Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum
Home | Email | Site Map | Updates | Girl Scout Badges, et.al. | Girl Scout Pins | Girl Scout Uniforms | Girl Scout Cookies | Girl Scout Garden
Girl Scouts on the Move | National Girl Scout Patches | Girl Scout Troop Crests | Girl Scout Library | SCOUTOGS | Girl Scouts in the Kitchen
Girl Scout Beauty Kits | The Art of Being Girl Scout | Girl Scout Jewelry | Girl Scout Hobbies & Collectibles | Senior Girl Scout Roundups & More
Girl Scout Camp Equipment | Girl Scout Special Days & Special Ways | Girl Scout vs The Law | Girl Scout Landmarks | Girl Scout Sewing Nook
Girl Scout Dolls, Figurines & Plushies | The Girl Scout Creed | "A Girl Scout" | Things that aren't Girl Scout
Girl Scouts Being Outdoors | Girl Scouts - A Call to Service | Girl Scout Mystery Stuff
A Girl Scout is Thrifty | Vintage Senior Girl Scout Programs | The Girl Scout Armoire
Girl Scout Life Saving Medals, Medals of Merit & Honorable Mention Medals ...
The early Girl Scout Lifesaving Cross came in at least 3 different designs -
Images from handbooks
1913 era
1917 era
1920 era
1913 - Bronze Cross with red ribbon was ... awarded as the highest possible award for gallantry, and may be worn only when the claimant has show special heroism or has faced extraordinary risk of life.
1913 - Silver Cross with blue ribbon was...awarded for saving a life with considerable risk to oneself.
Be Prepared
1919
Life Saving Cross
Silver
1922-1956
Life Saving Cross
Bronze
1922 - 1942
(award continues, design changed)
The 1943 Girl Scout catalog showed a design change in the Life Saving Cross in Bronze. The words "For Valor" are no longer on the ribbon pin clasp, and the ribbon is noticeably longer.
The trefoil also appears to have been slightly modernized.
The catalog only shows one medal, it could be assumed that the Silver version also received a design change, but I have no proof.
In the 1959 Girl Scout catalog, the Life Saving Bronze Cross had the words "For Valor" returned, and a modernized trefoil, the wings of the eagle have a "stubby" look.
Current Life Saving Bronze Cross
Some examples appear to have an antique finish to the metal pieces. This example, left, does not.
Medal of Merit
1913-1920
Gilt Sterling Silver on a white ribbon
Medal of Merit
For a Scout who does her duty exceptionally well, though without risks to herself, or for twenty marks awarded by her captain for various specially good actions or for specially good work in recruiting on behalf of the Girl Scout movement.
1920-1925
Earlier titles were Badge of Merit and Gilt Medal of Merit
This award was basically a "character" award,
for being an outstanding Girl Scout, but not having put one's life in danger.
At one point it was required to have earned this medal
to achieve the Golden Eaglet.
Requirements changed over the years,
causing confusion and the award was discontinued in 1925.
