Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

GIRL GUIDES UNIFORM

Date Range From

1959

Date Range To

1965

Materials

COTTON, NYLON

No. Pieces

3

Length

98.5

Width

41.0

Description

A. BLUE GIRL GUIDES UNIFORM WITH GOLD CORD. UNIFORM HAS PATCHES ALONG LEFT SLEEVE, RIGHT SLEEVE, AND CHEST; PATCHES ARE BRIEFLY LISTED AND DESCRIBED BELOW. THREE WHITE FABRIC STRIPS ON LEFT CHEST POCKET, TWO STAR-SHAPED PINS ON LEFT CHEST POCKET FLAP; A BLACK FELT BACKED “2” AND A GREEN FELT BACKED “5.” GIRL GUIDES BRANDED BUTTONS ON FRONT AND POCKETS OF UNIFORM. GOLD CORD IS WRAPPED AROUND RIGHT SHOULDER, CONNECTED TO UNIFORM THROUGH BLACK THREADED LOOP ON RIGHT SHOULDER, TASSELS ARE HUNG THROUGH RIGHT CHEST POCKET. PATCHES ON FRONT OF JACKET: - GOLD EMBROIDERED “GIRL GUIDES” WITH LYRE DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT, RED CIRCLE ENCOMPASSES DESIGN. - WHITE, GREEN, AND RED WINGS ON BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW LILLY FLOWER WITH RED CIRCLE ON BLACK BACKGROUND PATCHES ON LEFT SLEEVE: - BEIGE “FIRST LETHBRIDGE” RECTANGULAR PATCH - RED AND GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” WITH CLOVER IN BETWEEN TEXT AND RED ROPE ENCIRCLING TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” AND ‘+’ DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN AND RED “GIRL GUIDES” WITH RED ‘+’ DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” WITH LANTERN DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT PATCHES ON RIGHT SLEEVE: - GREEN AND WHITE TREE WITH “GIRL GUIDES” UNDERNEATH DESIGN - WHITE HOUSE DESIGN WITH “GIRL GUIDES” UNDERNEATH DESIGN - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” WITH IRON DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” WITH TEACUP DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES" WITH WEMBLEY LION DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES" WITH CHEERLEADER PROFILE IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES" WITH ROCKING HORSE DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES" WITH LION DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES" WITH TREE DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN "GIRL GUIDES" WITH LIFE RAFT DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES" WITH FLOWER DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - WHITE SCISSOR DESIGN - TWO INTERLOCKING WHITE KEYS DESIGN - PEARL AND WHITE BACKING SUPPLIES DESIGN - PEARL SCYTHE AND AXE DESIGN - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” TENT DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” FIREFIGHTER HELMET DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - PEARL DEER PROFILE DESIGN - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” WITH EARTH AND WING DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GREEN “GIRL GUIDES” WITH MAPLE LEAF DESIGN IN BETWEEN TEXT - GOLD FIGURE HIKING DESIGN - SEVEN GOLD STAR DESIGN, STARS IN A LITTLE DIPPER SHAPE COLLAR IS CRINKLED, DUST ALONG BOTTOM OF SKIRT, EDGES OF WRIST CUFFS, POCKET FLAPS, AND THROUGHOUT FRONT OF UNIFORM. WHITE MARKINGS ON BACK OF UNIFORM. CORD TASSELS ARE FRIZZY. FABRIC LOOP NEAR TOP OF UNIFORM IS LIGHTLY ATTACHED TO UNIFORM WITH BLACK THREAD. HANDLE WITH CARE. OVERALL VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION. 98.5CM LTH X 41.0 CM WTH B. WHITE AND RED MAPLE LEAF DESIGN SCARF WITH BLUE BORDER, “DESIGNED BY JEAN MILLER FOR THE GIRL GUIDES OF CANADA PRINTED BY CANADIANA” ABOVE BLUE BORDER ON ONE SIDE. GIRL GUIDES LOGO [“GGC” INSIDE A TREFOIL] INSIDE FOUR RED MAPLES IN EACH CORNER OF SCARF. SCARF IS CREASED DIAGONALLY, LOOSE THREADS THROUGHOUT BORDER. OVERALL VERY GOOD CONDITION. 58.0CM LTH X 58.0CM WTH C. BLACK GIRL GUIDES BERET WITH “GGC” TREFOIL (CLOVER) GOLD EMBROIDERED PATCH. GOLD TEXT PRINTED INSIDE OF BERET. TEXT IS ILLEGIBLE AND WORN OFF, DUST AND DIRT PRESENT THROUGHOUT OUTSIDE OF BERET. OVERALL VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION. 8.7CM HGT X 25.3CM DIA

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

ASSOCIATIONS

History

ON OCTOBER 3, 2024, COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN, KEVIN MACLEAN INTERVIEWED JESSIE ZUK, AND SISTER, DORA BLITT, ABOUT JESSIE ZUK’S DONATION OF A GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM; ZUK PARTICIPATED IN THE LETHBRIDGE GIRL GUIDES FROM 1959 TO 1965. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS DERIVED FROM THAT INTERVIEW. ON WHY ZUK STARTED PARTICIPATING IN GIRL GUIDES, ZUK EXPLAINED: “…THERE WASN’T A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO DO, AND IT REALLY WAS A COMMUNITY THING. MY FRIENDS BELONGED. IT WAS JUST AN IMPORTANT THING TO BE DOING AT THE TIME.” ZUK COMMENTED, “… [GIRL GUIDES] WAS A MIXTURE OF EVERYBODY. ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO GO [PARTICIPATE].” ZUK NOTED THE PATCH OF THE GIRL GUIDE COMPANY SHE PARTICIPATED IN: “…THE UNIFORM DOES SAY ‘FIRST LETHBRIDGE GUIDE COMPANY.’ AND SO, [OTHER COMPANY’S] MAY HAVE BEEN FORMED AFTER THAT, OR MAYBE, EVEN AT THE TIME, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE [COMPANY] ON THE NORTH SIDE, (LETHBRIDGE WAS KIND OF DIVIDED BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH), AND I WAS IN THE SOUTH, AND THAT’S WHERE WE [ZUK AND BLITT] WENT…” ON WHAT THE WEEKLY GIRL GUIDE MEETINGS WERE LIKE, ZUK EXPLAINED: “…[THE MEETINGS] WERE LOTS OF FUN. I LOOKED FORWARD TO THEM BECAUSE, EVEN IN NICE WEATHER, WE’D GO OUTSIDE, PLAY GAMES, DO MAP READING, AND LEARN HOW TO USE A COMPASS, AND DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS. AND, WHEN THE WEATHER GOT BAD, WE CAME INSIDE, WE LEARNED ALL KINDS OF SKILLS, LIKE LEARNING HOW TO KNIT, DOING SOME SEWING, WORKING ON OUR BADGES…” ZUK ELABORATED ON THE BADGES SEWN ONTO HER UNIFORM: ”…LOTS OF THE BADGE’S KIND OF PERTAIN TO BEING ABLE TO ATTEND GUIDE CAMPS AND DO THOSE [KIND OF] ACTIVITIES… [ON THE LEFT SLEEVE] HERE IS A HIKER. SO, I IMAGINE THAT IS DOING SOME TRAIL WALKING AND HIKING OF SOME KIND. [THE PATCH WITH STARS IS] AN ASTRONOMER BADGE. [A] MAPLE LEAF BADGE - SO THAT’S PROBABLY KNOWING ABOUT CANADA AND INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CANADA. [THE EARTH WITH WINGS PATCH IS] PROBABLY GUIDES AROUND THE WORLD, BECAUSE THIS [PATCH] FEATURES THE WORLD ON IT. [THE PATCH WITH AN ANIMAL IS] PROBABLY KNOWING ABOUT ANIMALS IN THE OUTDOORS HERE. [PATCH WITH A TENT EMBROIDERED IS] OBVIOUSLY TENTING, AND A CAMPING BADGE. [PATCH WITH A BOWL AND BOTTLE IS] A HOMEMAKING ONE, SO IT WOULD’VE INVOLVED BAKING AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT…” “…[THE PATCH WITH A FLOWER IS] A LITTLE GARDENING BADGE… [BECAUSE] THE GUIDES PLANTED THE ROSE GARDEN, IN LETHBRIDGE, NEAR THE JAPANESE GARDENS.” “…SCISSORS [PATCH], OBVIOUSLY DRESS MAKING AND SEWING, I WOULD THINK. TREE [PATCH], PROBABLY FOR THIS [PATCH], LEARNING ABOUT NATURE AND OUTSIDE. THIS [PATCH] LOOKS LIKE A BUOY, SO IT PROBABLY WAS A LIFESAVING BADGE, I’M GOING TO GUESS. I ENDED UP BEING A LIFEGUARD, SO MAYBE THAT HAD SOME IMPACT ON THAT BADGE… THERE’S ONE HERE WITH AN IRON, MAYBE PART OF THE DRESS MAKING. A TEACUP AND SAUCER, SO THAT WAS MAYBE FOR WHEN WE PUT ON TEAS… AND LEARN HOW TO SERVE AT THE TEAS. AND THE OTHER [PATCHES], I’M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT.” “…[THE] BIG HOME [ON THE SHOULDER]. SO, I THINK THAT [PATCH] MEANT YOU KNOW, THESE [FOLLOWING PATCHES] ARE MAYBE MORE RELATED TO THE HOME AND THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE HOME… AND BEING PROFICIENT IN THOSE AREAS.” ZUK COMMENTED ON THE BADGES SEWN ONTO THE LEFT SLEEVE: “…THERE ARE THREE BADGES THERE, AND THOSE WERE PROBABLY… REQUIRED BADGES. SO, ONE WE CAN SEE IS FIRST AID. AND I KNOW THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART… ONE IS GREEN, AND ONE IS RED, PROBABLY BOTH SIGNIFYING MAYBE LEVELS OF FIRST AID. AND THE LANTERN, I’M NOT SURE.” ON THE REASONING FOR THE SCARF CHANGING TO THE MAPLE LEAF DESIGN, BLITT SURMISED: “…AS A GUIDE, I FOUND IT RESPECTFUL TO BE THAT RESPECTFUL OF THE COUNTRY… AND THAT WE WERE PROUD TO BE CANADIANS. SO, THERE WAS THAT ASPECT, AND I THINK THAT’S WHY, MAYBE THE YELLOW TIE WENT TO BE THE MAPLE LEAF [DESIGN].” ON WHAT THE THREE WHITE STRIPES ON THE LEFT CHEST POCKET REPRESENT, ZUK EXPLAINED: “…[THE STRIPES] WERE JUST A DESIGNATION. YOU BECAME A MEMBER OF YOUR PATROL, MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE [STRIPE]. THEN, A PATROL LEADER (LIKE THE HEAD OF YOUR SMALL GROUP) WHICH WAS MAYBE 6 OR 8 AT THE MOST… AND [THEN] THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MAYBE TWO [STRIPES]… THE LAST [STRIPE] PROBABLY IF YOU’D [BEEN A PATROL LEADER] FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS…” ZUK EXPLAINED THE TWO STAR PINS ON THE LEFT CHEST POCKET: “…THOSE [PINS] I THINK WERE JUST ATTENDANCE, HOW MANY YEARS YOU HAD BEEN IN. SO, MAYBE TWO AS A PATROL LEADER OR SOMETHING, AND FIVE YEARS IN GUIDING…” ON THE TWO PATCHES ABOVE THE LEFT CHEST POCKET, ZUK EXPLAINED: “…SO THIS [FLOWER PATCH], I THINK, WAS A DESIGNATION OF YOUR GROUP… OUR PROBABLY LITTLE PATROL WERE THE DAFFODILS. AND THE WINGS WERE [GIVEN AFTER]… YOU LEARNED THE PROMISE; THE LAW; CERTAIN THINGS THAT WERE REQUIRED; THEN YOU GOT YOUR WINGS; AND YOU FLEW UP AND BECAME A GUIDE. SO, GETTING YOUR WINGS WAS IMPORTANT.” ZUK COMMENTED ON THE GOLD CORD WRAPPED AROUND THE RIGHT SHOULDER: “…THIS WAS VERY SPECIAL. THIS WAS CALLED THE GOLD CORD, AND NOT MANY GIRL GUIDE’S ACHIEVED THE STATUS, OR THIS DESIGNATION OF BEING A GOLD CORD GUIDE. SO, THERE WAS ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE. HER NAME WAS SUSAN MATHEWS, AND WE BOTH HAD A GOLD CORD. I CAN’T REMEMBER IF THERE WERE OTHER GUIDES THAT GOT IT… BUT, WHEN WE [MATHEWS AND ZUK] GOT THAT [DESIGNATION], WE WERE HONORED BY BEING ABLE TO ATTEND AND GOING TO EDMONTON TO RECEIVE THE GOLD CORD BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND WAS GIVEN THIS DESIGNATION (IN 1965)… THAT’S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL PART OF THE UNIFORM TO ME!” ON HOW A GIRL GUIDE CAN RECEIVE A GOLD CORD DESIGNATION, ZUK EXPLAINED, “I THINK IT WAS BY HAVING A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BADGES; PROBABLY NUMBER OF YEARS OF ATTENDANCE; PROBABLY ATTENDING GUIDE CAMPS, AND THAT KIND OF THING…” ZUK ELABORATED ON THE GIRL GUIDES CAMP(S): “…WHERE WE CAMPED WAS AT BURMIS GUIDE CAMP, AT BURMIS, ALBERTA… IT WAS JUST AN OLD FARMER’S FIELD. AND HE LET US GO AND CAMP THERE EVERY YEAR. THERE WAS A VERY OLD RAM-SHACKLED HOUSE ON THAT PROPERTY. AND WE WOULD MEET IN [THAT HOUSE] AT NIGHT, OR, IF IT WAS REALLY RAINING OUT HARD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO INTO THIS HOUSE. BUT AT NIGHT, THEY WOULD MAKE A FIRE IN THERE, IN THE OLD STOVE… WE WOULD HAVE HOT CHOCOLATE AND THAT, IN THE EVENING… IT WAS JUST A FARMER’S FIELD, AND EVENTUALLY PROBABLY ANOTHER GROUP BUILT US TWO LATRINES, SO THAT WE HAD OUTDOOR BIFFY’S TO USE… AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE HAD OUR CAMPFIRES EVERY NIGHT, WHICH WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY.” ON WHEN THE GIRL GUIDE CAMPS WOULD HAPPEN, ZUK EXPLAINED: “PROBABLY ONCE EVERY SUMMER… EVENTUALLY, AS I GOT OLDER, AND WAS MAYBE ONE OF THE OLDER GUIDES, THEY ASKED, I BELIEVE, SUSAN AND I TO GO HELP, AND DO THE COOKING FOR THE GUIDE LEADERS [AT CAMP]…” ZUK COMMENTED ON BEING CHOSEN TO ATTEND AN INTERNATIONAL GIRL GUIDE CAMP IN 1964: “…I WAS CHOSEN TO ATTEND AN INTERNATIONAL GUIDE CAMP, AND THIS WAS PART OF GUIDING AS WELL… I GOT TO GO TO NEW BRUNSWICK, AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A HIGHLIGHT FOR ME. I THINK I WAS IN GRADE 9 AT THE TIME. I HAD NEVER BEEN IN A PLANE, SO IT WAS MY FIRST PLANE RIDE. AH, VERY EXCITING! AND WENT TO NEW BRUNSWICK; STAYED THERE FOR A WEEK; CAMPED OUTSIDE AT BAIE VERTE WITH GUIDES FROM ALL OVER [INTERNATIONALLY]. AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. AND FLEW HOME AGAIN [AFTERWARDS]…” BLITT COMMENTED ON ZUK’S INVITATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL GIRL GUIDES CAMP: “…IT WAS INTERESTING TO BE A GIRL GUIDE, AND, IN THAT CONTEXT, WE JUST THOUGHT ABOUT LETHBRIDGE. BUT THEN, OF COURSE, JESS WAS HONORED BY BEING ABLE TO GO TO NEW BRUNSWICK, AND SHE SAW THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT. AND REALLY, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IN LETHBRIDGE ALBERTA, IT WAS SO LITTLE THAT YOU DIDN’T THINK - YOU CERTAINLY DIDN’T GO INTERNATIONAL…” ON WEARING THE GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM, ZUK STATED: “WELL, WE DIDN’T WEAR [THE GUIDING UNIFORM] IN PUBLIC VERY OFTEN, BUT… IT WAS DEFINITELY AN HONOR TO WEAR IT. WE WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TEAS WHERE WE WOULD SERVE TEA TO CHURCH GROUPS, OR WHATEVER, AND WE ALWAYS WORE OUR UNIFORM, AND THOSE WERE PROUD MOMENTS… SOMETIMES FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY, THE GUIDES WOULD HAVE A GROUP, AND WE WOULD BE A PART OF THAT [EVENT] IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL…” ZUK NOTED THE CREASE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE UNIFORM: “…I ONLY HAD THAT ONE [UNIFORM], AND I CAN SEE THERE’S STILL A HEM IN IT. PEOPLE WERE FRUGAL IN THOSE DAYS, AND I BET MY PARENTS BOUGHT ME THE SIZE THAT WOULD PROBABLY LAST ME FOR MY GUIDING CAREER. SO, [THE UNIFORM] WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIG ON ME AT FIRST...” ZUK REFLECTED ON THE GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM: “IT WAS AN HONOR TO WEAR IT - IT REALLY WAS. I HATE TO BE EMOTIONAL, BUT LOOKING AT IT, AND I THINK ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL TIMES, AND I ESPECIALLY AM INDEBTED TO OUR GUIDE LEADERS; THE OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE US INTO THEIR HOMES, AND TEST US FOR ALL THESE DIFFERENT BADGES. IT WAS REALLY PART OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE… THIS WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF MY LIFE, TO GO TO GUIDES EVERY WEEK. AND ALSO, TO ATTEND THE GUIDE CAMPS.” ON ZUK’S GIRL GUIDE LEADER, ZUK ELABORATED: “…MRS. RUBY LESTER. SHE WAS THE MAIN GUIDE LEADER, REALLY THE ONLY GUIDE LEADER THAT I KNEW… SHE USED TO TAKE US ON DOWN TO THE RIVER BOTTOM, EVERY GOOD FRIDAY WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING. AND IT WAS A SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT. WE ALWAYS WENT - HIKED DOWN THERE [IN THE RIVER BOTTOM], BUILT A LITTLE FIRE. EACH PERSON HAD TO BUILD A LITTLE FIRE AND COOK SOMETHING… WE HAD SPECIAL LITTLE WAYS OF MAKING THE FIRE, AND THINGS THAT WE USED. AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN PREPARING FOR IT, AND DOING THOSE ACTIVITIES…” ZUK REFLECTED ON WHY SHE KEPT THE GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM: “…JUST LOOKING AT IT, EVERY TIME WE MOVED, OR THINGS CHANGED, I JUST DIDN’T HAVE THE HEART TO THROW THAT OLD UNIFORM AWAY, SO I JUST KEPT IT IN THE CLOSET. AND OUR DAUGHTER BECAME A GIRL GUIDE AS WELL, SO I HAD IT THEN AVAILABLE TO SHOW HER. ‘WELL, THIS IS GUIDING; THIS IS THE BADGES; THIS IS KIND OF WHAT YOU GET TO DO’…” ACCORDING TO THE GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM TIMELINE FOUND ON ‘GIRL GUIDE HISTORY TIDBITS,’ THE NYLON RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SCARF WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1964 AS PART OF THE GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM. NOVEMBER 18, 2025, VICTORIA LASALLE EMAILED JESSIE ZUK QUESTIONING THE FABRIC LOOP AT THE TOP OF THE UNIFORM. NOVEMBER 22, 2025, JESSIE ZUK REPLIED: “… I AM NOT CERTAIN, BUT THAT CIRCULAR PIECE MAY HAVE BEEN ADDED LATER. THE ORIGINAL TIE THAT I WORE AS A GIRL GUIDE WAS A PIECE OF [YELLOW] COTTON BROAD CLOTH THAT WAS FOLDED UP AND TIED AT THE BACK OF THE NECK, BUT LOOKS SIMILAR TO A MAN’S TIE. AS GUIDES WE LEARNED HOW TO FOLD [THE CLOTH] AND MAKE IT INTO A TRIANGULAR BANDAGE FOR A SPRAINED ARM, ETC. THE TIE LATER CHANGED AND BECAME A SQUARE BLUE AND RED SYNTHETIC TIE THAT WAS WORN AROUND THE NECK AND PROBABLY THE ENDS WERE THREADED THROUGH THAT CIRCULAR LOOP. THIS IS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE…” FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE GIRL GUIDE UNIFORM, INCLUDING LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLES, DONOR SUPPLIED RESOURCES, EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, ARCHIVAL RESEARCH, OR TO SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS, PLEASE SEE THE DONATION’S PERMANENT RECORD.

Catalogue Number

P20240015000

Acquisition Date

2024-10

Collection

Museum

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