DeeBeeGee

Jackie Robinson

Name: Jackie Robinson Made by and When: Allied Grand Doll Manufacturing Company, Inc., 1950 Material: Composition Marks: Unmarked Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black molded hair/black side-glancing eyes/open-closed mouth with painted teeth. Clothes: White flannel Dodgers uniform with flannel belt, blue knit socks, black lace-up shoes (original); has replaced cap, baseball and bat. Other: DodgersContinue reading “Jackie Robinson”

Saralee Negro Doll

Saralee Negro Doll by Ideal Toy Corporation was released in 1951 as the first mass-produced anatomically correct black doll. #Idealtoycorp #saraleedoll #saraleenegrodoll #ethnicallycorrectdoll #historicalblackdoll

Saralee’s Sister

Ideal Toy Corp.’s Saralee’s 17-inch, all-vinyl sister is featured in this installation. #Idealtoycorp #saraleedolls #saraleesiblings #saraleessister #vintageblackdoll #1950sblackdoll

Norah Wellings Nassau Souvenir Doll

Name: Nassau, Bahamas Souvenir South Islander Doll Made by and When: Norah Wellings, 1930s Material: Stuffed velvet and velvet over a sculpted face, jointed neck Marks: Black cloth tag on back-right side of neck reads NASSAU; black cloth right foot tag reads MADE IN ENGLAND / BY / NORAH WELLINGS. Height: 14 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: ShortContinue reading “Norah Wellings Nassau Souvenir Doll”

Norah Wellings Dudu #119

Name: Dudu #119 South Islander Made by and When: Norah Wellings, 1930s Material: Stuffed velvet and velvet over a sculpted face, jointed neck Marks: MADE IN ENGLAND / BY / NORAH WELLINGS (on partial black cloth tag sewn to left foot) Height: 14 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black short, curly mohair wig (some hair is missing fromContinue reading “Norah Wellings Dudu #119”

Norah Wellings South Islander Girl

Name: South Islander Girl Made by and When: Norah Wellings, 1940s Material: Velvet and velvet over a sculpted face, jointed neck Marks: MADE IN ENGLAND / BY / NORAH WELLINGS (on black cloth tag sewn to left foot) Height: 13-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black mohair wig styled in an upswept bun may not be the originalContinue reading “Norah Wellings South Islander Girl”

Norah Wellings ZuZu South Islander

Name: ZuZu South Islander Doll Made by and When: Norah Wellings, 1929 Material: Stuffed velvet and velvet over sculpted face, jointed neck Marks: Right black cloth foot tag reads MADE IN ENGLAND / BY / NORAH WELLINGS. Height: 11 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Short brown curly mohair wig/brown glass eyes that glance to the doll’s right, paintedContinue reading “Norah Wellings ZuZu South Islander”

MarFan Bonnie Lou

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: MarFan Bonnie Lou Made by and When: Terri Lee, late-1950s Material: Hard Plastic Marks: Terri Lee Height: 16 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black wig/basic painted facial features are not as elaborate as earlier Terri Lee dolls/closed mouth painted red Clothes: All original in a light blue cotton-print dress that ties inContinue reading “MarFan Bonnie Lou”

Benji

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: Benji Made by and When: Terri Lee, 1950s Material: Hard plastic Marks: Terri Lee Patent Pending Height: 16 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black fur wig/painted facial features/closed mouth with painted red lips Clothes: White button-down shirt with pointed collar, red suspender pants, white socks, black shoes; Benji is missing his redContinue reading “Benji”

Bonnie Lou, Benji, and So-Sleepy

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: Bonnie Lou and Benji with Reproduction So-Sleepy Made by and When: Terri Lee, 1950s and circa 1990s Material: Hard plastic (Bonnie Lou and Benji); vinyl and cloth (So-Sleepy) Marks: Terri Lee Patent Pending (Bonnie Lou and Benji) Height: Bonnie Lou and Benji are 16 inches tall; So Sleepy isContinue reading “Bonnie Lou, Benji, and So-Sleepy”