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Bee-Hive Girls

Sponsor: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Also known as:

  • Beehive Girls (no hyphen)

  • Beehives (currently)

1915

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Originally they had adopted a Camp Fire Girls Program working withh CFG's founders, the Gulicks, but quickly developed their own program It was for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints girls and non-LDS girls. It was a distinct program with unique awards, lasting many years and like many programs, went through many changes. It was a highly structured program, each month had a special program to follow.

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This page is in 3 sections; early era, middle era and modern era.

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12th edition, note the hyphen continues, but the YLMIA has changed to YWMIA. This makes this edition 1934 or newer.

Bee-Hive Girl Enrollment pin.

 A girl had to earn the 25 cents to purchase the pin.

 The pin spelled WOMANHO and MIA.

 Later pins did not have MIA.

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Sterling Silver Chain Award

First offered as a permanent visible record of a Bee-Hive Girl's achievements.

First sold only in segments as the ranks were earned.

Later, in 1921, it was also offered as a completed necklace.

Early Bee-Hive Girls Handbooks

were issued yearly

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YLMIA = Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association

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Membership: age 14 and up only.

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1927 brought big changes to the program. The requirements for progression were greatly eased, to be more in line with other girls programs, such as Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls.

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In 1929: Girls who were 12 were allowed to be Nymphs, and were considered Bee Hive Girls, allowed to wear the pin and uniform, but not work on the ranks.

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Originally: Bee-Hive Girls (note the hyphen)

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Open to LDS and non-LDS girls

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Ranks: Builder in the Hive (color: brown), Gather of Honey (blue), Keeper of the Bees (gold)

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Watchword: Womanho (Wo = work, man = mankind, ho = home)

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Official colors: brown, light blue and gold

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Uniform: khaki skirt, middy blouse and blue neck tie or a khaki dress and blue tie.

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Just like other girl programs, the Bee-Hive Girls had a long history of camping in the great outdoors.

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Keeper of the Bees pin, the highest rank a Bee-Hive Girl could earn.

Bee-Keeper 5-year Service Pin,

with chain, would be attached to loop on 3-year Service Pin.

 BHS = Bee-Hive Swarm.

 A "swarm" is a group of Bee-Hive girls.

 Discontinued in 1951.

Bee-Keeper 3-Year Service Pin, discontinued in 1951

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The Bee Hive Girl

a poem by Miss Wanda Royack

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The Middle Years - Silver Jubilee and War Service

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1n 1934 these changes were approved:

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Membership: 12,13 and 14 year old girls

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Ranks changed to: Builder in the Hive (age 12), Gatherer of Honey (13) and Guardian of the Treasure (14). Honor Bee Hive Girl was the highest honor a girl could earn.

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1940 was the Silver Jubilee of the Bee-Hive Program, celebrating 25 years. 

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In 1950 the program changed to a 2-years program with 2 ranks;

  • Gatherer (age 12)

  • Guardian (age 13).

Girls who wished to could work on additional honors as Worker Bee and Honor Bee.

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After 1951 the rank titles were dropped, and girls were simply first or second year Bee Hive Girls.

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Uniform: Azure Blue Sash over a white blouse, dark blue skirt. This was modified later to allow white skirts, as long as all the girls of the group wore the same color skirt.

This Bee Ring was the highest honor a Bee Hive Girl could earn until the metal shortages of WWII, then a special felt award was introduced.

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Special silver Bee-Hive Girls' pin noting "25" and "1940."

Silver Jubilee felt emblem for the sash.

Bee-Hive Girls from 12th edition handbook.
The familiar sash is shown on the left and the girl on the right appears to be wearing a uniform.
The hats and sash are azure blue.

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A year's worth of program is shown in the newspaper, making it available to everyone.
 Note the Bee-Keeper in the photo is also wearing the Bee-Hive Girl's sash.

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Felt emblems of rank: brown bee hive and gold hexagonal cell for a girl just joining, 2 blue violets were awarded after completing "Trial Flights", and the gold Queen Bee awarded at the beginning of the Guardian rank. These were worn on an azure blue felt sash.

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Individual Girl's Award, introduced in the 1960s.

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Y.W.M.I.A. Camp Patch.

Each year a girl would earn patch with successive letters on them.

The first year, the patch would only have the "Y" on in, the next year would have the "Y" & "W", and so on. This is a 5 year patch, having all the letters of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association.

Modern Era

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Today the girls' program continues under the banner of the Young Women's program:

  • Beehives - age 12-14

  • Mia Maids - age 14-15

  • Laurels - age 16-17

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Fictional Books with a Bee-Hive Girls theme:

In the 1990s, author Lael Littke brought forth a series called "The Bee Theres" that ran for 7 books:

  • The Bridesmaids' Dress Disaster

  • The Mystery of Ruby's Ghost

  • The Phantom Fair 

  • Run Ducky, Run 

  • There's a Snake at Girls Camp 

  • Getting Rid of Rhoda

  • Star of the Show

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