Program Information

Born Juliette Gordon in Civil War Savannah, Georgia, the founder of the world's largest voluntary organization of young women at last discovered an outlet for her restless energy.

A Moment in Time is a brief, exciting and compelling journey into the past. Created to excite and enlighten the public about the past, its relevance to the present and its impact on the future, A Moment In Time is a captivating historical narrative that is currently broadcast worldwide.

Transcript

Lead: Born Juliette Gordon in Civil War Savannah, Georgia, the founder of the world's largest voluntary organization of young women at last discovered an outlet for her restless energy.

Intro: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: Juliette's father was a wealthy Savannah cotton broker who left his young bride in 1861 to fight for the Confederacy. Her mother grew up in a pioneer Chicago home and was torn by those conflicting loyalties that beset so many families during that time. Two of her brothers died fighting for the Union and she entertained General Sherman after his famous march to the sea. It is said that little Juliette, now known as "Daisy," sat on the General's lap during his visit.

In 1886 she married William Low, son of a wealthy British cotton merchant. Their troubled and unhappy marriage lasted until his death left her a wealthy widow with great resources and boundless energy but little direction. In 1911 she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, hero of the Boer War and founder of the Boy Scouts. In this fascinating man and the movement he started, Daisy Low found her cause. After assisting with Baden-Powell's female group called Girl Guides, she returned to Savannah in 1912. On the first night home she called a cousin and declared she wanted to discuss something "for all the girls of Savannah and all America and all the world...."

In contrast to Baden-Powell's dictate that girls should be only taught "home-making and mother-craft," Daisy's first troop, organized March 12, 1912 at an old Savannah tennis court, was taught camping and outdoor skills as well. The next summer the girls went on a five-day camping trip and--just as their male counterparts--learned to deal with sand fleas, mosquitoes and camp food. Renamed Girl Scouts in 1913, the organization had a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. and over 40,000 participants by 1920. Juliette Low died in 1927 and was buried wearing full uniform of the first and best Girl Scout.

Research assistance for A Moment in Time was provided by Jason Vuic and B.J. Mueller. At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

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