Kinzie Gordon Research Paper

Childhood

Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon was born on Oct. 31, 1860, into a wealthy family in Savannah. She was named in honor of grandmother Kinzie, but an uncle nicknamed her Daisy. Being wealthy helped her all her life. Soon after Daisy was born, the civil war started and it affected her childhood. Her mother was from Chicago and her father from Georgia, which caused some difficulties. Her father worried about the South while mother worried about brothers fighting for the North. When Sherman’s march reached Savannah, Georgia, her birthplace, she was there to witness it. The story goes that her maid, (she was only four!) picked her up, wrapped her in a blanket, and took her out to the balcony. Together they watched the union soldiers

take over. During the war Daisy and her sister grew thin and weak from limited food. Sherman ordered women married to confederate soldiers to leave, so Daisy went to live in Chicago with her mother’s family.

When she got older, her hobbies were art, horseback riding, ice-skating, and canoeing. She went to finishing school at the Virginia Female Institute. Her sister Alice joined Daisy a few years later. Alice came down with scarlet fever and dies, with their mother by her side. This was Daisy’s childhood.

Character traits

Daisy’s character traits are imaginative, stubborn, and brave. Daisy was imaginative because Daisy always was having new ideas. For example, when she got home from Europe after hearing about the Girl Guides she called her cousin and said, “Come right over! I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all America, and the world, and we are going to start it tonight!”

Daisy was stubborn. When she picked moms to lead the Girl Scout troops, she would say, “here are the girls. You will start now.’’ She would not take no for an answer. She turned her deaf ear to anyone who tried to negotiate. Daisy was brave because she was partially deaf in one ear and completely deaf in the other ear, yet she founded the Girl Scout organization!

Impact on Society

Daisy is famous for founding the Girl Scout organization, a cousin to the European Girl Guides.

Girl Scouts learn leadership skills, respect to themselves and others, money skills, trading skills, and wilderness survival skills, all while doing fun activates. In 2012, 59% of females in the U.S senate and 60% of females in the House of Representatives are former Girl Scouts. Also, 53% of female business owners are former Girl Scouts. There are 2.3 girls and 890,000 adults active in the organization. (Including ME!!!!!!)

Important events

In Daisy’s lifetime many important things happened, but here are the four most important.
• She suffered illnesses that left her small in height and almost deaf. I think this is important because these things taught her that you can do anything, even if you have handicaps.
• She married William Mackay Low on December 21, 1886 and it was NOT the best marriage. I think this is important because it taught her to come back strong, no matter the circumstances.
• She met Sir Robert Baden-Powell on May 11, 1911 at a luncheon where she learned about the Boy Scouts in England. This is what my diorama shows.
• She hosted the Girl Scout world camp on May 5, 1926. I think this is important because Daisy was so happy that day. Her dream of hosting the International Council of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts had come

true.

Interesting Facts

• Daisy died on January 17, 1927. Some 200 Girl Scouts lined the street of Savannah leading to Christ Church for her funeral.
• In May of 1919, Girl Guides of England awarded her the Silver Fish, the highest award given by the Girl Guides in England.
• Daisy goes to Miami in 1898 and is a nurse during the Spanish-American war.
• William’s friend becomes king of England.

Julliette (Daisy) Gordon Low (1860 – 1927)
Founder of the Girl Scouts

By Samantha Ritter