) was a huge fan of the movement, telling visitors, “What I wish is that I were your age and could start life over again as a Girl Scout.”
