Commonwealth Council of the Girl Scouts of Virginia records

The Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia (GSCV) records are composed of documents, correspondence, photographs, audio-visual materials, textiles, and artifacts that chronicle the evolution of Girl Scouting in the greater Richmond, Virginia area and the creation of the Commonwealth Council. The collection ranges in date from approximately 1913 through 2012, with the bulk of the materials falling within 1924-2005. The collection has been arranged into nine series.

Series 1: Council and Administrative Materials

Materials related to the running and administration of the GSCV are located in this series. These items include policies and procedures, financial records, GSCV and Girl Scouting history in VA, and correspondence. This series also contains policies and procedures as outlined by both the Girl Scouts of the USA and GSCV and its preceding entities. Series 1 comprises nine subseries.

1.1 Policies, Procedures, and Administrative Documents.

1.2 Reports: Series 1.2 contains reports written by, about, or for the Richmond/ Commonwealth Council of VA Girl Scouts. They are arranged by author type and chronologically therein. Self-reports are first, followed by National Girl Scout reports, and reports about but not by Girl Scout entities are last.

1.3 Meeting Materials and Minutes: Materials pertaining to meetings are kept with their respective meetings. This includes notes, minutes, correspondence, and other meeting items. Additionally, information on the formation of Black troops in Richmond can be found in the minutes starting in 1931. These materials are arranged by Council/Board/Annual Meetings, which may have committee materials included in chronological order, followed by solo committee materials, arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.

1.4 Financial: Includes financial records and audits, both for the Council, as well as local troops. Series 1.4 is arranged chronologically.

1.5 United Way of Greater Richmond.

1.6 Correspondence and Printed Administrative Materials.

1.7 History: Many materials relate to the history of Black Scouting in Richmond, the earliest records of Girl Scouting in Richmond, general history, and the records of the councils that preceded the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

1.8 Administrator's Materials: These materials contain the individual correspondence and effects of administrators in their work as scouts or representatives of the GSCV.

1.9 Other Councils: Materials from Councils outside of GSCV and its preceding councils are included here.

Series 2: Camps

Most materials relating to camps run by GSVA are maintained in this series. Items like photographs and scrapbooks relating to camping or specific camps are listed in their respective subseries, but housed with other photographs and scrapbooks. Slides, books, as well as photographs that may pertain to a camp, but are not identified as such may be listed or found in Series 6: A/V or in Series 9: Printed.

The Series has been broken into nine subseries, most of which pertain to individual camps.

2.1 Camp Administration Materials: Additional materials relating to the administration of camps may also be found in Series 1.

2.2 General Camp Materials: General materials not related to the administration of camps as a whole, or of individual camps without their own subseries are contained here.

2.3 Camp Materials: Contains materials from individual camps. This series is arranged alphabetically by camp, and chronologically therein. Camps include: Day Camps, Holly Dell, Kittamaqund, Pamunkey Ridge, Pine Grove, Pinoaka, Pocahontas.

Series 3: Troop Records and Related Materials

Materials that are related to specific troops are housed in this series. These items in this series include correspondence, financial records, speeches, clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks. Materials related to finances are contained in series 1.4: Financial. The bulk of Dorothy Armstrong’s donation to the GSCV is housed in this series. Materials such as clippings, scrapbooks, and photographs are physically housed with like-materials.

Series 4: Programming and Events

These materials relate to programs and events created or attended by GSCV troops or members. These include regional and national conferences and conventions, Girl Scout Week, "Wider Opportunity," and GS Cookie Week, as well as events like Youth Expos, fashion shows, visits by dignitaries, and breakfasts. This series and its subseries are arranged alphabetically and chronologically therein. This series has been divided into four subseries as follows:

4.1 Anniversary Materials.

4.2 Regional Conferences.

4.3 National Conferences and Conventions.

4.4 General Event Programs and Related Materials.

Series 5: Awards, Recognitions, and Related Materials

Materials that document awards and recognitions received or given by GSCV and its members are kept in this series. This includes awards-related correspondence, applications, and the award, certificate, or proclamation itself.
This series is arranged chronologically.

Series 6: Photographs, Slides, and Audio-Visual Material

This series contains photographs and scrapbooks that did not fit with other series. It also contains slides and audio-visual materials consisting of audio cassettes, 45 and 33 rpm records, compact disks, DVDs, VHS, and film reels. Scrapbooks can contain photographs, newspaper clippings, article clippings, pamphlets, and tickets. Materials are grouped by type, and an effort has been made to arrange them in chronological order; many dates are approximate. Photographs are in black and white unless otherwise noted until approximately 1962; after 1992, photographs are in color unless noted. This series is arranged into five subseries.

6.1 Photographs and Photograph Albums.

6.2 Slides: This subseries contains slides from the 1950s through the 2000s. They are arranged alphabetically, and chronologically therein.

6.3 Scrapbooks.

6.5 Audio-Visual: This subseries contains film reels, video cassettes, DVDs, audio CDs and audiocassettes, and 45 and 33 rpm records.

Series 7: Textiles and Related Materials

Textiles and related materials such as hats, belts, shoes, catalogs, and information on uniforms are kept in this series. There are multiple complete Brownie and Girl Scouts uniforms from various points in the history of the Scouts maintained in this series. Some patches, pins, and badges that are attached to sashes are in this series. Individual patches and some older textiles may also be located in Series 8: Artifacts and Ephemera. 7.1 Textile and Uniform Information and Records: This subseries contains materials that relay information about the uniforms: their evolution, their production, and items such as catalogs and patterns. 7.2 Uniforms and Textiles.

Series 8: Artifacts and Ephemera

This series houses artifacts from the history of the Girl Scouts in Virginia. Of particular interest are items like Girl Scout paper dolls, a branded Brownie Camera, canteens and collapsible camping cups, patches and badges, and Girl Scout pins. There are also multiple items of ephemera such as Girl Scout cookie boxes and stationery.

Series 9: Printed Materials

This series contains books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, newsletters and other printed items, loose newspaper and magazine clippings. The publisher is either the Girl Scouts, the GSCV, or an outside entity. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic (annual events, Cookie Sale, handbooks, etc.) and/or title and chronologically therein. Of particular note is the wide array of Girl Scout booklets and the “Newsletters” section, which contains an early extended run of “The Girl Scout Leader” from approximately 1932-1940, as well as runs of “Trefoil,” “Girl Scout News,” “Images,” and “LEaDS” from 1982-1999.