July 12, 2026, Meeting

The theme for the program was "Patriotic Dolls. It would be hard to find a more patriotic outfit than this sparkling red, white, and blue ensemble worn by this doll brought by David Craig. He told the club that the doll is by JAMIEshow USA and that she is wearing an outfit made earlier for the Gene doll line created Mel Odom.

Kathie Tovo shared several examples. This tiny trio of all-bisque dolls by the German firm of Hertwig and Company play vintage American flag party favors.

An antique bisque-headed doll with a composition body is decked out in red white and blue with her original matching box, but Kathie stated that the doll may be in fact be a representation of France.

However, there is no question that this paper cutout represents the all-American Miss Columbia.

Sharon Weintraub displayed this bisque Uncle Sam. He is actually a German naughty novelty known as a squirter; one time he had a rubber bulb on top of his top hat and when he was filled with water and the bulb squeezed, the water came out of the appropriate orifice.

This sweet boy in a sailor suit belongs to Sylvia McDonald. He is a reproduction of a character by Gebruder Heubach and was made by Jenell Howell. His outfit is based on an antique costume and was made by the Gabriella Doll Clothing Company.

She also shared this doll representing Betsy Ross by Madame Alexander.

Also natty in her nautical-themed outfit is this German bisque-headed doll on a ball-jointed body. She is Florodoro by Armand Marseille and belongs to Myrna Loesch.

Jenell shared this all-original doll made by Effanbee and designed by the American doll artist Dewees Cochran. 

Elaine Jackson brought this cloth doll, Miss Columbia. She is modeled after the Columbian cloth dolls manufactured by Emma Adams from 1891 to 1910 and was created by doll artist Connie Tognoli as a souvenir doll for the United Federation of Doll Clubs annual convention in 2000. Her straw hat was purchased by Elaine at a Native American reservation.

Nancy Countryman brought this supersized Barbie doll by Mattel in patriotic apparel.

 

February 8, 2026, Meeting

Elaine gave a program on cowboy and Indian dolls. She talked about growing up in the 1940s playing cowboys as portrayed in popular culture, but explained that the way the cowboys were depicted in Hollywood is a myth. Elaine said that the cowboy traditional began in Texas after the Texas revolution, when Hispanic ranchers and farmers abandoned their cattle as they were forced to immigrate to Mexico. Hands were hired to round up the stray cattle and drive them to market. However in 1883,  Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show created the myth of the cowboy as a noble savior of the wild west. Elaine noted that although 40 percent of the cowboys were Black or Hispanic, on television and in the movies cowboy stars such as Tom Mix, Gene Aubrey, Roy Rogers, and the Lone Ranger portrayed cowboys as a white man protecting civilization from savage Indians. By the 1940s, every American composition doll company had introduced a cowboy doll.

Elaine displayed a number of cowboy dolls from her collection. The composition boy in the back row wearing a red checked shirt and chaps is "Baby Grumpy" by Effanbee. Just to his right in the front is a yellow and white oilcloth doll by the Atlanta Novelty Company and the little tan doll is "Wild Bill," a cloth chew toy. To the far right of the picture, the cloth doll in the front with the checked shirt and red bandana was made from a commercial doll pattern first issued in the 1940s. Just behind him, in the blue shirt and straw hat, is a cloth cowboy made from an Edith Flack Ackley pattern. The tall cowboy in the brown vest and checked shirt behind him has a cloth body also made from an Ackley pattern, but he has a painted wooden head. To the right of the Ackley cowpoke in the blue shirt is a cowboy in brown and tan with a head made from a nut. Behind him, handsome in blue and white, is an all-wooden cowboy carved by Austin artist Nancy Grobe. In front of the pair is a Hitty doll carved by Connie Hardt and dressed as Davy Crockett. One can't play cowboys without Indians, and Elaine shared a number of dolls representing Native Americans. To the far left of the picture are two painted cloth Native American dolls created in the 1930s under the Work Progress Administration, or WPA. In front of the is a tiny bisque nodder doll by the German firm of Hertwig and Company.

 Elaine explained that Native American dolls were often made either as play dolls or tourist souvenirs.  The two cone-shaped dolls on the left of the picture were made by the Seminole tribe out of cloth and palmetto fibers. Elaine said that the older dolls have clothing made from appliqué, while newer versions are decorated with rick-rack. The cloth doll in blue in the center is dressed as a traditional Navajo woman and in front of her is a tiny birch bark canoe. The wooden doll, representing a Native American child, was carved by Connie Hardt.

On the left of the picture are two dolls with carved wooden heads that represent Northeastern tribes. Behind them is a cloth doll that may have been made from an Ackley pattern. The composition baby in yellow felt was from Madame Hendren, a trade name used by the American Averill Manufacturing Company. Next to him, in orange cloth, is a Native American character by the British doll maker, Norah Wellings.

In this picture, the flat colorful cloth doll is actually an oven mitt modeled after a Hopi Kachina. The two seated clay figurines are Pueblo storytellers and the porcelain Indian in the feathered headdress is a bell that was made in Japan. The brown doll captioned "Alice's Baby" was commercially made as an early teething toy for infants.

Members shared some of their Western-themed dolls. Jenell Howell displayed this cute 1955 cowgirl outfit made for Ginny by he Vogue Doll Company, 

as well as this 1952 Ginny in her original Native American outfit.

She also shared this Mary Hoyer hard plastic doll in a hand-knitted outfit representing a South American cowboy known as a "gaucho."

Bette Birdsong brought two Gene dolls in glamorous cowgirl garb.

Sylvia McDonald brought several dolls. The man in the horned headdress in the back represents a Plains Indian doll and dates from the 1930s. The plastic doll in the blue velvet blouse and red skirt was given to Sylvia by her brother in the 1950s and represents a Navajo woman. To her right is another Navajo doll, made out of cloth. In the front is Woody from the "Toy Story" franchise and a Seminole doll that Sylvia told the club is around 75 years old.

David Craig told the club that he didn't have any cowboy or Indian dolls, so he brought two dolls decked out in red and white for Valentine's Day. This blond belle is by JAMIEshow USA and is dressed in an outfit for Gene.

This lady in red is by the Phoenix, Arizona company of D.A.E. Originals.

Lynda Eitel displayed this Navajo woman doll that she had made, 

as well as a number of Western miniatures.

Ann Meier shared these Skookum dolls. Designed by Mary McAboy, these Native American souvenir dolls were from 1913 through the 1960s. They are known for having blanket-wrapped bodies with no arms and molded composition or plastic faces with side-glancing eyes. 

Sharon Weintraub displayed several German bisque examples. This all-bisque cowgirl and her little Indian companion are by Hertwig. 

This all-original Native American character doll is by Bahr and Proschild. The head is incised “244” on the back.

Created by Gebruder Heubach, this doll is based on a real Native American woman, popularly known as "Princess Angeline." Her name was actually Kikisoblu and she was the eldest daughter of Chief Seattle, leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish peoples on the West Coast. In 1855, when the Duwamish Indians were forced to leave their land for reservations, she insisted on remaining in Seattle, living in a small cabin and supporting herself by doing laundry and selling handwoven baskets.

September 8, 2024, Meeting

This month's meeting had a special guest, United Federation of Doll Clubs Region Three Director Karen Allen.  Members were asked to a bring a newly acquired doll or a doll with special meaning to them. This composition bride doll belongs to Myrna Loesch. She won her at a raffle in 2023 at a luncheon held by the Fort Worth doll club. The beautiful bride in Mary Ann by Madame Alexander and dates from the 1940s.  The dress is original, but Myrna made her veil.

Sylvia McDonald shared this handsome lad, made by German doll artist Käthe Kruse. He was the childhood doll of her great-aunt, who was born in 1902. Sylvia thinks her aunt received the doll around 1912. He still has his original box and a wardrobe of clothes, including this spiffy sailor suit.

Jan Irsefeld brought this stunning Cissy by Madame Alexander in her trunk filled with gorgeous gowns, all created by Jan.

This blond china head doll belonged to the collection of Pam Hardy's mother. She told the club that her mother kept the dolls packed away, allowing them to be seen only on New Year's Day. 

This terrific trio was created by Elaine McNally. The larger cloth doll is her interpretation of dolls made by Izannah Walker in the 1800s. The smaller pair are carved wood.

Also of wood is this Bébé Tout en Bois belonging to Elaine Jackson. Despite the French name, the dolls were made in Germany.

Sharon Weintraub shared two new acquisitions. This all-bisque cutie with an unusual swivel neck is by German doll maker Gebruder Heubach. She is faintly incised "Igodi" on her lower back; this was the trademark for this patented neck joint system invented by Johannes Gotthilf Dietrich.

This 11-inch tall doll is from the Dunaev factory in Russia, which used a head from Kammer and Reinhardt as a mold for its terracotta heads. The dolls were made beginning in the early 1900s and were dressed in detailed and authentic costumes representing different regions of Russia. This doll carries a label, "Made in Soviet Union," indicating that it was made following the 1922 Russian civil war. The factory was seized by the state in 1929 and doll production ended by 1937. His costume is all original, including his wonderful lapti shoes, woven from birch fiber. 

Nancy Countryman brought two well-loved dolls from her childhood.

She made the dress for this doll.

Ann Meir displayed this colorful quilt she had crafted,

Member Jenell Howell brought these two example of dolls created by Dewees Cochran for Effanbee. The one in the striped dress is all original.  

Bette Birdsong shared this wistful French doll by Jules Steiner. She is a Series C and her eyes open and close by a lever on the back of her head. 

This doll is modeled after "Wingy" Plenty, a character from the Dick Tracy cartoon strip.  Bette had a similar doll as a child.

Karen surprised the club with a door prize.  Sue Smith was the lucky winner of this appealing antique bisque baby doll.

 

August 14, 2022, Meeting

This month's theme was the souvenir dolls produced for the United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC)  conventions.  For every convention a limited edition doll is produced as a souvenir for the convention itself, but special dolls are also designed for luncheons and other events. Member Elaine Jackson brought two examples of UFDC souvenir dolls. This doll is Rosita, the souvenir doll for the 1984 UFDC convention in San Antonio. 

This charming child is Baby Stuart and was the souvenir doll for the 1996 UFDC convention in Dallas.

These are the UFDC souvenir books from these conventions.

Member Sylvia McDonald brought two examples of dolls produced for other events at a UFDC convention. The taller doll is Fritzel, a Child of Fortune, designed by the German doll company of Käthe Kruse. He is 13.5 inches tall and has a soft body and vinyl head with a hand-painted face. Originally he also came with pajamas, bathrobe, slippers, and a blanket. As is typical of these luncheon dolls, there were other accessories, such as a little wooden dog, that were given as table favors. Sylvia received a note from Marion Hohmann at the Käthe Kruse company stating that Fritzel was made in 2000 as a limited edition of 260 dolls.

The smaller girl is Gretel, made exclusively for a Käthe Kruse luncheon at the 2007 UFDC convention. The luncheon theme was "The Sound of Music" and the doll is dressed like the youngest daughter of the Van Trapp family in a traditional Austrian outfit. She is 11 inches tall and stuffed with reindeer hair.

This Cissy by Madame Alexander belongs to member Jan Irsfeld. Jan explained that the doll was a limited edition made for the UFDC in 2001 in a special blue version of an outfit known to collectors as "On the Avenue," inspired by a vintage advertisement for Yardley of London fragrance featuring a Cissy doll.  Jan created this lovely lilac and white outfit for her doll. 

In edition to the various souvenir dolls, a wonderful selection of antique, vintage, and modern dolls is offered for sale at the UFDC sales room, a major attraction at every convention. Member Sharon Weintraub bought this unusual googly-eyed Gebruder Heubach character cat at the 2022 UFDC convention in St. Louis.  

Members also brought dolls to share for show and tell. This doll has head and hands carved from walnut wood by doll artist Floyd Bell and represents Miss Jane Pittman, the heroine of the 1971 novel The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. The doll is beautifully dressed by Charlotte Semple.

Nancy Countryman brought these unique dolls from an unknown artist, dubbing them the ugliest dolls in her collection.

Member Sue Smith shared this handmade doll representing a man from the Native American Sioux tribe in traditional dress. She said that the doll is around 200 years old.

She also brought this doll representing an Apache woman, which Sue said dated from the late 1800s.

Guest Pam Hardy brought this sweet Cissette doll by Madame Alexander. Pam told the members that this is a childhood doll that she received for her birthday in 1956.