Category Archives: modern black dolls

Baby Catch-A-Ball

Name: Baby Catch-A-Ball Made by and When: Topper Toys, 1969 Material: Rigid vinyl Marks: Deluxe Topper 1968 (on the head) Height: 18 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black short curly rooted hair, brown stationary eyes with upper eyelashes, sly smile with tongue stuck out to the side of the mouth Clothes: Pastel colored striped dress isContinue reading “Baby Catch-A-Ball”

Remco’s Brown Eye Dolls and Sweet April

Name: Brown Eye Dolls and Sweet April by Remco Made by and When: 1968, 1969, and 1972 Material: Vinyl and rigid plastic Head Marks and Height: Hair, Eyes, Mouths, and Function(s): Clothes: Other: Although Remco did not make Black dolls exclusively, the company recognized the need for Black dolls for Black children. In the lateContinue reading “Remco’s Brown Eye Dolls and Sweet April”

Giggles by Ideal

Name: Giggles Made by and When: Ideal Toy Corporation, 1968 Material: Rigid vinyl Marks: (Head) 1966 Ideal Toy Corp. GG-18-H-77, (buttocks) 1967 Ideal Toy Corp. GG-18 Height: 18 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Brown rooted hair, brown flirty eyes that move from side to side with the “giggles” activation, open smiling mouth with painted upper teethContinue reading “Giggles by Ideal”

African Festival Figures (Paper Dolls)

Name:  Festival Figures: Children from Around the World in Their Colorful Holiday Dress, African Set: (1st picture) Ethiopia, Lesotho, Zambia, Senegal; (2nd picture) Liberia, Tanzania, Ghana, Madagascar Made by and When:  United States Committee for Unicef in cooperation with the George S. Carrington Company, 1978 Material:  Paper Marks:  Unmarked Height:  Figures, approximately 14 inches; envelope,Continue reading “African Festival Figures (Paper Dolls)”

18-Inch Dolls by Alexander Dolls

Name: 18-inch Dolls by Alexander Dolls Made by and When: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2019 Material: Vinyl heads, upper torsos, arms, and legs. The rest of the body is cloth. Marks on Each: Mia Bella—(Head) Alexander Doll Company/©2004; Alexander Doll Company (on body tag) [a copyright year of 2007 was on the doll’sContinue reading “18-Inch Dolls by Alexander Dolls”

Baby Brother Tender Love

Name: Baby Brother Tender Love Made by and When: Mattel, 1975 Material: Soft vinyl Marks: ©1972 MATTEL, INC. (on the head); ©1975 MATTEL INC. USA (on upper back) Height: 13 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Rooted wavy brown hair, painted brown eyes, open mouth with a visible drinking tube Clothes: White, aqua, and yellow striped knitContinue reading “Baby Brother Tender Love”

Li’l David and Li’l Ruthie 1st Anatomically-Correct Dolls

Name: New Arrival Li’l David and Li’l Ruthie Made by and When: Sculpted by Irene Szor for Horsman, 1975 Material: Vinyl heads, stuffed vinyl one-piece bodies Marks: 1/Horsman Dolls, Inc/19©75 (Lil’l David); 1/Horsman Dolls, Inc/19©75 (Li’l Ruthie) Height: 13-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Painted brown hair, painted brown eyes, drinker mouths Clothes: Li’l David wearsContinue reading “Li’l David and Li’l Ruthie 1st Anatomically-Correct Dolls”

The One and Only Talking Doll Zamika Martin

Name: The One and Only Adoptable Talking Doll Zamika Martin Made by and When: Zambardon, 1988 Material: Vinyl head, arms, and legs; dark brown cloth body with voice box Marks: ©1988 MARTIN/ZAMBARDON CORP Height: 19 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black rooted hair styled in three sectioned-off double-strand twists, sculpted and painted black eyes, closed mouthContinue reading “The One and Only Talking Doll Zamika Martin”

Harriet Tubman by Bertabel’s Dolls

Name: Harriet Tubman Made by and When: Bertabel’s Dolls (I. Roberta Bell), 1969 Material: Clay head and hands, stuffed tan silk body, arms, and legs Marks: Bertabel Dolls is on the outside of the hangtag Height: 16 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Salt and pepper hair, brown painted eyes, closed mouth with deep burgundy painted lipsContinue reading “Harriet Tubman by Bertabel’s Dolls”

Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls

Name: Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls – A Communicator for the Past and Present Description: Sneha Sureshkumar was a 10th grader at the time she conducted extensive research for the documentary “Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls.” Her research and the resulting documentary were part of her state’sContinue reading “Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls”