September 10, 2023, Meeting

 Member Elaine Jackson did a program on Edith Flack Ackley, an author and doll artist. Elaine noted that cloth dolls were often the first dolls given to children. She said that from the 1920s through the 1940s, many stay-at-home mothers began making and selling cloth dolls. This was a thriving industry, but many of these dolls were later discarded after they became worn or dirty from play. During this era, Ackley published books with patterns and instructions for making puppets and dolls. Elaine noted that in 1939, "Woman's Home Companion" magazine published doll patterns and other women's magazines followed suit, as well as offering kits.

Elaine told the club that Ackley was born in 1887 and grew up in an artistic family. Her father owned a paint store and both her mother and sister wrote children's books. Ackley's first husband, Floyd Ackley, was a jewelry designer. Their daughter, Telka, was born in 1918. After Floyd died, Ackley needed a way to support herself and Telka. She had been making marionettes and putting on puppet shows for years, so in 1929 she published her first book, Marionettes. The book included patterns for making cloth puppets in a pocket in the back of the book, as well as plays. Ackley in the 1930s also made marionettes for store displays. In 1938, she published her second book, Dolls to Make for Fun and Profit, and the following year she published A Doll Shop of Your Own. Ackley also created paper dolls and greeting cards, as well as making and selling her own dolls. She created an estimated 3,500 over her career, but except for some very rare examples carrying a ribbon with her name, Ackley's dolls are not marked. Telka became and artist and illustrator, painting still life images that included her mother's dolls, and these paintings were used for creating greeting cards. Ackley died in 1970. 

This is an example of a marionette made from an Ackley pattern.

Elaine described some of the characteristics of a doll made using an Ackley pattern. The dolls had side seams and a flat face with embroidered eyes made with horizontal stitches and no nose. The toes of the feet pointed down unless they were stitched up and there were no fingers. The dolls were stuffed through the top of the head and Ackley recommended placing a stick or nail inside the head and neck to keep the head from flopping. The clothes were typically stitched closed, as Ackley did not mention buttons or snaps. Because these dolls were handmade by many different people, there are a lot of charming variations.

This cowboy was created by a woman in Austin.

Elaine found this little Native American doll at member Jenell Howell's house, where it was being used as a cat toy!

Ackley issued a pattern for this clown doll.

This is a version made by Elaine. The circus-print fabric for his outfit is from a 1940s crib pad.

This doll was made by dolly artist Lucy Geist in New York, who used Ackley patterns to create her own dolls. 

Member Sylvia McDonald displayed dolls made by her and her family members. 

This doll was made by her great-aunt.

Jenell shared this cloth doll from the 1940s. She has an expressive face and stitched fingers.

Member Kenneth Reeves displayed this cute cloth doll by the Canadian company of Bamboletta. He said that the Waldorf-style dolls is handmade of natural materials. 

Myrna Loesch brought this cloth doll by doll artist Susan Fosnot that was made as a souvenir doll for the 2014 United Federation of Doll Clubs convention.

Member Nancy Countryman shared a wide variety of cloth dolls from her collection, including two original Cabbage Patch dolls, Bevo, the University of Texas longhorn mascot, and

Miss Piggy of Muppets fame