Girl Scouts Timeline
1930s

Overview | 1912-1919 | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | Today

Left: Girl Scouts in New York pose for a group photo. Right: Gathering food for neighbors in need.

The Great Depression, precipitated by the stock market crash of 1929, opened the decade. The New Deal was launched to provide economic relief and recovery for businessmen, laborers, and farmers. Escapism with big-screen movies and mystery novels were the era's popular diversions. Musicians, dancers, and other artists played a role in helping to lift the country's spirits.

• Girl Scouts led community relief efforts during the Great Depression by collecting clothing, making quilts, carving wood toys, gathering food for the poor, assisting in hospitals, participating in food drives and canning programs, and providing meals to undernourished children.



• Girl Scout resources were transcribed into Braille, and the Helen Keller Scholarship was established for training leaders who work with blind girls.



• The Girl Scout program was divided into three groups—Brownie, Intermediate, and Senior—in order to enhance service and provide age-appropriate activities for girls.



• The promotional booklet Who Are the Girl Scouts? was printed in English, Polish, Yiddish, and Italian.



• The first sale of commercially baked Girl Scout Cookies® took place.



• The Mariners interest group was launched to give Senior Girl Scouts an opportunity to develop skills in boating, sailing, navigation, and water safety.