McHenry historical society to open Girl Scout exhibit

Submitted by McHenry County Historical Society Museum

For 100 years the motto “Be Prepared” has characterized the guiding principal of the Girl Scout Movement.

In recognition of a century’s worth of preparing girls for roles in society that require self assurance, leadership and service, the McHenry County Historical Society Museum at 6422 Main St. in Union, will open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, with a program and exhibits dedicated to Girl Scout history.

To kick off the new Scouting exhibit, Scout Professional Jan Hann, a council partnership consultant with Girl Scouts USA, will speak briefly on her long personal Girl Scouting career and of the way Scouting has evolved over the years. Her remarks begin at 1:30 p.m.

The exhibit, opening for the first time May 6, features a vast collection of Scout materials such as uniforms, badges, books, camping gear, and novelty items. The exhibit will run through October.

Many of the pieces on display have been loaned from personal collections, as well as from the Elgin Girl Scout office, thanks to Scout historian Betsy Papp. McHenry County was once part of what was called the Sybaquay Council and headquartered in Elgin. In 2009, councils in this area merged into Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

Kira Halvey, museum exhibit and collection coordinator, working with Huntley Senior Girl Scout Sarah French, worked for several months to plan the exhibit and contact area former Scouts and leaders for items to be loaned for this display.

“The encouragement and support from the local Girl Scout alumni has been tremendous,” Halvey said. “There was such a favorable response to our request for Girl Scout memorabilia. I’m delighted that the majority of the display items are on loan from the community.”

A chronological approach, which includes a time line, allows visitors to see decade by decade the activities, changing uniforms and public roles of local Scouts. Of special interest are several items from Capitola “Cappy” Olmstead, the first director in 1957 of the former Sybaquay Girl Scout Council.

Also on display, going back to the first Scout troop in McHenry County, which started in Woodstock, are the 1920 camping bloomers and Scout hat worn by Ida Brink Howell, who was a longtime volunteer at the museum.

The Sunday program on Scouting kicks off the new museum season. This special opening from 1 to 4 p.m. is free to the public. Between May and October, the museum is open Tuesday through Friday afternoons and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m.

Call the historical society at (815) 923-2267 or visit www.mchsonline.org for information on admission fees, local history library usage or membership.