How did Brownie Girl Scouts get their name?

   When scouting was started for older boys and girls by Robert Baden-Powell, it wasn't long before younger girls wanted to be scouts too.  Baden-Powell wanted to give them something special all their own. The were organized in 1914 and were called Rosebuds. The girls didn’t like that name, so in 1915 Lord Baden-Powell himself called them Brownies, naming them after the useful little people of Scotland and the North Country of England.  The idea on which the Brownie program was made was taken from a story written by Mrs. Juliana Horatia Ewing called “The Brownies”.  He thought, " Brownies will be a good name for girls who like to be helpful as well as to play".  (from Worlds to Explore Handbook for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts 1977)

1916    First Brownie Troop started in Marblehead, Mass.

1926    Program to include Brownie Girl Scouts age 7

           Brown Book for Brown Owls published as the first official leader's guide

           to program for USA Brownie Girl Scouts

1938    Girl Scout program reorganized into three separate groups:

           Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 7-9

           Intermediate Girl Scouts, ages 10-13

           Senior Girl Scouts ages 14-17

1951    First Brownie Girl Scout handbook published

1962    The Girl Scout Rose and the Brownie Girl Scout Marigold are

           developed to honor Girl Scouts

1963    Girl Scouts are divided into 4 age groups:

           Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 7-9

           Junior Girl Scouts, ages 9-11

           Cadette Girl Scouts, ages 12-14

           Senior Girl Scouts, ages 14-17

1965    Brownie handbook is published in Spanish

1973    Brownie membership is extended to 6 year olds

           Brownie B's introduced - Be a Discoverer, Be a Ready Helper,

           Be a Friend Maker

1977    Worlds to Explore: Handbook for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts

           is published

1986    Brownie Girl Scout Try-Its are introduced

2000    Brownie Program Revised