The Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University will present a lecture Tuesday covering the history of the Girl Scouts.
The lecture comes in recognition of the 112th anniversary of the scouts.
The lecture will be held at 7 p.m. and will be presented by Libba Beaucham, who has portrayed Girl Scouts Founder Juliette Gordon Low for thousands of students across Georgia through the museum's education programs.
“Growing up as a Girl Scout, I learned that anything is possible for girls," Beaucham said in a press release. "And the impact of those friendships and experiences is truly lifelong. But when I began portraying Juliette Gordon Low and diving deep into the history of both her life and the Girl Scouts, I became fascinated with the remarkable story of this organization.”
Beaucham will share the story of how Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts.
“Here was this wealthy woman whose marriage was in shambles, who could not have children of her own, who was challenged by near deafness, but who so desperately wanted to use her privilege and status to give back to the world," Beaucham said. "It was Girl Scouts that allowed her to do just that.”
Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon, known as Juliette Gordon Low, was born on Oct. 31, 1860, in Savannah. Low came from a wealthy and well-established family and was affectionately called "Daisy" by friends and family. She was also often called "Hurricane Daisy" or "Crazy Daisy" due to her eccentricities. Low faced many personal challenges, including significant hearing loss in her later years.
"Juliette Gordon Low's life took a pivotal turn in 1911 when she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in the UK. Inspired by Baden-Powell's vision, Juliette aimed to establish a similar movement for young girls in the United States," the release from the History Center said. "On March 12, 1912, she founded the first American Girl Guide troop in Savannah, Georgia, with 18 girls. This marked the beginning of the Girl Scouts, which changed its name in 1913."
“I’m so excited to share how Girl Scouts have impacted our history," Beaucham said. "From community service during World War I to addressing today’s challenges worldwide, it’s so much more than delicious cookies. But if you’d like to know how the cookies came about, then be sure to attend the lecture! It’s a great story.”
The program is free to members of the Northeast Georgia History Center and $5 for non-members. The Forum Lecture Series is generally for adults, but Girl Scouts ages 12+ are encouraged to attend the program.
Interested attendees can register in advance at this link.
