Julia Cobb Crowell (June 27, 1877 – January 16, 1957), known socially as Mrs. Benedict Crowell, was a

clubwoman The club movement is an American women's social movement that started in the mid-19th century and spread throughout the United States. It established the idea that women had a moral duty and responsibility to transform public policy. While wome ...

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

, and an early leader of

Girl Scouting Girl Guides (or Girl Scouts in the United States and some other countries) are organisations within the Scout Movement originally and largely still for girls and women only. The Girl Guides began in 1910 with the formation of The Girl Guides ...

in the United States. She was married to military officer and politician

Benedict Crowell Benedict Crowell (October 21, 1869 – September 8, 1952) was a United States military officer and politician particularly influential in military organization during and following World War I. He was United States Assistant Secretary of War from ...

Early life

Julia Root Cobb was from Cleveland, the daughter of Lester Ahira Cobb and Anna W. Root Cobb. Her father was a businessman and banker; her grandfather was Ahira Cobb, a prominent Ohio shipbuilder. She was educated at Miss Mittleberger's School for Girls in Ohio, and at Miss Hersey's School in Boston.

Career

Crowell was active in Girl Scouting during and after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. While living in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

in 1920, she was the Commissioner of Girl Scouts in the District of Columbia, and an arts patron. After the war, the Crowells moved back to Cleveland, where Julia Crowell founded the city's Girl Scout Council and was its first commissioner. In 1923 she and other Scouting leaders were sued for slander by a troop leader. She served on the national board of

Girl Scouts Girl Guides (or Girl Scouts in the United States and some other countries) are organisations within the Scout Movement originally and largely still for girls and women only. The Girl Guides began in 1910 with the formation of The Girl Guides ...

in 1927 and 1928. Camp Julia Crowell was a 248-acre Girl Scout camp in Ohio, opened in 1937.Camp Julia Crowell named for first commissioner of Cleveland Girl Scouts"
''Friends of Crowell Hilaka''. Crowell served on the founding board of trustees of the Maternal Health Association of Cleveland, and supported the city's children's hospital.

Personal life and legacy

Julia Cobb married chemical engineer and banker Benedict Crowell in 1904. They had two children, Florence (1908–1982) and Benedict (1912–1966). She was widowed when her husband died in 1952; she died in 1957, aged 79 years. Her grave is with her husband's at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

. The Benedict Crowell Papers at the

Western Reserve Historical Society The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) is a historical society in Cleveland, Ohio. The society operates the Cleveland History Center, a collection of museums in University Circle. The society was founded in 1867, making it the oldest ...

include some of her papers.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Crowell, Julia Cobb 1877 births 1957 deaths People from Cleveland Girl Scouts of the USA national leaders Recipients of the Silver Fish Award