In 1916, the Beehive Girls were Latter-day Saint young women ages 14 and 15 (the 12- and 13-year-olds were still in Primary). Older teens, and even the mothers of Beehive Girls, could learn the same skills and earn the same badges of honor, if they chose to.

In those days, the Beehive program mirrored many of the activities and trappings of the Boy Scouts: as the girls completed requirements for various skills, called “filling cells” (as if with honey) in their lingo, they won hexagonal-shaped badges to sew onto a sash. Those activities included spiritual goals, homemaking skills, camping, competency with tools, development of physical strength and health, animal care, etc. Their range of activities was easily equivalent to the Boy Scout program — with art needlework and childcare added, and with their hikes made in bloomers or skirts.

Beehive Girls from Thatcher, Arizona

These pictures from 1916 show the girls engaged in projects to fill cells, proclaiming their pride in the program with parade floats they built themselves, cooking breakfast in the canyons, playing baseball, and sometimes just clowning around for the camera.

Ladies and gentlemen, our grandmothers!

 

 

Malad Stake, Idaho

 

 

Binghampton Branch, California

 

 

Blackfoot, Idaho

 

 

Chester, Idaho

 

 

Sandy, Utah

 

 

Malad Stake, Idaho, at Lava Hot Springs

 

 

Pocatello, Idaho

 

 

Bingham 2nd Ward, Utah

 

 

Logan 7th Ward, Utah

 

 

Wayne Stake, Utah

 

 

Teton Stake, Idaho

 

 

Hyrum Stake, Utah

 

 

North Sanpete Stake, Utah

 

 

Blackfoot, Idaho

 

 

Providence 1st Ward, Utah

 

 

Hyrum Stake, Utah

 

 

Chester, Idaho

 

 

Pella, Idaho

 

 

Granite Stake, Utah

 

 

Weber County, Utah
(three stakes combined to sponsor float)

 

 

Mt. Pleasant, Utah

 

 

Ephraim, Utah

 

 

Preston, Idaho
(joint “Day of the Troop” Scout and “Day of the Swarm” Beehive Parade, 15 September 1916)

 

 

Spring City, Utah


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