Developing essential skills for a purposeful and fulfilling life
During Women’s History Month, we recognize the ‘girl citizens’ of the George Junior Republic (GJR). Girls were among the first group of youth to travel from New York City to upstate New York for the summer camps organized by William George, the founder of GJR. After the Republic was formed in 1895, its young residents adopted a constitution in 1898, which formalized a system of self-governance that granted women the right to vote years before they gained suffrage in New York state and nationwide through the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Historical accounts show that young women in the Republic were trained in both home economics and skills for industry. They worked in the Republic’s bank, learned office work, and took care of the gardens that produced food for the Republic. They learned how to manage households, plan menus, and cook. They learned to sew garments and upholster items. At the Art Shop, young women were trained in oil and watercolor painting, illustration, sculpture, and silk-screen techniques. They held high offices in the Republic’s court system, with the first girl citizen appointed to a judgeship in 1900 and another serving as Vice President of the Citizen Government in the 1940s. Girls were also active participants in sports programs.
By fostering a unique environment that promoted education and development through personal effort, the original GJR of Freeville NY was an experiment in learning and citizen training that paved the way for many young women to successfully pursue their ambitions and grow into contributing members of society.
