WAGGGS Pins and Patches | Vintage Girl Scout

WAGGGS Pins & Patches

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

(WAGGGS) was formed in May of 1928 at the

5th International Congress in Pared, Hungary.

The WAGGGS badge (pin) design was adopted in 1948

at the 12th World Conference in New York for use by all

members, if they wished. The design was in use on the WAGGGS

flag since 1930. The design was crafted by Kari Aas of Norway.

Currently, the World Association pin is worn by all registered

members. The traditional blue and gold are familiar to all Girl Scouts.

The gold trefoil on a blue background represents the sun shining on children everywhere, the base gold stalk is the flame of the love of humanity, the upward pointing vein is a compass needle pointing the way. The two stars are the Promise and Law, the flowing line around the trefoil is for the worldwide movement.

In 1990 the WAGGGS symbol was updated.

Vintage WAGGGS pin

World Pin

n/c 1956 to World Association Pin

1948 - 1989

Brownie World Association Pin

1956-1976

World Association Pin

1990-current

Although the World Pin was technically first introduced in the Fall 1949 GS catalog, it was almost an afterthought. Only the 9-685 version was offered as a small insert on the page showing the pin and a brief description. Drawings of the proper placement of insignia did not show the World Pin.

In 1950 the World Pin was given prominence in the catalog and shown on the drawings on insignia placement. In 1950 Brownie Girl Scouts wore the World Pin along with Girl Scouts and adults.

In 1956 the name was changed to World Association Pin and a separate World Association Pin for Brownies (the 2 finger salute) was introduced.

New WAGGGS

"For Her World"

patch & pin

Vintage WAGGGS pin,

likely for decorative use

Vintage WAGGGS

Travel Charm

The pin shown is the "World Association Badge". Page 16 of the 1958 addition of the "Trefoil Around the World" book states that this pin or badge is worn only by members of the World Committee and its sub-committees, the staff of the World Bureau and its Branch Office, the Guiders in charge of the World Centers and others who carry out special duties for the World Association. The blue circle is a constant reminder that those who wear this badge work for the world and not only for their own countries. It was approved at the Seventh World Conference in 1932. There is a black and white drawing along side the information.

Sue and Joe Walters

Modern WAGGGS Charm

An interesting variation to the Africa Region, this one says Friends of Africa Region.

"girls worldwide say" was a WAGGGS slogan that started around 2007. Each region had a pin; Asia-Pacific, Arab, Western Hemisphere, Europe and Africa.

Region WAGGGS pins were offered after the "girls worldwide say" pins shown above; Asia-Pacific, Arab, Western Hemisphere, Europe (French version shown) and Africa. They were also offered in French.