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.

Dr. Melissa Langley Biegert is the Director of High School Programs Academic Success at Austin Community College and author of the book The Family Behind the Girl Scouts of America (McFarland 2026). Melissa Langley Biegert was an active member of the Girl Scouts from fourth through twelfth grade, earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. After graduating from Harvard, she went on to earn her Master's from Vanderbilt University, where she studied Juliette Gordon Low and the origins of the Girl Scouts of America. Her book, The Family Behind the Girl Scouts of America, uncovers the remarkable true story behind Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low and the generations of family history that shaped the founding of one of the world's most influential organizations for girls.