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GSOFCT McGuff Museum of Girl Scout History
The McGuff Museum of Girl Scout History is the home of Connecticut's Girl Scout memorabilia from 1912 through present day. The collection includes dolls wearing replica uniforms, local and international items, historical uniforms, accessories, and more!
Located in the North Haven Service Center, families, troops, and individuals may visit by selecting a visit day from our events calendar. Museum patches are included in the visit.
Thinking of making a donation of inherited items to the McGuff Museum of Girl Scout History? Get started here.
Discover Connecticut Girl Scout History
To plan your visit, visit our events calendar
PLAN YOUR VISITThe Original 5 Councils
Girl Scouts of Connecticut was once split into five Girl Scout councils, each serving a specific geographic region. These councils included Connecticut Valley, Housatonic, Northwestern, Southwestern, and Connecticut Trails.
In 2007, the five councils merged together to form Girl Scouts of Connecticut. The merger allowed for greater efficiency, shared resources, and increased opportunities for girls across the state.
Find your town and discover what council you would have been in with our interactive map below!
Famous GSOFCT Alumnae
Marian Anderson was an African American contralto singer who was born in Philadelphia in 1897.
She was a Girl Scout in her youth, joining troop 24 in South Philadelphia at 10 years old, before moving to Connecticut with her family. Anderson continued her involvement with Girl Scouts by joining Troop 15 in Danbury.
Anderson was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, known for breaking down racial barriers in the arts. In 1939, Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform at a segregated venue in Washington, D.C. On April 9, 1939 Anderson sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in front of over 75,000 people in what became a landmark performance.
Anderson credited her time in Girl Scouts with helping build her confidence and leadership skills. Anderson’s legacy as a trailblazing musician and advocate for social justice remains an inspiration to many today.
Francis "Bitsie" Clark is an accomplished leader and advocate with Girl Scouts of Connecticut.
Throughout her career, Clark has dedicated over 20 years to empowering girls of all ages, and inspiring them to become confident leaders in their communities.
Clark's journey with Girl Scouts began in 1998 when she joined the organization as a community outreach specialist. Her passion for the organization quickly became apparent as she worked tirelessly to bring the Girl Scouts' message of courage, confidence, and character to communities across Connecticut.
Over the years, Clark has held numerous leadership roles within the organization, including Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut from 2005 to 2019. Under her leadership, the organization grew and flourished, providing countless opportunities for girls to learn, grow, and lead.
Clark's impact on GSOFCT is profound. Her tireless dedication and commitment has left an indelible mark on the organization. Clark's leadership and advocacy have helped shape the future of the Girl Scouts in Connecticut and beyond, inspiring countless girls and young women to become confident leaders in their own right.
Ella Grasso was the first woman to be elected as governor in the United States.
She served as the governor of Connecticut from 1975 to 1980 and was recognized for her work in education, healthcare, and consumer protection.
Before entering politics, Grasso was a Girl Scout in Connecticut. She joined Troop 6 in Windsor Locks as a young girl and remained involved with the organization throughout her life. Grasso credited her time in Girl Scouts with helping her to develop important skills such as leadership, teamwork, and public speaking; which served her well in her political career.
Grasso’s legacy as a pioneering female politician and public servant continues to inspire women in Connecticut and beyond. She has been inducted into both the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Laura Belle Reed McCoy was a Native American who established the first black Girl Scout troop in New Haven, Troop #24, in 1928.
McCoy broke many barriers herself, being the first minority woman in the United States elected to a city council. In 1976, she received a special Bicentennial Scout Award from President Gerald R. Ford. McCoy also served on the executive board of the League of Women Voters in the 19th Ward New Haven.
Alice Pattison Merritt was the first woman to be elected to the Connecticut State Senate.
Merritt represented Connecticut's second senate district as a Republican from 1925 through 1929. She was born and raised in Simsbury, CT and was recognized as a civic leader in Hartford County.
In 1929, Merritt co-founded and served as commissioner of the Hartford Council of Girl Scouts. Camp Alice P. Merritt, the council's first camp, was named in her honor and operated from the late 1920s through 1992. Merritt was then elected the New England regional chair, and later became a board member of Girl Scouts USA in 1943. Additionally, Merritt was a member of the League of Women Voters, and served as a trustee of the Connecticut Valley Hospital.
Constance Baker Motley was the first African-American woman to argue at the Supreme Court.
Motley was born in New Haven, Connecticut where she was a member of Girl Scouts Troop 24. Her mother, a community activist, founded the New Haven NAACP and influenced Motley's interest in Black History and activism.
Motley is known as a key figure in the legal battles during the Civil Rights Movement. While attending Columbia Law School, she was hired as a law clerk by future U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. After graduating, she was hired as a civil rights lawer for the NAACP Defense and Educational Fund. Motley won nine of the ten cases she argued before the Supreme Court, and worked on several desegregation cases including Brown v. Board of Education.
In 1966, Motley was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She was the first African-American female federal judge, and served until her death in 2005.
Motley was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993, given the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Bill Clinton in 2001, and posthumously received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006 for her lifetime of accomplishments. Her property in Chester is a designated site on the Connecticut Freedom Trail.
Discover Connecticut Girl Scout History
Pins, Patches, and Medals
Explore the legacy of Girl Scouts through the ages with our stunning collection of Girl Scout pins, patches, and medals. Within this case lie some of the top awards given in Girl Scouting since 1916.
A few of the pins, patches, and medals featured in our collection are:
- Golden Eaglets (1919-1936)
- Badges of Merit (1920-1925)
- Bronze Cross (1922-Present)
- GS War Service Bronze Medal (1918)
- Service Bureau Pin (1941-1945)
- Hazel Baker's Lieutenant Pin
- Observer Badge (1928-1935)
- Motorist Badge (1920-1927)
We also host a selection of patches and pins from across the 5 original councils that merged in 2007 to become Girl Scouts of Connecticut (Connecticut Trails, CT Valley, Housatonic, Southwestern, and Northwestern).
Camp
Take a look at previous decades of Girl Scout camp! Our camp selection features camping equipment and books used by Girl Scouts, bloomers from an official "camp uniform," jackknives, first aid kits, and more.
Uniforms
Upon entering the museum, visitors will see a variety of past Girl Scout uniforms of all levels from different eras. Our collection of uniforms come in many different combinations.
Some of the featured uniforms in our collection are:
- Junior Uniform with a yellow tie and patrol cord (1963-1973)
- Junior Uniform with a red tie (1973-1985)
- Cadette/Senior Uniforms (1987-1993 and 1995)
- Daisy Uniform (1985)
Dolls
Our collection of dolls showcase handmade uniforms by Margaret "Peg" Standley. The doll uniforms are made out of original Girl Scout uniforms and reflect different eras! Each doll has a name and is accompanied by items she would need in order to work on a badge or service project.
International
The McGuff Museum of Girl Scout History features many international items from Girl Scout events all over the world. We feature memorabilia and patches from several different countries that were visited by Connecticut Girl Scouts. Additionally, we highlight a selection of International Girl Guides as our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, believed it was vital that Girl Scouts in the United States should always be engaged with the Girl Guides from all over the world.
Other items featured in our international case are:
- Girl Guide Badges from various countries
- Girl Scout World Association Pins
- Membership cards
Give a taste of Girl Scout History
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