Outline for a descriptive essay on a famous deaf person: Juliette Gordon Low

An early feminist – while hearingAt that time southern belles were not permitted to run or exert themselves.

She suffered chronic ear infections that made her deaf in one ear after a doctor poured a nitrate solution into her ear canal to heal the infection. Instead, it burned out her eardrum. When she was married in 1886, a piece of rice lodged in the other ear, became infected, then pierced her eardrum, and deafened her on that side too.

Later in life she befriended Lord Baden-Powell in England and his sister Agnes, who developed Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Juliette liked the idea so much that she started Girl Scouting in America.

Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, was born Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon on October 31, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia.

"Daisy," as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was the second of six children of William Washington Gordon and Eleanor Kinzie Gordon. Family members on her father's side were early settlers in Georgia, and her mother's family played an important role in the founding of Chicago, Illinois.

A sensitive and talented youngster, Daisy Gordon spent a happy childhood in her large Savannah home, which was purchased and restored by Girl Scouts of the USA in 1953. Now known as the Juliette Gordon Low Girl Scout National Center, or often referred to as the Birthplace, the handsome English Regency house was designated a registered National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Young Daisy Gordon developed what was to become a lifetime interest in the arts. She wrote poems; sketched, wrote and acted in plays; and later became a skilled painter and sculptor.

In her teens, Daisy attended boarding school at Virginia Female Institute (now Stuart Hall School) in Staunton, Va., and later attended Mesdemoiselles Charbonniers, a French finishing school in New York City.

Following her school years, Juliette Gordon traveled extensively in the United States and Europe.

On December 21, 1886, her parents' 29th wedding anniversary, Juliette married William Mackay Low, a wealthy Englishman, at Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia. Although the couple moved to England, Juliette continued her travels and divided her time between the British Isles and America.

Before her marriage, Juliette had suffered from chronic ear infections. She had lost most of her hearing in one ear because of improper treatment. At her wedding, when she was 26, she lost hearing in her other ear after a grain of good-luck rice thrown at the event lodged in her ear, puncturing the eardrum and resulting in an infection and total loss of hearing in that ear.

During the Spanish-American War, Juliette came back to America to aid in the war effort. She helped her mother organize a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers returning from Cuba. Her father, who had been a captain in the Confederate army, was commissioned as a general in the U.S. Army and served on the Puerto Rican Peace Commission. At the end of the war, Juliette returned to England and to a disintegrating marriage. The Lows were separated at the time of her husband's death in 1905.

Girl Scout Life

The S.S. Juliette Low, launched May 12, 1944. Pictured here in the Southeastern Ship Yards, Savannah, Georgia.Juliette Gordon Low spent several years searching for something useful to do with her life. Her search ended in 1911, when she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and became interested in the new youth movement. Afterwards, she channeled all her considerable energies into the fledgling movement.

Less than a year later, she returned to the United States and made her historic telephone call to a friend (a distant cousin), saying, "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!" On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. Margaret "Daisy Doots" Gordon, her niece and namesake, was the first registered member. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year.

In developing the Girl Scout movement in the United States, Juliette brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking, but also for possible future roles as professional women—in the arts, sciences and business—and for active citizenship outside the home. Girl Scouting welcomed girls with disabilities at a time when they were excluded from many other activities. This idea seemed quite natural to Juliette, who never let deafness, back problems or cancer keep her from full participation in life.

From the original 18 girls, Girl Scouting has grown to 3.7 million members. Girl Scouts is the largest educational organization for girls in the world and has influenced the more than 50 million girls, women and men who have belonged to it.

Juliette Gordon Low accumulated admirers and friends of all ages, nationalities and walks of life. By maintaining contact with overseas Girl Guides and Girl Scouts during World War I, she helped lay the foundation for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. After her death from breast cancer in 1927, her friends honored her by establishing the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, which finances international projects for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Juliette Gordon Low died at her Savannah, Georgia, home on Lafayette Square January 17, 1927. She is buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah.

On July 3, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill authorizing a stamp in honor of Juliette Gordon Low. The stamp was one of the few dedicated to women.

In 1992, a Georgia non-profit honored Juliette Low as one of the first Georgia Women of Achievement. A bust of Juliette Low is displayed in the State Capitol. In 2000, The Deaf World in Wax, a traveling exhibit, featured her as a famous deaf American.

The Girl Guide Movement was subsequently founded in 1910 under the auspices of Baden-Powell's sister, Agnes Baden-Powell. Baden-Powell's friend, Juliette Gordon Low, was encouraged by him to bring the Movement to America, where she founded the Girl Scouts of the USA.

General William Tecumseh Sherman

1820 - 1891

This controversial general of the Union Army during the Civil War was a longtime friend of the Kinzie family. In 1864, Sherman succeeded U. S. Grant as the Union commander in the western theater of the war. He proceeded to lead his troops to the capture of the city of Atlanta, a military success that contributed to the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln. Sherman's subsequent March to the Sea, through Georgia and the Carolinas, further undermined the Confederacy, ultimately contributing to the Confederate army surrender in 1865. Upon arriving in Savannah in the winter of 1864, the citizens were ready to surrender and Sherman gave the city to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift.

Soon after, he visited his old friend Nelly Gordon to take her letters and packages from Chicago. He also brought the two older girls, Nelly and Daisy, a gift of rock sugar candy, the first sugar the girls had ever eaten. Later in life when delivering speeches on the

lecture circuit, he often recounted a funny anecdote about the 4-year-old Daisy Gordon. After eating her sugar, she sat on his lap and began to curiously inspect his head. When he asked what she was doing, she told him she had heard him called that ”old Devil Sherman” and she wanted to see his horns. This story never failed to get him a laugh. For more information about General Sherman, visit the Fairfield Heritage Association.

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

1857 - 1941

After meeting the hero of the Boer War, Daisy Low commented in her diary, “He believes that I might make more of my life and he has ideas, which, if I follow them, a more useful sphere of work might open up before me in the future.” His influence channeled her indefatigable energy into her life’s great work, the Girl Scouts of the USA and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

The founder of the Boy Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell published Scouting for Boys in 1908, a work which ultimately changes the lives of millions of boys around the world. Drawing on his personal experiences, he invited young men to take charge of their own lives and be responsible for their destiny. He ultimately dedicated himself to using scouting as a way to teach peace and to encourage understanding between peoples. Baden-Powell, his wife

Olave and Daisy were life-long friends and united in their commitment to the world-wide movement.

Source: Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace

http://www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/contents/display/25/friends-relations.html

Olave’s young life:Olave became keen on outdoor sports including tennis, swimming, football, skating and canoeing, and also played the violin.

In the Girl Scouts, there are

This Program is for DAISY, BROWNIE and JUNIOR GIRL SCOUTS

The Daisy program is obviously named for Juliette’s nickname Daisy when she was growing up.

1912... in the U.S., girls could only watch their brothers enviously.

This all changed as the result of the fiery determination of an American woman named Juliette Gordon Low. An exceptionally talented, educated, and well-traveled woman, she was living in England with her British husband, William, when the couple separated. He died shortly thereafter, and Gordon Low began looking for a meaningful endeavor to which she could devote her energy. When she met Baden-Powell, she was inspired to take his scouting idea back home to the girls of Savannah, Georgia. She made a now historic call to a cousin to tell her, "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!"

Gordon Low held the first Girl Scout meeting in America on March 12, 1912. Girl Scouting retained its historic ties to Girl Guides through the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. There are now four world centers where Guides and Scouts travel to participate in international exchange and education programs.

While Gordon Low was and is considered the undisputed founder of Girl Scouts in the U.S., Boy Scouts in the U.S. had several early champions

Source: An Uncommon History of Common Things By Bethanne Kelly Patrick, Henry Petroski, John Thompsonhttp://books.google.com/books?id=bcaXzXPP8ooC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=Olave++Baden-Powell+juliette+gordon+low&source=bl&ots=V66A7txWC1&sig=Q69VxtlEZHKD0AnDPjBSOgUfPCY&hl=en&ei=14u4TKmDCYT6lweC48GvDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Olave%20%20Baden-Powell%20juliette%20gordon%20low&f=false

The founder of the Boy Scout and Girl Guide/Girl Scout movements was Robert Baden-Powell but Juliette Low founded Girl Scouting in the United States in 1912. In the United States, the term 'Guide' was unacceptable, as it already had a widely-accepted application to Indian hunters. The first groups were therefore called Girl Scouts, and several other countries adopted the same name.

http://www.wagggsworld.org/about/quiz/history.html

Lord Baden-Powell actually started Boy Scouts in 1908. His sister, Agnes, started Girl Guides in Europe. Juliette Gordon Low visited Lord and Lady Olave Baden Powell, founders of Boy Scouts and WAGGGS, and brought "Girl Guides" to the United States in 1912, where it was renamed Girl Scouts in 1913.

http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/

Ever wonder how Girl Scouting began? Let Juliette Gordon Low tell you the story!

An Important Friendship

I married William Low when I was 26 years old. He was an Englishman, so we lived in Great Britain during most of our years of marriage. While I was in Scotland in 1911, I met two very important people—Sir Robert Baden-Powell and his sister Agnes. We became very close and remained friends for the next 16 years. Sir Robert started the Boy Scouts in England and it seemed like such a purposeful activity that girls would be interested in it too. And so they started the Girl Guides. I ran my own Girl Guide "troop" that year.

My Own Girl Guide "Troop" in Scotland

My original idea was that girls could learn the same things boys were learning—knot tying, signaling, first aid, etc. But while people saw such military skills as being beneficial to boys, they viewed them as frivolous for girls.

The area where I lived was very poor, and many girls had to leave their homes and go into the cities for work in order to help their families make a living. City factories were very filthy and unsafe back then. I thought that there ought to be some way the girls could help their families earn money without having to leave home. I thought that they might raise poultry to feed the rich people who stayed at the nearby hunting lodges. This was very successful. We branched out and learned how to spin wool which the girls went on to sell.

How I Started Girl Scouting in the U.S.

When I came back to America, I called my cousin and told her that I had "…something for the girls of Savannah, and all America, and all the world…" and that we had to get started on it right away. And we did!

Juliette Gordon Low with some of the

 Sir Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave.

   

nation's first Girl Scouts.

It wasn't easy—people seemed convinced that this would be one more thing I'd start and then lose interest. And money was always a concern. At one point I even sold my pearls to finance the organization.

But I never had any doubts that it would be successful. After all, I knew that girls could do anything they set their minds to. What started out as a group of girls meeting to study nature or learn to play basketball in my backyard grew quickly.

When America entered into World War I, I wrote to President Wilson and offered him the Girl Scouts' services. Girls went to help out the Red Cross, planted victory gardens, and helped to sell millions of war bonds.

Watching the Seed Grow

I had 15 years to watch my program grow. In January 1927, I lost my battle to cancer. I had been fighting it for the last few years, and had kept it a secret from all but my closest friends. I found that I had to spend less and less time actually running the Girl Scouts, and more time creating an organizational structure that would ensure that the Movement didn't die with me. I guess I succeeded. In 1927 there were 167,925 Girl Scouts and now there are over 3.7 million girls and adults!

If you want to learn more, come visit the house I grew up in! It's called the Birthplace. It's a national center in Savannah, Georgia. When you are here, you can try things I did when I was your age.

Source: http://www.gogirlsonly.org/spotlight/juliette/how_girl_scouts_began.asp

1911Juliette Low is 50 years old when she meets Lord BP during the summerwhile she is renting a house in Scotland. Juliette immediately becomes aGirl Guider.

1912Juliette Low boards a cruise ship with plans of beginning Girl Guides inAmerica and heads home to make the dream come true. Lord Baden-Powell boards the same ship to begin a world tour of visiting Boy Scoutunits. While on board, Sir Robert meets and becomes engaged to OlaveSoames. (That put Juliette, Lord BP, and the future Lady BP all in thesame boat, so to speak.)Juliette returns to Savannah, GA, and on March 12 organizes the firsttroop (18 girls) of the newly-formed USA Girl Guide organization.Six troops form during this first year, some troops having as many as 60 -70 members. The uniform is navy blue.

 

The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, Georgia.

   

In December, Sir Robert and Olave marry at a small church in Poole,England. She is 23, he is 55.

1913In June, a national headquarters is established in Washington, D.C. In Julythe name is changed to “Girl Scouts” and the uniform changes to olive drabkhaki.The first Girl Scout handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country - anadaptation of the original Girl Guide book - is printed. The handbookincludes 22 proficiency badges, and covers such titles as “Knowledge forTreatment of Snakebite,” “Ivy Poisoning and Frostbite,” “How to Stop aRunaway Horse,” and “What to Do in Case of Fire.”Registration of Girl Scout troops begins.

1914The Girl Scout trefoil is patented and is used on the first membershipinsignia - the Tenderfoot badge (which is a pin).Girl Scout uniforms are manufactured for the first time (by the samecompany that manufactures uniforms for Boy Scouts).Membership has exceeded 1000.1915The Girl Scout organization is incorporated as Girl Scouts of America. AConstitution and Bylaws are adopted at the first annual convention, held inWashington, D.C. National officers are elected and Juliette Low serves aspresident until 1920.Annual registration is begun and dues are instituted at 25¢ a year.Membership is expanding at a rapid rate and is now at over 5000 in 150cities.1916The first gathering of Girl Guide “Commissioners” is held in London,England, and Olave Baden-Powell is elected Chief Commissioner of the GirlGuide Movement.The Girl Scout National Headquarters is moved to New York City.The first local Girl Scout council charter is issued to Toledo, Ohio.The first Brownie troop is organized in the USA, establishing tworegistration levels: Brownies (ages 7 - 10) and Girl Scouts (ages 10 - 17).Brownies are often referred to as “Junior Girl Scouts,” and they do notbecome an official level of Girl Scouting until 1938.The Golden Eaglet is established as the highest award Girl Scouts may earn.It retains its status until 1938.1917America enters World War I. Girl Scouts are involved in many aspects ofaiding the war effort on the homefront, and they develop new skills thatare progressive for the period. Mrs. Woodrow Wilson is elected the firsthonorary president of the Girl Scouts.The first Girl Scout magazine, The Rally, is published.The first National Training School for Girl Scout leaders is established inBoston.The national Equipment Department is organized to meet the demands foruniforms, badges, and other items that are described in the Girl Scouthandbooks.A uniform for Brownies is introduced - khaki in color and similar in styleto the Girl Scout uniform.The first troop of physically disabled girls is organized in New York.There are now approximately 9,000 registered Girl Scouts.

1920The International Council holds its first conference. Delegates and visitorsfrom 15 countries attend. Lord Baden-Powell is elected “Chief Scout ofthe World.”October 31 (Juliette Low’s Birthday) is declared “Founder’s Day.” JulietteLow retires as president of Girl Scouts of America but remains active in theorganization until her death in 1927.The Rally is renamed The American Girl, and it continues in publicationuntil 1979.Girl Scout membership exceeds 50,000.

1921The first all-American Scouting For Girls handbook is printed. It will berevised in 1927 but will not be replaced by an entirely new handbook until1933.The first American Indian troop is established on the Onandaga Reservationin Syracuse, NY.Membership has increased to over 95,000, and Girl Scout councils havebeen organized in every state and in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.

1927On January 17, Juliette Gordon Low dies. She is buried in her Girl Scoutuniform. The Juliette Low World Friendship Fund is established in hermemory.The World Bulletin is renamed the Council Fire, and it will remain inpublication until mid-1983.A newly-revised Scouting For Girls is released. In June the first registrationof United States Girl Scout Troops On Foreign Soil (its commonreference will become “TOFS”) takes place.The Girl Scout uniform changes from khaki to gray-green.

1929At the World Committee meeting in the Netherlands it is decided to open aWorld Center in Switzerland.Girl Scout membership has reached approximately 200,000.

1932The first World Center, Our Chalet, opens near Adelboden, Switzerland, onJuly 31. The first session (in August) includes girls from 7 countries,including the USA.Belgian delegates to this year’s World Conference suggest giving “a pennywith their thoughts” on Thinking Day, and it is the beginning of theThinking Day Fund.March 12 is designated as the official Girl Scout Birthday.

1936In March the first international conference of leaders of disabled GirlScouts and Girl Guides is held in London, England.The Girl Scouts introduce the first nationally-franchised cookie sale.

1943It is recorded that Black Girl Scout membership more than doubled. (Nonumerical statistics are available.)In February the first Girl Scout calendar, dated 1944, is produced by thenational organization for council fund-raising.The membership slogan is “A Million or More by ’44.”1944It is estimated that more than 250,000 Girl Scout members have enjoyed acamping experience. Conservation and camping are important to GirlScout program during the decade.The membership goal is more than obtained with 1,006,644 members.

1949Brown remains the color of the Brownie uniform, and the uniforms forIntermediates, Seniors, and adults take on a greener color.Girl Scout membership reaches nearly 1.5 million. By this time approximately6.5 million girls have known the benefits of the Girl Scoutorganization since its founding in 1912.

1953Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace in Savannah, Georgia, is purchased byGSUSA.Membership figures show over 2 million registered Girl Scouts.

1969National membership dues are raised to $2.00.

Membership reaches an all-time high of 3,900,000.

1974The Daisy magazine begins publication for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts.Girl Scout membership shows its first decline and recedes to 3,291,000.