Tag Archives: Black doll history

Talking Christie

Name: Talking Christie Made by and When: Mattel, 1968-1969 Material: Vinyl Marks: ©1967 / MATTEL, INC. / U.S. & FOREIGN / PATS.PEND. / MEXICO Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black rooted bubble cut hair, brown painted eyes with rooted eyelashes, closed mouth with pink-painted lips Clothes: The green knit top is edged with aContinue reading “Talking Christie”

First Black Barbie

Name: Black Barbie Made by and When: Mattel, 1979 (released in 1980) Material: Vinyl Marks: Unknown (the doll is NRFB). Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black Afro/brown painted eyes/red painted, slightly pursed lips Clothes: Shimmery red bodysuit with gold lamé embellishments at the neckline; shimmery red wrap skirt, red dangle earrings, red high-heel shoes, and aContinue reading “First Black Barbie”

Mary McLeod Bethune

Name: Mary McLeod Bethune Made by and When: I. Roberta Bell (Bertabel Dolls), 1969 Material: Porcelain head and hands with tan cloth, sawdust-filled body, arms, legs and feet Marks: Mary McLeod Bethune / ”Berta Bell” / ©1969 (incised by the artist on the back of the shoulder plate) Height: 17 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Gray wig fashionedContinue reading “Mary McLeod Bethune”

Diana Ross (Three Versions)

Name: Diana Ross Made by and When: Mego (1977), Ideal (1969), Mattel (2003) Material: Vinyl and rigid plastic Marks: (Mego) MOTOWN RECORD / CORPORATION (on head); MEGO CORP. 1975 / Made in Hong Kong on body. (Ideal)1968 Ideal Toy Corp DR-18-H148 (head); 1969 Ideal Toy Corp GH-18 US Pat. #3,162,976 (on buttocks) Height: 12-1/4, 18,Continue reading “Diana Ross (Three Versions)”

Swim Set Baby Zuri

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: BabyZuri Made by and When: Shindana Toys/1975 Material: Soft vinyl Marks: SHINDANA TOYS 1972 / DIV.OPERATION BOOTSTRAP INC. Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Brown sculpted curls/black painted eyes with brown irises/drink and wet mouth with painted lips Clothes: Two-piece swim suit and overskirt, bare feet Other: Includes an inflatable swan;Continue reading “Swim Set Baby Zuri”

Baby Zuri

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: Baby Zuri Made by and When: Shindana Toys/1972 Material: Soft vinyl (light, medium, and dark vinyl versions were made; a white Baby Zuri was also made). Marks: SHINDANA TOYS 1972/DIV.OPERATION BOOTSTRAP INC. Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black or brown Sculpted curls/black painted eyes with brown irises/drink and wet mouthContinue reading “Baby Zuri”

Slade Super Agent

Name: Slade Super Agent Made by and When: Shindana Toys, 1975 Material: Vinyl Marks: Shindana Toys / ©1975 Height: 9-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Sculpted Afro/brown painted eyes/closed mouth with mustache Clothes: Orange shirt, brown faux leather short jacket, brown faux leather pants, black boots Other: Attaché case (black vinyl bag) contains a cardboard box that illustratesContinue reading “Slade Super Agent”

Career Girl Wanda

Shindana’s Career Girl Wanda dolls are 9 inches, all vinyl, and represent women of different professions and sports players to inspire young girls to imagine themselves in these careers. #Shindanadolls #careerdolls #fashiondoll #blackfashiondoll #operationbootstrap

Baby Nancy

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: Baby Nancy Made by and When: Shindana Toys/1968 Material: Vinyl Marks: DIV OF/OPERATION BOOTSTRAP, INC. U.S.A. / ©1968 SHINDANA (on head) Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black rooted hair/brown painted eyes/drink and wet mouth with painted pink lips Clothes: Dressed in a variety of brightly colored dresses and panties, bareContinue reading “Baby Nancy”

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”