by Karen Schillings, GCNWI Council Historian

During the third week of April each year, we celebrate National Volunteer Week, so it seems appropriate to highlight one of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s exceptional volunteers at this time. If you don’t already know her, I would like to introduce you to Nancy Hackett, someone who has given so much of her life in service to the Girl Scouts.

Nancy became a Girl Scout when in 1945 she joined as a Brownie in Pennsylvania’s legacy Tricounty Council, her mother served as her troop leader. She moved up to be an Intermediate Girl Scout, earned her Curved Bar, the highest award at the time. Nancy then bridged to Senior Girl Scouts, and remained a girl member until her high school graduation.  After graduation, Nancy started her journey as an adult volunteer by helping with a troop for the Tricounty Council. When she went off to college, Nancy continued to work with troops in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. From 1962 to 1980, Nancy lived and worked in Baltimore where she volunteered for legacy Baltimore Council. When she moved to Illinois in 1980, Nancy became part of legacy Trailways Council. As a volunteer for Trailways, Nancy did something out of the ordinary – she started a Girl Scout museum in her home.

Being somewhat of a collector from her early years in Girl Scouts, Nancy began saving Girl Scout calendars, cookie boxes, and the American Girl magazine when she was just a girl. She especially liked the American Girl because of the interesting covers. Then she went to Roundup in 1956 where she collected numerous SWAPS from her sister Girl Scouts from across the country. Subsequently in 1965, she was able to attend Roundup as an adult volunteer, and once again she accumulated a wide variety of SWAPS.  Nancy really enjoyed her Girl Scout collection, so over the years, she kept adding to it. She found herself going to antique shops and malls to purchase any Girl Scout items she could find. 

With her collection continuing to grow, Nancy became really serious about her hobby. She decided to become a Girl Scout Historian. She took several historians’ trainings at Macy Center in New York and also attended workshops that were offered during the various conventions.  At one of the sessions, the trainer was Mary Degenhardt, a co-author of the Girl Scout Collector’s Guide, the quintessential handbook for all Girl Scout memorabilia collectors. Nancy was thoroughly impressed by Degenhardt’s expertise and presentation.

With her sizeable collection and expansive knowledge of all things Girl Scout, Nancy decided to do something very unique. She let Trailways Council know that she wanted to open her home to troops who wanted to experience Girl Scout history through the memorabilia she had amassed. So in the late 1980’s, her Girl Scout museum became a place for girls to explore the rich history of Girl Scouts. The council promoted the museum in newsletters, and since Nancy was also a trainer, she would share information about the museum at trainings. Because of these efforts, Nancy welcomed anywhere from thirty to forty troops to her home during each school year. They would come after school, in the evenings, and on Saturdays. When the girls arrived, Nancy would be wearing a replica of the first uniform which she had made for herself.  She had a long table permanently set up in her living room where the girls could gather around to view and examine Girl Scout memorabilia as Nancy talked to them about the various items. While some girls were at the table, others would go to the bedroom where Nancy had her collection displayed. The girls could look at all the cases filled with patches, pins, handbooks, camping gear, mugs, dolls, and so much more. Nancy especially enjoyed hearing all the “ohs” and “aahs” as the girls entered the room. She would then start showing the girls uniforms from various eras. It was always quite exciting when one of the leaders or chaperones would say, “That’s the uniform I wore as a girl!” Much to their delight, the girls were also allowed to try on the uniforms. 

As a troop would get ready to leave, Nancy would ask them what they liked the best, and the girls would almost always say, “The drawers!” Nancy had a multi-drawer cabinet with items in each drawer. The girls loved pulling out the drawers to see what was in each of them. Nancy even had one drawer dedicated to the Boy Scouts to keep any brothers happy who had come along with their sisters. When Nancy was at various Girl Scout events, girls would recognize her and refer to her as “the lady with the museum.”

It should also be noted that Nancy has a substantial collection of World Association items. She was a member of the International Committee for Our Chalet and became interested in collecting items from WAGGGS countries. If she was visiting such places as Switzerland, England, or Australia, she would find the local Girl Guide office and purchase patches, pins, or anything else that caught her eye.

After the merge of the seven metro councils in 2008, Nancy’s museum was no longer promoted. However, Nancy continues to serve as a GCNWI Council Historian. She is always willing to create displays for local libraries, World Thinking Day celebrations, or service unit events. She and her sister historian Linda Pote also are responsible for the displays in the cases at the Joliet Gathering Place. Currently, the efforts to present the vast history of Girl Scouts are being done at the History Center which is located in the Vernon Hills Gathering Place. However, any of the historians, including Nancy, are always willing to share their expertise with anyone who asks. 

Nancy Hackett is just one example of the many dedicated volunteers whom we salute during National Volunteer Week. Thanks, Nancy, for all that you’ve done for Girl Scouts!