A Brief History of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

From the records of GSCNC's Archives Committee

After starting the original Girl Scout troops in Savannah, GA, Juliette Gordon Low returned to England to visit with her Scouting friends. She left Miss Edith D. Johnson in charge of her troops. When Mrs. Low returned to the states and discovered there were troops starting in various areas around the country, she came to Washington, DC, with the intention of starting a national organization.

In June of 1913, Juliette Gordon Low arrived in Washington, DC, and she rented a furnished room at the Muncy Building on E St., NW, between 12th and 13th Streets. Miss Edith D. Johnson was installed as the National Secretary. An honorary committee was formed in the fall of 1913, with seven female leaders from the Washington, DC area.

Between 1913 and 1916, before the national headquarters moved to New York City, many of the basic principles and policies of the Girl Scout movement were set in motion:

The name was changed from Girl Guides to Girl Scouts;
The trefoil design for the membership badge was patented;
Official uniforms were available for the first time from the national Girl Scout organization;
The national organization was incorporated as Girl Scouts, Inc. under laws of the District of Columbia;
The first National Council meeting was held in DC on June 10-12, 1915;
The Constitution and By-Laws were adopted; and
Juliette Low was elected the first president.

Beginning in 1917 and continuing until the present date, there has been one or more Girl Scout councils in the Washington, DC area. The first charter in the area was issued in 1917 to the Girl Scout Association of the District of Columbia, which was the eighth council chartered in the United States. The council covered a 25-mile radius encompassing the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland, and Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia.

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital as we know it today was formed in 1963 and encompassed five area councils that were in existence at that time, plus Calvert and Charles counties in Maryland, and lone troops in Prince William, Loudoun and Fauquier counties in Virginia.

The five councils that were merged to form the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital were:

National Capital Girl Scout Council: In 1924, this council was incorporated under the corporate laws of the State of Virginia as the Girl Scouts of the District of Columbia. The name later changed to the National Capital Girl Scout Council.
Girl Scout Council of Southern Maryland: In 1935, Prince George's Country, MD, became a separate council receiving an official charter as Girl Scouts of Prince George's County. In 1957, troops from St. Mary's County, MD, were included with Prince George's County and the name was changed to Girl Scout Council of Southern Maryland.
Alexandria Council: In 1938, the City of Alexandria, VA, established the Alexandria Council.
Arlington County Council: In 1938, Arlington County, VA, established the Arlington County Council.
Northern Virginia Girl Scout Council: In 1946, the Fairfax County Council of Girl Scouts was formed from lone troops in Fairfax County, VA. In 1958, Fairfax County Council of Girl Scouts expanded to include the City of Falls Church, VA, and the Quantico Marine Corps School reservation. At this time, the council was named the Northern Virginia Girl Scout Council.

The merger that built GSCNC was very carefully crafted, with full consideration given to all the councils and lone troops that were to merge. Under consideration was the real need to deliver services so that all the girls could benefit from a strong and diverse program.

The compromises, months of hard work and effort to keep the girls' needs first that went into the merger, and the writing of the by-laws for the new council laid the foundation for the great things that are happening in GSCNC today.

The size and geographical location of GSCNC enable girls to take part in a large variety of programs and pursue different interests. They are not limited to the programs or special events in their local areas; they are welcomed at events and programs throughout the council. Girls may attend resident camps or day camps in any area of the council.

The council has one of the most diversified memberships in the country. The merger brought together farming communities, small towns, and several larger cities. The area is rich in ethnic groups. Programs throughout the council draw from the cultures, governments, arts, foods, clothing, games and dances of many lands.

Contributed by Therese M. Grossman, Archives Committee Assistant Chair

For more detailed information about the history of GSCNC and the services of the Archives Committee log onto GSCNC Archives Committee website.

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