A celebration of Girl Scouting
Visiting the "Celebrate Girl Scouting" exhibit at the Geneva History Center this holiday season would be time well spent.
It opens officially with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the center at 113 S. Third St. in conjunction with the Geneva Christmas Walk.
Through timelines of national and local events, photos, displays of uniforms from different eras, books, dolls and other memorabilia, the exhibit tells the 95-year history of the national Girl Scout organization. It also celebrates the 50-year history of the Girls Scouts-Fox Valley Council and the 60-year history of Camp Dean, the Big Rock property which the council acquired when it was formed through a combining of four local groups in 1957.
Visitors can take a "history mystery" scavenger hunt type quiz, try using semaphores, and have a photo taken with a cutout of Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the organization in 1912 at the age of 52.
"Juliette Low had lost the hearing in one ear because of chronic ear infections," recounted Margaret Selakovich, Geneva History Center educator.
On a recent weekday afternoon, Selakovich was dressed in a 1968 Girl Scout leader uniform and getting ready to take a group of fourth-grade girls on a tour. She added that on Low's wedding day, guests threw rice, as was the custom then. A grain lodged in her other ear and she went deaf in that one as well.
"When she founded the Girl Scouts she wanted to embrace all girls," Selakovich added. "I think her disability made her in tune to including everyone. She believed that girls should develop physically, mentally and spiritually."
Along with other interesting facts, you can learn that the first disabled girls were included in 1917, black girls were included in the 1920s, and Asians and American Indians joined in the 1930s.
A look at the changing style of uniforms is one of the most interesting features of the exhibit.
According to Selakovich, khaki was the first fabric of choice because it didn't show the dirt. But around the time of World War I, the familiar green was adopted. Through the years, the Girl Scouts employed famous designers in revamping and modernizing uniforms, including Mainbocher, Bill Blass and Halston.
The exhibit also includes Christmas trees decorated by Girl Scout troops in Geneva with hand-made ornaments representing programs from Daisy Girl Scouts and Brownies to the most senior level. One tree is decorated entirely with Girl Scout cookies.
The exhibit belongs to the Fox Valley Council and runs through Dec. 29. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission fee.
For information or to arrange a tour, call (630) 232-4951.
Did you know?
• Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912. Her niece, Daisy Gordon, was the first registered member. Low had a nickname of Daisy, but the youngest Scouts were not called Daisy Girl Scouts until 1984.
• The name of the first handbook was "How Girls Can Help Their Country."
• The Girl Scouts began selling cookies in 1934 or 1936 when a Philadelphia bakery was commissioned to bake them.
• Brownies were originally called Brown Owls.
• The U.S. Postal Service honored the Girl Scouts with commemorative stamps in 1948, 1962, 1987 and 1998.
If you go
What: "Celebrate Girl Scouting" exhibit
When: Officially opens at 5:30 p.m. Friday, runs through Dec. 29
Where: Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Call: (630) 232-4951 for information or to arrange a tour