Girl Scout Collector's Guide: A History of Uniforms, Insignia, Publications, and Memorabilia (Second Edition) [Hardcover]

Mary Degenhardt (Author), Judith Kirsch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2005

A welcome new edition of a standard—unavailable for nearly a decade In more than nine decades of Girl Scouting, a vast popular and material culture has given rise to a wealth of Girl Scout history collections. More than an identification guide to uniforms, insignia, and other Girl Scout objects, this work also documents when changes occurred and why new items were introduced. Placing these objects in context, this essential guide provides a discerning look at the history and development of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States. Scholars and aficionados of Girl Scout history, costume history, women’s studies, popular culture, and dress will welcome this indispensable and definitive resource. This new, expanded edition, with hundreds of illustrations, photographs, and tables, is indisputably the go-to source for information on all Girl Scout uniforms, insignia, awards, and handbooks, as well as dolls, postcards, posters, calendars, and more—from the founding of the Girl Scouts in 1912 through the present day. “An invaluable resource to Girl Scout councils managing a history collection. And, beyond that . . . an informative and intriguing glimpse . . . into the evolution of a Movement that . . . today is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls.” —Cynthia B. Thompson, chair, National Board of Directors, and Kathy Cloninger, national chief executive officer, GSUSA “An indispensable reference for collectors; a fascinating resource for anyone interested in Girl Scouting, this comprehensive guide to Girl Scout memorabilia is firmly grounded in the history of the Girl Scouts of the United States. Mary Degenhardt and Judith Kirsch show us what Girl Scouts wore and read, and explain how changes in uniforms, insignia, and publications reflect the evolution of Girl Scout programs and the expansion of opportunities for American girls. Reading this book is like walking through a fine museum where material culture brings the past to life.” —Anastatia Sims, author of Negotiating Boundaries of Southern Womanhood

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

An appealing, readable compendium, this volume is intended as "an identification guide to official Girl Scout uniforms and insignia used in the United States from 1912 to 2003." The writing is upbeat and informative. The first nine chapters provide an overview of the development of the Girl Scouts and the badges, uniforms, and so on pertinent to each era. Most of the remaining chapters focus on memorabilia: calendars, dolls, postcards, and more.

Throughout the book are numerous tables listing crests, proficiency badges, and components of uniforms. Annotated diagrams picture the correct assembly of sash, badges, scarf, and pins. A biography of Juliette Gordon Lowe and a multitude of drawings and black-and-white photographs add interest. A glossary of terms related to fabrics, fibers, and uniforms and a good index complete the volume. Updating a 1987 edition, this comprehensive work suits the needs of large public libraries and of colleges and universities offering women's studies course work. Mary Ellen Snodgrass
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Mary Degenhardt and Judith Kirsch, lifelong Girl Scouts, compiled the original Girl Scout Collector’s Guide in 1987. Degenhardt, now an archivist with the National Historic Preservation Center, GSUSA, and Kirsch, a researcher at the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan, devoted two years of concentrated effort to this new and expanded edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Texas Tech University Press; 2 edition (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896725456
• ISBN-13: 978-0896725454
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,818,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy for research and all GS, October 1, 2005

By 

Julia Low "Daisy" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girl Scout Collector's Guide: A History of Uniforms, Insignia, Publications, and Memorabilia (Second Edition) (Hardcover)

Amazing book, so much information, so many pages and pictures and graphs. A must buy for all researchers and girl scouts. So much information, outstanding. More then double the length of the first edition. Great value.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Girl Scout Collector's Guide -- Wonderful book, October 14, 2009

By 

Aaa "Girl Scout leader" (Knoxville, Il) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Girl Scout Collector's Guide: A History of Uniforms, Insignia, Publications, and Memorabilia (Second Edition) (Paperback)

I received this book last month and it is great. It has everything about Girl Scouting in the USA in it. I love it. I don't know what else to say, except that I have used it so far to research the ages of some Girl Scout uniforms that were donated to our service unit over the years.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Girl Scout Collectors' Guide: A History of Uniforms, Insignia, Publications, And Memorabilia, September 10, 2007

By 

R. Hill (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Girl Scout Collector's Guide: A History of Uniforms, Insignia, Publications, and Memorabilia (Second Edition) (Paperback)

Excellent source book for anyone researching Girl Scout information and history. Fun to just "dip into" and remember the wholesome fun of being a Brownie or Girl Scout.