A girl scout crumb (without cookies)

Josephine Holloway, who was born this month in 1898, worked to ensure African American girls could be part of the Girl Scouts. After graduating from Fisk University, she began working with girls at the Bethlehem Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was able to bring Girl Scout-inspired activities to more than 300 girls. She even attended a training by Juliette Gordon Low. When her oldest daughter turned six in 1933, Holloway applied to start a troop, but the Nashville Girl Scout Council would not allow her to start an African American troop.

She did not give up. She continued to fight for her daughters and other African American girls to have an opportunity to join. Then in 1942, she was able to form an official African American Girl Scout troop. She was hired by the Girl Scouts as a field advisor for black troops. In this position, she supervised thousands of African American girls and adults.