Anne Hyde Choate

Who was Anne Hyde Choate?

Anne Hyde Clarke Choate was an early and prominent leader in the Girl Scouts of the USA and in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Born Anne Hyde Clarke in New York, her godmother was Juliette Gordon Low, later to be founder of the Girl Scouts in the United States. At Low's invitation she visited England, during which trip she met her future husband Arthur Choate, nephew of Joseph Choate, the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain. They married in 1907 and lived in Pleasantville, New York. They were to have five children. He died in 1962.

In 1915, at the request of Juliette Low, she started working with the new troop in Pleasantville. In 1916 she became a national vice president for the Girl Scouts, and in 1920 she became the second president, succeeding Juliette Low. After she finished her term in 1922, she turned to international Scouting, though she remained a vice-president until 1937 and an ex officio member of the board until her death. She chaired the Juliette Low World Friendship Committee from 1927 when it was founded after the death of Juliette Low to 1955 and was closely involved in Our Chalet including becoming chairman.