The Family Behind the Girl Scouts of America

In 1912, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low launched what became one of the 20th century's most successful organizations for girls, eclipsing the generations of male politicians, business leaders, and scoundrels who had brought prosperity and notoriety to her family. Her parents' marriage united two leading American families--the Northern Kinzies and the Southern Gordons--and nearly ruptured because of the U.S. Civil War, yet their unwavering love and support, as well as that of her siblings, helped her to overcome physical challenges and a scandalous divorce battle that shocked Victorian society.

Spanning 200 years across multiple continents and told for the first time in its entirety, this account of the Kinzie-Gordon family encompasses Scottish immigrants, numerous famous figures, Indigenous cultures, and enslaved workers. Their story reflects the history of the United States itself through tragedy, triumph, and love.