Dolls for Democracy Marian Anderson

Name: Dolls for Democracy Marian Anderson

Made by and When: Ruth Cecil Bullard Weeks, circa 1950-1960s

Material: Clay for the head and lower arms/hands. The upper arms, body, and legs are cloth with wire armature.

Marks: The bottom of the wooden base reads, Marian Anderson.

Height: 10 inches

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Molded hair, painted black; hand-sculpted face with painted brown eyes, closed mouth

Clothes: Holds a songbook and wears a full-length, off-white lined lace dress; pantalettes, stockings, and painted-on shoes with firm soles. The shoes are nailed to a wooden base. The bottom of the base reads Marian Anderson.

Other: Part of the Dolls for Democracy and Diversity series of initially 38 dolls that represent famous and other American achievers, this doll represents Marian Anderson, “one of the finest contraltos of her time,” who “became the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955” (Biography.com). It was previously owned by the late Frances Reedy from North East Ohio who was also a doll artist.

Dolls for Democracy and Diversity were exhibited during the 1950s through the 1970s sponsored by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society (formerly B’nai B’rith Women). Up to 42 dolls traveled to parochial and private schools in the US and Canada to teach children that people of all backgrounds can become great achievers. Other known African American dolls in the series include Ralph Bunche, George Washington Carver, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jackie Robinson.

Gallery

Marian Anderson by Ruth Bullard Cecil Weeks

_________

Your comments are valued. Donations aid the initiative to preserve Black-doll history.

If you subscribe to DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum™ by email, be sure to click the post title in the email, which links to the website to view all text and associated media. Please “like” and share this installation with your social media doll contacts. To subscribe, add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar.