Sarah Randolph Bailey

{{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Sarah Randolph Bailey | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year|1885}} | birth_place = [[Macon, Georgia]] | death_date = {{death year and age|1972|1885}} | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | citizenship = | alma_mater = | education = | occupation = [[Teacher]], [[Principal (education)|principal]] | organisation = [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scouts]] | years_active = | employer = | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | title = | party = | movement = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | awards = [[Thanks Badge (GSUSA)|Thanks Badge]] | website = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }}

'''Sarah Randolph Bailey''' (1885–1972) was an American educator and Girl Scout pioneer. Born in [[Macon, Georgia]], she started scouting troops for African-American girls which eventually earned admission to the state organization in Georgia and formal recognition from the national [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scouts]] organization in 1948.

== Biography ==

Bailey was born in Macon, Georgia in 1885,<ref name="ohiombe2017">{{cite news |title=Black History Month Feb. 24: Sarah Randolph Bailey – desegregated the Girl Scouts |url=https://ohiombe.com/archives/7038 |website=ohiombe.com |date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=March 25, 2026}}</ref> the daughter of [[freed slaves]].<ref name="Hutcherson2017">{{cite news |title=BLACK HISTORY: Sarah Bailey Center in GA Named for Leader Who Organized Black Girl Scout Troops in 1940s |url=https://goodblacknews.org/2017/02/15/black-history-sarah-bailey-center-in-ga-named-for-leader-who-organized-black-girl-scout-troops-in-1940s/ |last=Hutcherson |first=Lori Lakin |publisher=Good Black News |date=February 15, 2017 |access-date=March 24, 2026}}</ref> She graduated as "first in her class" in 1901 and began teaching the same year.<ref name="Achievement2016">{{cite web |title=Sarah Randolph Bailey |url=https://www.georgiawomen.org/sarah-randolph-bailey |website=[[Georgia Women of Achievement]] |year=2016 |access-date=March 24, 2026}}</ref> In 1909 she became principal of the Maryland M Burdell School in Macon.<ref name="BaileyCovin2024">{{cite web |title=People you should know for Black History Month 2024 |url=https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/people-you-should-know-black-history-month-2024/93-dcc77e2d-3146-4ff9-a653-86c0debf07f1 |last=Bailey-Covin |first=Nicole |website=13wmaz.com |date=February 1, 2024 |access-date=March 22, 2026}}</ref> She continued to teach in Macon public schools through 1955.<ref name="Washington1955">{{cite news |title=Ft. Valley State honors 2 retired Macon teachers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1042163906/?match=1&terms=%22Sarah%20Randolph%20Bailey%22 |newspaper=[[The Washington Afro-American]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=August 20, 1955 |access-date=March 25, 2026}}</ref>

In 1935, Bailey formed the Girl Reserves consisting of young African-American girls.<ref name="Achievement2016" /> The [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scouts]] organization in Georgia [[Racial segregation in the United States|did not allow black girls]] membership until 1940.<ref name="BaileyCovin2024" /> By 1937, 15 groups of Girl Reserves had formed within Macon.<ref name="Farrell2025">{{cite book |title=Intrepid Girls: The Complicated History of the Girl Scouts of the USA |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Intrepid_Girls/tImLEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Sarah+Randolph+Bailey%22&pg=PA139&printsec=frontcover |last=Farrell |first=Amy Erdman |publisher=[[University of North Carolina Press]] |page=139 |isbn=9781469686844 |date=October 28, 2025 |access-date=March 25, 2026}}</ref> The Georgia-based Girl Scouts organization began to permit black troops in 1945 and invited Bailey to join.<ref name="Farrell2025" /> She also became chairwoman of the Central Committee for Macon's troops,<ref name="Gaines2014">{{cite news |title=Tubman exhibit honors Sarah Bailey, Girl Scout pioneer and educator |url=https://www.macon.com/news/local/article30139167.html |last=Gaines |first=Jim |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Macon, Georgia)|The Telegraph]] |date=August 24, 2014 |access-date=March 22, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718233932/https://www.macon.com/news/local/article30139167.html |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and her troop was formally recognized by the national Girl Scout organization in 1948.<ref name="Chandler2023">{{cite news |title=Little Known Black History Fact: Sarah Bailey |url=https://blackamericaweb.com/2020/06/23/little-known-black-history-fact-sarah-bailey/ |last=Chandler |first=D.L. |website=[[BlackAmericaWeb.com]] |date=June 23, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2026}}</ref>

Bailey died in 1972.<ref name="ohiombe2017" />

== Honors and legacy ==

In recognition of her work as a troop leader and camp director, Bailey received the [[Thanks Badge (GSUSA)|Thanks Badge]], the highest honor able to be awarded to an adult in Scouting.<ref name="legiscan2012">{{cite web |title=Bill Text: GA SR1106 |url=https://legiscan.com/GA/text/SR1106/id/599359 |website=legiscan.com |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2026}}</ref>

* In 1955, Bailey received an award for distinguished service from [[Fort Valley State University]]<ref name="Washington1955" /> * In 1961, Camp Sarah Bailey was dedicated in her honor<ref name="BaileyCovin2024" /> * In 2012, Bailey was recognized as a [[Georgia Woman of Achievement]]<ref name="Achievement2016" />

== References ==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Sarah Randolph}} [[Category:1885 births]] [[Category:1972 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American women educators]] [[Category:20th-century American educators]] [[Category:Activists for African-American civil rights]] [[Category:African-American women educators]] [[Category:Girl Scouts of the USA people]] [[Category:People from Macon, Georgia]] [[Category:Schoolteachers from Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Scouting pioneers]]