Name: The Boys Choir of Harlem
Made by and When: Madame Alexander Doll Company, 1997-1998
Style Number: 20170
Material: Hard plastic, acrylic, synthetic hair, cloth clothing
Marks: (Back) ALEXANDER; a Madame Alexander hang tag bears the doll’s name and style number.
Height: 8 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Short black wig that covers the top of the head only, similar to a high-top fade; black sleep eyes with attached hard plastic upper eyelashes and painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with orange lip color
Clothes: Burgundy blazer with Boys Choir of Harlem emblem, one-piece sleeveless white shirt, black pants, burgundy ribbon necktie, black socks and shoes, Kente cloth kufi and scarf
Other: The Boys Choir of Harlem doll was inspired by the real-life Boys Choir of Harlem, a renowned African American youth choir founded in Harlem in 1968. The choir became internationally respected for its musical excellence and cultural impact. The Boys Choir of Harlem doll aligns with 1990s efforts by doll companies to increase diversity and representation and reflects Harlem’s historical connection to the company itself (the factory was based there for decades). The original Boys Choir of Harlem officially disbanded in 2009.
Gallery
_________
Your comments are valued. Donations support the initiative to preserve Black-doll history.
If you subscribe to DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum™ by email, click the post title of the email, which links to the website to view all text and associated media. Please “like” and share this installation with your social media contacts. If you’d like to subscribe, add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar. Add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar.
DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum™ 