Social Reformer. She was the founder of the Girl Scouts on the United States of America. She came from a prominent Savannah, Georgia, family, and after being educated at private boarding schools in Virginia and New York, she spent many years traveling the world. She met and married William Mackay Low, a wealthy Englishman, and moved to England. She returned during the Spanish-American War, to aid in the war effort. At the end of the war she returned to England to a disintegrating marriage. They were separated at the time of her husband's death. She met Robert Powell, the founder of England's Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, who inspired her to organize her own troops of Girl Guides. Juliette Low established the first United States troop of Girl Guides in Savannah in 1912. The organization proliferated, and its name was changed to the Girl Scouts of America in 1913, the same year a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. was opened and she became its first president. At the time of her death from breast cancer in 1927, there were more than 165,000 Girl Scouts in the United States. She has since been honored in many ways. On July 3, 1948, a postage stamp was authorized, during World War II; she had a liberty Ship named in her honor. The 'S.S. Juliette Low' was launched May 12, 1944 in the Southeastern Ship Yards, Savannah. In 1954, a public school was named for her and on December 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan authorized the new federal building in Savannah to carry her name. She died at her Savannah, Georgia home on Lafayette Square and was interred at historical Laurel Grove Cemetery. The residence was purchased by the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1953 and restored. In 1965 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The residence and grave have became a pilgrim destination for thousands of former and present scouts in the United States.
Social Reformer. She was the founder of the Girl Scouts on the United States of America. She came from a prominent Savannah, Georgia, family, and after being educated at private boarding schools in Virginia and New York, she spent many years traveling the world. She met and married William Mackay Low, a wealthy Englishman, and moved to England. She returned during the Spanish-American War, to aid in the war effort. At the end of the war she returned to England to a disintegrating marriage. They were separated at the time of her husband's death. She met Robert Powell, the founder of England's Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, who inspired her to organize her own troops of Girl Guides. Juliette Low established the first United States troop of Girl Guides in Savannah in 1912. The organization proliferated, and its name was changed to the Girl Scouts of America in 1913, the same year a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. was opened and she became its first president. At the time of her death from breast cancer in 1927, there were more than 165,000 Girl Scouts in the United States. She has since been honored in many ways. On July 3, 1948, a postage stamp was authorized, during World War II; she had a liberty Ship named in her honor. The 'S.S. Juliette Low' was launched May 12, 1944 in the Southeastern Ship Yards, Savannah. In 1954, a public school was named for her and on December 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan authorized the new federal building in Savannah to carry her name. She died at her Savannah, Georgia home on Lafayette Square and was interred at historical Laurel Grove Cemetery. The residence was purchased by the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1953 and restored. In 1965 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The residence and grave have became a pilgrim destination for thousands of former and present scouts in the United States.
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