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

clubwoman The woman's club movement was a social movement that took place throughout the United States that established the idea that women had a moral duty and responsibility to transform public policy. While women's organizations had always been a par ...

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

, and an early leader of Girl Scouting in the United States. She was married to military officer and politician

Benedict Crowell Benedict Crowell (October 12, 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 (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. While living in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

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 in 1927 and 1928.

Camp Julia Crowell Camp Julia Crowell was a Girl Scout camp in Richfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, opened in 1937. It was named for Julia Cobb Crowell, a Cleveland civic leader who served as the city's first Girl Scout commissioner in the 1920s. The camp closed a ...

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 one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

. 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 cul ...

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