Special Event Celebrates the Founding of Children’s Museum
Joyce Maienschein (in red) with members of Troop 69.
Area Girl Scout alumnae and museum staff members came together on Thursday, October 3, 2013 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge by Joyce Maienschein and Oak Ridge Girl Scout Troop 69. The museum was started with a $500 grant from the Reader’s Digest Foundation. Mrs. Maienschein and her troop opened the museum on March 11, 1973 in the old Jefferson Junior High School; the next year the museum moved to its present location, the former Highland View Elementary School.
Mrs. Maienschein and her daughter Jane traveled from Arizona for the celebration, and several members of her troop were able to be present as well. Everyone enjoyed visiting the Girl Scouting exhibit named in her honor. Before moving to Arizona, Mrs. Maienschein donated her extensive collection of Girl Scout uniforms, memorabilia, documents, and correspondence to CMOR, and this collection formed the basis for the exhibit.
Joyce Maienschein (L) and Margaret Allard (R) in front of the Girl Scouting exhibit. Margaret oversaw the construction ofthe exhibit and maintains the collection of Girl Scout memorabilia.
Earlier this year, vintage scrapbooks, photos, and other documents previously stored in the Oak Ridge Public Library joined items from the Maienschein collection in a special room at the museum. These materials can be used for study and research by area Girl Scouts and alumnae. Uniforms may be borrowed for special events.
The occasion concluded with a special luncheon held in CMOR’s Imagination Gallery.
Attendees at the special celebration.