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.

 

June 7, 2026, Meeting

Elaine Jackson explained that her program was about two dolls in our collections; one that we wonder why we still have it and the other we would keep even if we had to give all our other dolls away. Her two examples were this Peruvian llama herder (Elaine gave him his little llama) and the wooden cowboy. She said that the llama herder has a ceramic head and a cloth body. Another club member, Jenell Howell, had acquired him when she purchased a doll collection and despite his traveling to several doll shows with Jenell, no one purchased him. Elaine was helping Jenell pack up her booth after one such show and Jenell gifted him to Elaine. Somehow, he is still in her doll cabinet. 

This cowboy however is the one doll she would always keep. Carved by Austin artist Nancy Grobe, he is all wood, even to his cowboy boots. Her husband had ordered him from Nancy some 40 years ago as a Christmas gift to Elaine. He even commissioned Nancy to dress the doll.

Sharon Weintraub told the club that this fashion doll by Francois Gaultier was her first French doll when she was a beginning collector. The doll has a repaired shoulderplate and was dressed by Ann Campbell, who was an early member of the club. Sharon said that she had traded her childhood Chatty Cathy and Madame Alexander Wendy dolls for it (both dolls and their wardrobes were in excellent condition because Sharon did not care much for dolls as a child). However, as Sharon became a more knowledgable and advanced collector, the doll is no longer one of the highlights of her collection but, for some reason, she is still there.    

On the other hand, Sharon said that this French type all-bisque doll is one she would always keep. Sharon told the club that her mother had always wanted to do to a doll auction and in 2013, when Theriaults held one in Dallas, Sharon and her mother made plans to go. Sharon had reserved a hotel room in Dallas and she and her mother would drive there and stay the weekend. However, on her way to pick up Sharon, her mother had a car accident. Although she was unhurt, the car was totaled. Sharon rushed to the scene and told her mother she would cancel the hotel reservation. Instead her mother insisted they were going and would take Sharon's car. So they went and her mother had a wonderful time. When Sharon was reluctant to bid higher on this doll, she told the club that her mother grabbed the bidding paddle out of her hand and held it up, resulting in the winning bid. 

Jenell told the club that actually she really likes this all-original 10.5-inch Toni doll by American Character, but that the doll just does not fit with the rest of her collection and Jenell has never found the right place for her in the doll cabinets.

This all-original Number 1 Barbie by Mattel is however the one doll she can always find a space for. She purchased the doll from her original owner. The owner's father was in the military and had brought it to her from Japan when she was a little girl.

Bette Birdsong told the club that she had always wanted a bebe from the French firm of Schmitt et Fils. To purchase this dog, Bette said that she traveled two days and nights by train. She loves the doll's fat, funny cheeks.

On the other hand, she found this black ramp walker doll at a doll show, It is missing its arms and she bought it with the idea that her husband would carve her new ones, but that never happened. 

Myrna Loesch would always keep her childhood Cissy by Madame Alexander. The clothes were made by her mother. Myrna told the club that her mother would bribe Myrna to take a nap by offering to make her new outfits for her dolls while Myrna slept.

However, she is not as enamored with this French S.F.B.J. 60, which has a cracked face, an oddly-made  body, and painted footwear. 

Sylvia McDonald said that this Käthe Kruse represents all the dolls she loves. This example dates from 2004.

Sylvia told the club that this little infant doll with a hard plastic head is far less special, although it has a sweet face.

Nancy Countryman brought her two childhood dolls, which were hand-me-downs from older cousins. She made the dress for the smaller doll.

David Craig brought this lovely lady. He told the club that after Mel Odom, the creator of the Gene doll line, retired, the dolls were re-introduced by JAMIEshow in 2013 as resin ball-jointed fashion figures. This is Madra and she has a magnetic pate, allowing her wig to be easily changed. David said that he loves the JAMIEshow clothing and accessories, which recall his favorite fashion era of the 1950s-60s.

David was not even sure how he ended up with this doll, Gigi by Ashton-Drake Galleries. He says that the doll just doesn't "speak" to him.

 

March 8, 2026, Meeting

Member Myrna Loesch did a program on dolls modeled after celebrities and famous people. She explained that "celebrity" refers to someone who is a recognized public figure in the media, often in the entertainment industry, while a famous person is generally known for an achievement, skill, or historical importance.  As early as the 1830s paper dolls were created in the images of famous performers, such as the renown ballerina, Marie Taglioni, as well as historical figures and royalty With the advent of silent films, companies such as Louis Amberg began producing celebrity dolls based on movie stars like Charlie Chaplin. Dolls were also made of sports figures, such as the early doll produced by the Ideal Toy Company modeled after the baseball player Ty Cobb. Movies inspired ever more celebrity dolls, as did the coming of television. 

Myrna said that from 1934 through 1938, Ideal produced composition Shirley Temple dolls. The child actress was so popular that almost a third of the dolls produced in the United States were Shirley Temple dolls. Numerous companies also made Shirley knock-offs. This vinyl Shirley by Ideal is from Myrna's childhood and dates from the late 1950s to 1960s.

The doll in the blue dress, Myrna said, is a composition Shirley knock-off.  The doll in pink next to her is another vinyl Shirley. Behind them is a hard plastic doll based on the actress and model Roxanne from the television show, "Beat the Clock;" the dolls was issued in 1952 by Mona Lisa Dolls, a subsidiary of Valentine Doll, Inc.

Another television personality, this cheerful child represents actress Angela Cartwright from the show "Make Room for Daddy" and was introduced in 1960. 

This trio of lovely ladies represent the skating and movie star Sonja Henie. An Olympic medal winner and a world champion, Henie retired from competition in 1936 to star in movies and ice shows. She transformed figure skating by incorporating dance moves intro her routines and wearing short skirts and white figure skates. These composition dolls were made by Madame Alexander in the 1930s and 40s.

Puppeteer and ventriloquist Shari Louis had her own show on television from 1960 through 1963, performing with puppets such as "Lamb Chop." The show was a hit and Madame Alexander made a number of dolls based on Lewis. 

Myrna ended her presentation with a more contemporary example of celebrity dolls, five male dolls modeled on the boy band "New Kids on the Block," introduced by Hasbro in 1990. 

Jenell Howell brought this  doll by Peggy Nesbit representing actor Bob Hope from the movie, "The Road to Morocco."

Jenell also displayed this Jane Withers doll by Madame Alexander. Withers was a child star in the 1930s and 40s, and in her adult life collected dolls. Jenell purchased this doll when Wither's collection was auctioned off and discovered that it has a note from Withers pinned under her clothing.

Produced by Ideal as part of its bendable Flexy line, this doll represents singer and comedienne Fanny Brice as her character "Baby Snooks."

Visitor Pam Matthews shared this example of a celebrity doll based on a cartoon character, in this case, Betty Boop. All original, this composition cutie is "Baby Betty Boop," made by the Cameo Doll Company in the 1930s.

She also brought this all-original doll representing the child actress Margaret O'Brien by Madame Alexander.

Elaine Jackson shared this Davy Crockett doll carved by Helen Bullard. Crockett was the star of a 1950s television series by Disney and was played by the actor Fess Parker. Elaine told the club that Bullard made only 40 of these dolls. 

Davis Craig displayed this Madame Alexander doll from the 1990s representing the television actresses Lucille Ball. He said that he had bought the doll for his mother, who was a big fan of the red-headed comedienne, but that it was given away. David later found the doll on eBay and was able to repurchase her; he said that his mother's initial's were on the doll's box.

Bette Birdsong told the club that in 1952 she saw a Madame Alexander doll representing Queen Elizabeth in a store. She asked for the doll for Christmas, but Santa failed to deliver.  Bette was able to purchase this example years later from Jenell.

Sylvia McDonald shared her childhood Shirley Temple doll in a dress made by her mother.

She also brought these Madame Alexander dolls dressed as Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabela.

Sharon Weintraub displayed this all-bisque doll based on the famous English clown, Joseph Grimaldi. Grimaldi is considered the father of the modern clown, as in the early 1800s, he performed in white face, dressed in colorful costumes, and was known for his acrobatics and exaggerated facial expressions. Today, in England, clowns are still known as "Joeys."

 

October 12, 2025, Meeting

Jan Irsfeld gave a program on goddesses, celestial, movie, and royal, using examples from her collection of Cissy dolls by Madame Alexander. She explained that Madame Alexander was fascinated by powerful and successful women. Peeking out in the far left corner is a Cissy, dressed by Jan, representing  Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh who reigned in the fifteenth century B.C.E.; she qualifies as a goddess because the pharaohs were considering living deities. The dolls on the table represent more modern goddesses of the silver screen. Starting from the left, the luscious lady in white represents Hollywood, while the others are Madame Alexander's  interpretation of actual actresses; Grace Kelly in icy blue, Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor models a hand-beaded gown designed by Jan.

Alexander also created many queens. This is an all-original Queen Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth I is represented by a Cissy dressed in authentic Elizabethan garb by Jan. Next to her is "Royal Reception" by Alexander.

French queen Marie Antoinette in her original bejeweled and embroidered gown by Alexander.

In opera, a "diva" is a celebrated female singer, and the word is derived from the Italian for goddess or divine. This Cissy represents Madame Butterfly from the famous opera by Giacomo Puccini.

However, this sassy swashbuckler is more devilish than divine. . . .

Jan shared two more scintillating Cissy dolls, including this flamboyant flapper. . . 

. . . and her favorite Cissy, reduced nude from an Austin doll shop, whom Jan has since restored and elevated to a goddess.

Elaine Jackson shared this wooden Hitty, currently the queen of her Hitty House, carved by member Elaine McNally. 

Jenell Howell brought this goddess of the night, Evangeline Ghastly by Robert Tonner.

David Craig had an earlier example of the eerily beautiful Evangeline. 

Another Tonner doll belonging to David is Ellowyne Wilde, ready for trick or treating in a Halloween outfit made for her by a friend of David's.

Bette Birdsong brought another movie goddess, a Gene doll designed by Mel Odom. In keeping with the season, Jenell shared this Sasha in fall colors.

Sharon Weintraub displayed a trio of little bisque fairies by the German firm of Hertwig and Company, noting that fairies were the subjects the fairy queen and the elfin court.

She also shared this bewitching bisque witch. Witches were thought to worship Hecate. Hecate was originally a Greek goddess, who was the protector of liminal spaces and borders, such as thresholds and doors, and was associated with the night, the moon, and magic. 

Myrna Loesch displayed this doll dress created by the Milwaukee Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). The W.P.A., which operated from 1939 to 1942, provided work and job training for thousands of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression. While the W.P.A. created large public works such as roads, parks, and schools, it also operated handicraft projects aimed at teaching women skills such as sewing. The Milwaukee W.P.A. handicraft project produced dolls designed to be used as teaching materials in schools, as well as for children in hospitals or as Christmas gifts for children on the relief rolls. This dress was designed to be worn by a cloth doll.