The Girl Scouts Troop 332 was the only African American group to form in the Wissahickon Valley Region. Before we dive into Troop 332, let's look at the history of how the Girl Scouts Troop of America was established, and how the first African American Girl Scouts was formed one year later.
Daisy Gordon Low and the Beginnings of the Girl Scouts
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low grew up with a family that believed in "community service, education, and being good neighbors." She also had a fascination with animals, nature, sports, and the arts. During the summers, she would be the "ringleader" of all the games and adventures with her brothers and sisters.
Her happy childhood transitioned to an unhappy marriage. Even when she spent most of her life in England with her husband, she made frequent visits to the United States to see her friends and family, which she found comfort and support.
After the death of her husband died in 1905, Daisy fell into sadness and depression. She then wanted to find out what her purpose was. She found out that marriage and motherhood were not the answers to her life. Instead, she went to friends and family for answers as well as doing the activities she loved as a young girl: doing artwork and going on adventures.
It was the year 1911 when she met with Boy Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell. His influence helped her found her purpose in life by having her volunteer in the Girl Guides in England and Scotland, founded in 1910 by his sister, Agnes Baden-Powell.
After coming home to Savannah from England, she was determined to establish Girl Guiding in America. She began to contact Nina Anderson Pape, pioneer in women's education, and said to 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!"
- Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low
On that night in 1912, 18 girls from Nina Pape's school became the first girls in Daisy's newly formed Girl Scouts.
Fun Fact #1: The girls preferred to name themselves "Scouts" instead of "Guides".
African Americans in Girl Scouts
The first African American members were part of the third US troop in 1913 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was officially recognized as an all-African American Girl Scout troop four years ago.
In the South, meanwhile, still faced racial discrimination and segregation. But, the first organized African American Girl Scout troop in the South took place in 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee. Josephine Groves Holloway was one of the first African American Girl Scout troop leaders in Nashville.
Girl Scouts of Ambler: Intermediate Troop No. 332
The Girl Scouts of Ambler was created by the Junior Colony Club in Ambler in April 1925, with Anna M. Gear as the captain of the organization. Over time, the Girl Scouts of Ambler continued to grow with new young members joining and new leaders taking charge.
After the first African American Girl Scouts in the South was formed in 1942, the "Negro Intermediate Girl Scouts Troop No. 332" was formed in Ambler two years later. The leaders of the newly formed African American Girl Scouts were Gertrude Clark and Ethel Bartee. This troop contained 5-7 year old girls who meet ever Friday at the Zion Baptist Church.
Gertrude Clark was educated at the Scotia Seminary (today Barber-Scotia College) and was a teacher in the public schools in North Carolina for four years. She was also a Matron of a Children's Home and Day Nursery in Stamford, Connecticut. Gertrude's experience and passion in working with children motivated her to become a leader of the Girl Scout Troop No. 332. She completed training courses in Jenkintown and Philadelphia, and completed a home nursing course ran by the American Red Cross, becoming one of the first 19 African American women to complete it in Ambler. She was also a licensed camper.
Gertrude joined with more than 350 other Girl Scouts, Leaders and Troop Committee Chairmen from the Philadelphia council at the Girl Scouts Headquarters in Philadelphia to stage a Christmas gift-packing session. The Girl Scouts and the Junior Red Cross collaborated together in hope to bring Christmas to the less fortunate children who lived in war-torn countries. The project was called the "International Friendship Project." Gertrude and other Scout members had many pen-pals as a result.
Ethel Bartee, meanwhile, was educated at the Manual Training High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma. After moving to Ambler, she became involved in multiple organizations during World War II: the Volunteer Medical Service Corps and the Victory Club of Ambler where they sent packages and letters to African American men in the armed forces. For entertainment, she sang with the choir at the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Prior to the formation of Troop No. 332, Ethel was a counselor at Camp Indian Run in Downington, PA.
In 1942, both Gertrude and Ethel received certificates from the Civilian Defense Unit in Ambler while serving in the Volunteer Medical Service Corps.
Even though this Girl Scout Troop is the only African American group, they were able to join and collaborate with different girl scout troops in the area.
Bibliography
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"Civilian Defense Volunteers Take Office; Receives Certificates." Ambler Gazette. June 25, 1942. Pages 1 & 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/20835/rec/4.
Gambino, Megan. "The Very First Troop Leader." Smithsonian Magazine. Last modified March 7, 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-very-first-troop-leader-116645976/.
Goodwin, Jazmin. "The Girl Scouts used to segregate Black and White girls. Now they have their first Black CEO." CNN Business. Last modified August 19, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/business/girl-scouts-first-black-ceo/index.html.
"Home Nursing Course Completed By Nineteen." Ambler Gazette. September 17, 1942. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/18600/rec/3.
Jones, E. Gloria Stewart. Penllyn Village: Lest We Forget: A History and Personal Memories of a Black Settlement in Lower Gwynedd Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. (USA: E. Gloria Stewart Jones, 2008): 59.
"Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace." Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org.
"Lcoal Scout Troops To Have New Leaders." Ambler Gazette. February 10, 1944. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/19143/rec/4.
"Scouts Cooperate In Red Cross Work." Ambler Gazette. October 12, 1944. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/19586/rec/5.
"What's What in Girl Scouting." Ambler Gazette. September 14, 1944. Page 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/18772/rec/3.