Uncovering Our History Through The Relics Left Behind
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
On Sunday, the Paul Robeson House & Museum in Philadelphia will host Barbara Whiteman, founder of the Philadelphia Doll Museum, which houses her collection of hundreds of black dolls. The museum, which opened in 1988,…
As a child, Deborah Johnson’s mother had a Topsy-style doll that she did not love. In fact, she hated it, Jennie Butler would later tell her daughter. Topsy was typically a dark brown-complexioned doll whose hair…
Posted in Art, Doll collectors, and Dolls
Looking over the display of disparate dolls, I knew that this had to be the work of several doll-makers. The three-tiered display sported cloth dolls and dolls with papier-mache-like faces, black origami doll ornaments, and…
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
Like most folks, Joyce Stamps didn’t grow up with black dolls, but when she was finally introduced to them fully as an adult, the genealogist in her was curious about their history. “I wish they…
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
Vicky Forbes stumbled into doll collecting. She was on the hunt for a childhood doll, searching flea markets, yard sales and just about any place else for her memorable Charmin’ Chatty doll. After she found…
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
Etta Houston didn’t start collecting dolls until the 1970s when her youngest child got married. First, family members would give her dolls, which I’m sure she accepted graciously, and she bought some on her own.…
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
When I arrived at the doll sale, I went looking for black dolls, even though none were featured in the photos on the auction house web site. I’ve started looking for black dolls these days as I’m…
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
Debbie Behan Garrett has a special way with dolls. She hears what they have to say, wordlessly, through the feelings they engender inside her. They are dolls that have led lives, passed through hands (or…
