In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low brought Girl Scouting to the United States. The first Girl Scout troop in California was established in 1917 in Palo Alto. Girl Scouts of Northern California was incorporated in 2007, comprising five former councils, and is the home of GSNorCal’s Heritage Committee.
The Heritage Committee’s mission is to collect, conserve, and catalogue items related to Girl Scout History. The committee is responsible for creating many of the wonderful displays of Girl Scout artifacts at our local offices and properties. They also maintain a lending library of uniforms and equipment that is available for public displays, fashion shows, and for girls and youth to experience. The committee is always looking for donations of clothing and Girl Scout memorabilia, particularly from the years 1912 to 1940 or items related to how Girl Scouts have adapted to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uniform Rental
Uniforms are available for a nominal rental fee and a refundable loss/damage deposit is required. Call or email for further information. Please reserve uniforms at least 2-3 weeks in advance.
| Historical Girl Scout Uniform Lending Collections |
| Uniform Type | Location | Name | Contact Information |
| US | Chico | Annelle Reed or Karen Johnson | aramj.234@gmail.com |
| US & International | Lafayette | Ann Watrous | annwatrous@att.net |
| International | San Francisco | Carol Horaitis | cj-horaitis@rocketmail.com |
| US | Oakland | Lynne Armstrong | armlynne@yahoo.com |
| US & International | Redwood City | Debbie Brusco | fireflydeb@yahoo.com or (650) 364-5491 |
| US Camp Uniforms | San Francisco | Carol Horaitis | cj-horaitis@rocketmail.com |
| US & International | San Jose | Theresa Cearley | cearleytheresa@gmail.com |
| US | San Rafael | Cheryl Brown | dotbrown@aol.com |
Camp Bothin Heritage Museum
A substantial collection of Girl Scout memorabilia, photographs, historic uniforms, and artifacts is housed at our Camp Bothin property.
Tours/visits to the Camp Bothin Heritage Museum must be scheduled in advance. If you are reserving Camp Bothin for an event, please feel free to schedule a museum visit while your group is on site. For more information about the Camp Bothin Heritage Museum or to schedule a visit, please email info@gsnorcal.org.
Heritage Collection at the Alameda & San Jose Offices
This collection include uniforms, pins, badges, and memorabilia documenting local and national Girl Scout history. San Jose houses a scale replica of the home of Girl Scout’s founder, Juliette Gordon Low. The 24-square-foot, nine-bedroom dollhouse features working electric lights, parlors, trunk rooms, and working doors and windows. It replicates the English Regency style of architecture that was fashionable at the time of its construction (1818-1821). The interior reflects a renovation that occurred in 1886 when Juliette Low was growing up.
The collection is located adjacent to the retail stores and may be visited during store hours.
For Questions, contact Ann Watrous at annwatrous@att.net or Nancy Corbin at njcorbin@att.net for more information about the Heritage Committee.