A group of Brownies is shown participating in a recent Play Day at Camp Burgisota, just south of Springfield, in this photo from the Oct. 29, 1950, News & Leader.
Participants enjoyed a day of outdoor activities, games, and group fun during the event, which brought together a large group of girls and their leaders, highlighting the sense of community and friendship fostered through the Brownie program.

Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Judith Orcutt, Carol Sue Halbrooks, Carol Sue Wasson, Kitty Jo Brown, Nancy Lee O’Neal, and Patricia Murrell.
In the second row are Barbara Nelson, Maydalyne Walker, Jo Lauritson, Mary Etta Ellis, Helen Forson, Georgia Mae Hill, Saundra Ettinger, Cathie Gardner, Mrs. Velma O’Neal, and Mrs. R.C. Murrell.
The third row includes Connie Fischer, Helen Baker, Cherie Pelkey, and Sharon Jo Clingan.
The Play Day at Camp Burgisota offered opportunities for recreation and teamwork, allowing the girls to build skills, confidence, and friendships in an outdoor setting. Events like this were an important part of youth activities in the area during the mid-20th century, encouraging participation and community involvement.
This image is part of a much larger collection of historically rich photographs from the News-Leader’s photo archive. Each week, the Springfield-Greene County Library will tap into this vast collection and present an interesting image “from the darkroom" and share its history. This image is presented in partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Library District and the Springfield News-Leader. For more historical images of the Ozarks, visit: thelibrary.org/fromthedarkroom.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: From the Darkroom shows Brownies at Camp Burgisota on 1950 play day













