|
|
Juliette Gordon Low is recognized as a matron who furthered women of the United States of America by sustaining the American spirit through her kind actions and crusade to develop young girls through the Girl Guide, then Girl Scout programs. Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon was born during the American Victorian Era into a wealthy family. Her father’s progenitors were early settlers of Georgia, while her mother’s ancestors assisted greatly in the establishment of Chicago, Illinois. It’s no surprise that “Daisy,” as she was affectionately called by her family and friends, became one of the greatest woman pioneers of her time. Juliette grew up in Savannah, Georgia and had a childhood full of the adventures of a strong-headed tomboy. She allowed her cousin to braid taffy into her hair and her mother had to cut it all off. She cared for animals she felt were not being properly cared for by their owners, and began a club to make clothing and blankets for the poorer people in her neighborhood. She was schooled in fine boarding schools in Virginia, and a French finishing school in New York. After her schooling, she traveled throughout the United States and Europe to expand her education. In her life, Juliette faced and overcame many personal hardships. Her mother was emotionally unstable and this hindered a good mother-daughter relationship from forming between the two. When Alice, Juliette’s sister died in 1880 it caused her mother so much strife that her condition worsened and she had much difficulty interacting with her children, especially Juliette. During this period of time, much was occurring in Juliette’s life. She was constantly writing letters to the Low family, a prominent English family. Juliette’s mother did not approve of her relationship with the Low family, and made her disapproval clear to her husband. Juliette’s father, however, approved of the match and through a correspondence with Andrew Low, the head of the Low family, a date was set for Willy and Juliette to marry. A year later the couple was ‘wedded among the evergreens’ as described by a Savannah newspaper. After the ceremony, the guests threw grains of rice at the newlywed couple as was customary. One grain lodged in Juliette’s right ear and it became infected. When a doctor attempted to remove it he damaged her eardrum leaving her mostly deaf. By the age of 26 Juliette was virtually deaf, but her personality and lifestyle were not affected by this handicap. She continued being the same eccentric and charming woman she had been. She continued traveling, as well as painting which was one of her favorite hobbies. She also continued to help people as she had when she was young. During the Spanish-American War, she stayed in Miami, Florida and cared for the wounded and dying soldiers. Two years later it became clear that Juliette’s marriage to Willy Low was falling apart. He had become a drunk and a philanderer. She filed for divorce, but he died in 1905 before it was complete, leaving all of his money to his mistress. Juliette fought for her right to part of Willy Low’s estate and won a $500,000 settlement.
In order to keep the members in her first troop she would hold tea parties at every meeting as an incentive to trek miles across the hilly landscape to attend. The poor farm girls of Scotland saw the hand painted cups and saucers, the linen napkins, and the pastries as a special treat, but the tea was not the only part of these meetings. At these meetings, the girls learned skills that would benefit them like raising chickens and spinning wool from the sheep that were raised on their homesteads. Juliette was not content with her girls learning only skills that would keep them in the home. She wanted the Girl Guides to learn the same skills as the Boy Scouts: leadership and survival skills, as well as the skills to pursue a career out of the home. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, like many men of his time believed a woman’s place was in the home and that they did not need to learn these skills. He also would not permit any girl under his guidance to be called a ‘scout.’ Juliette started two other Girl Guide troops in England, then returned to the United States. Upon returning to Savannah, she called a close relative and said “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!” She began a Girl Guide troop in 1912 financing the troop with her own money and holding meetings on her own property. By 1913, through her promotion, the Girl Guide program she began in Savannah had spread and become the Girl Scouts of America. In 1915 it became an organization with the headquarters in Washington D.C.. Juliette set the foundation for Girl Scouts with her ideals and what she believed a girl needed to know to become a well-rounded woman. She put her first scout troop through physical and mental exercises that would benefit them. They were taught the skills that Lord Baden-Powell thought were unnecessary, as well as the below ideals:
In 1923 Juliette was diagnosed with cancer. She did not tell anyone but close relatives and friends. She died in 1927 and was buried in her Girl Scout uniform with a letter in the breast pocket stating “You are not only the first Girl Scout but the best Girl Scout of them all.” Juliette whole-heartedly gave everything to the Girl Scout organization that it needed: ideals, time, money, organization, love and care. Her dream is as undying as the American spirit because she was infused with it. The American spirit is the ability to enthusiastically bring about a change that will stand the test of time and win, and ultimately better humanity. |
Other sources of information on Juliette Low
|
She began to travel the world once again, but this time it seemed she did not have any sense of direction. She traveled through much of Europe and India. In 1911, while in London she happened to attend a luncheon where she met Lord Robert Baden-Powell the founder of the Boy Scouts and his sister, Agnes who had organized its sister organization the Girl Guides. Juliette was so inspired by their movement that she began her own troop of Girl Guides at her estate in Glenlyon, Scotland. She had found her direction.
Juliette was a Girl Scout for 15 years. She became the first president of the organization in 1915 and retired from her post in 1920. She gave freely of her time and money to the organization and on one occasion sold her pearls because it needed funding.
| Close this window to return to the Troop 204 Members Page |
