Tag Archives: Black doll history

C. J. Walker

Name: C. J. Walker Made by and When: Madame Alexander, 2011 Material: Hard plastic Marks: (On the back) ALEXANDER Height: 10 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black wig in a pinned-up, early 1900s style; brown sleep eyes with attached molded upper eyelashes and painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with painted red lips Clothes: As described byContinue reading “C. J. Walker”

Bessie Coleman

Name: Bessie Coleman Made by and When: Madame Alexander, 2009 Material: Hard plastic Marks: (On the back) ALEXANDER Height: 10 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black wig styled in a bob with bangs, brown sleep eyes with attached molded upper eyelashes and painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with painted red lips Clothes: The doll’s very detailedContinue reading “Bessie Coleman”

Josephine Baker

Name: Josephine Baker Made by and When: Madame Alexander, 2007 Material: Hard plastic Marks: (On the back) ALEXANDER, (on the buttocks) 200/400* Height: 10 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black bob-style wig, brown sleep eyes with attached molded upper eyelashes and painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with painted red lips Clothes/Accessories: The metallic and pearl bikiniContinue reading “Josephine Baker”

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”

Black Dolls Journey Through Time With Denise Bond

This is a still shot from the video: Black Dolls a Journey Through Time exhibit that was held in September 2018.

Ruby Bridges

Photograph courtesy of Rachel McCullough Sherrod of Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls Name: Ruby Bridges (a one-of-a-kind doll) Made by and When: Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls, January 2020 Material: The face, arms and legs are made of a wool blend felt. The head and torso are a cotton blend. Marks: Signed and dated by the artist,Continue reading “Ruby Bridges”

One-of-a-Kind Maya Angelou

Name: One-of-a-kind Maya Angelou Photo Face Doll Made by and When: Debbie Behan Garrett, 2014 (revised in 2015) Material: Vinyl with mask face made of T-shirt transfer molded over polymer clay Marks: (On the head) ©BIG BEAUTIFUL / DOLLS INC. 2000; (on the back) BIG / BEAUTIFUL / DOLLS / INC. / ©2001 Height: 12Continue reading “One-of-a-Kind Maya Angelou”

Destiny’s Child Dolls (Mattel)

Photographs courtesy of Telisa Spain Name: Destiny’s Child Dolls (Kelly, Beyoncé, and Michelle) Made by and When: Mattel, ©2005 Material: Vinyl Height: 11-1/2 Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Below-the-shoulder-length brunette rooted hair (Kelly and Michelle), long blonde rooted hair (Beyoncé)/painted brown eyes with rooted eyelashes/smiling mouths with molded and painted teeth Clothes:  Kelly, Beyoncé, and Michelle wear gold, pink,Continue reading “Destiny’s Child Dolls (Mattel)”

Big Beautiful Doll Dasia

Name: Dasia Made by and When: Big Beautiful Dolls, Inc.; 2001 Material: Vinyl Marks: ©BIG BEAUTIFUL / DOLLS INC. 2000 (on the head); Big / Beautiful / Dolls / Inc. / ©2001 (on the back) Height: 12 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black rooted hair in a curly updo style/brown painted eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Wears a black velourContinue reading “Big Beautiful Doll Dasia”

American Girl Gabriela McBride 2017 Doll of the Year

Name: Gabriela McBride Made by and When: Pleasant Company, 2017 Material: Vinyl head, arms, and legs; cloth body Height: 18 inches (and 6-1/2 inches) Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Long, curly brown hair/brown sleep eyes/smiling mouth with two upper teeth Clothes: Gabriela wears a cropped purple sweater with silver dream graphic and soft turquoise tank top; a fitted pairContinue reading “American Girl Gabriela McBride 2017 Doll of the Year”