Girl Scouts to celebrate 50 years of Memory Hall archive

Members of the Memory Hall Committee, which supports the local Girl Scout archive, are inviting the public to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding. An open house celebration will take place Sunday, April 26, from 1-4 p.m. at the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio (GSNEO) North Canton Service Center, lower level, 1010 Applegrove St. NW, North Canton. The phone number is 330-433-9485.

The Memory Hall Committee of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio History and Archives is chaired by Jan Hart, a lifelong Girl Scout. Additionally, Hart represents the local archive on both the Northeast Ohio History and Archives Committee and the All-Ohio Girl Scout Historians group. The Memory Hall Committee not only cares for its memorabilia collection, but hosts three different girl workshops on the relevance of Girl Scout history to today’s programs. Troop tours on specialized topics are also offered.

The center will be open to Girl Scout troops, families and friends. All are invited to learn what is in the Girl Scout archive and see unique and commemorative items not usually on display. Visitors will be able to see the archive storage room that holds thousands of memorabilia items and discover new displays in the history room. Attendees can also learn about opportunities for tours and workshops available through Memory Hall. Participants will be able to take part in interactive displays, photo opportunities and other activities.

Organizers invite the community to be part of the 50th anniversary of Memory Hall, the local collection of Girl Scout memorabilia located in the North Canton service center of GSNEO. Visitors will be able to explore exhibits of Girl Scout items from around the area, including Canton, Massillon and Dover-New Philadelphia. A “then and now” area will highlight an international Girl Guide and Girl Scout display. Visitors will also learn about connections the Girl Scouts archive has with the National First Ladies Historical Site, the McKinley Museum and more. Models will be wearing historical uniforms, and visitors may try one on.

The Memory Hall archive room, usually not open to the public, will allow visitors to see how thousands of items are managed and stored. Attendees can learn about today’s GSNEO History and Archives group, its workshops and tours available for troops and community groups, and ways to support the archive.

Memory Hall opened in 1976 at “La Galerie” in Canton and was believed to be one of the nation’s first permanently housed Girl Scout memorabilia collections. Open to the public, it received more than 3,000 visitors in its first two years. The collection is now housed at the GSNEO North Canton service center. The committee’s purpose is to preserve Girl Scout history and provide resources and learning opportunities for girls. Today, the committee supervises the collection, offers tours on a variety of topics, holds GSUSA history workshops and assists troops earning Girl Scout Way badges.