Meet Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee’s very own superhero and role model for girls across the nation – Josephine Groves Holloway.
Josephine Holloway was instrumental in desegregating the Girl Scout Council of Cumberland Valley, known today as Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee.
In 1942, Holloway established Troop 200 – Nashville’s first African American Girl Scout troop. She was also the first black professional Girl Scout employee in Middle Tennessee – serving as a field advisor, district director, and camp director.
Holloway’s perseverance to establish Girl Scouting opportunities for Black girls spanned years before Troop 200’s debut. In 1924, Holloway attended a training session in Nashville with Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low and was commissioned a Captain (leader). She was authorized to form troops for black girls at the Bethlehem Center.
After leaving the Center, she later formed unofficial troops in the 1930s, using a copy of the Girl Scout handbook to lead her troops. These troops were finally officially recognized and registered in 1943.
When Holloway’s requests to start official troops for African American girls were finally granted, the momentum led to 13 new troops in 18 months.
In 1955, Camp Holloway, named after Josephine Groves Holloway, opened its grounds in Millersville, Tennessee.
Today, Camp Holloway is proud to be a camp for all girls to explore, discover and break down barriers.
Want to learn more about Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee’s very own superhero Josephine Holloway? Come out to Camped All Four Camp Holloway: Be a Superhero March 24 to explore Camp Holloway and its history!