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.

 

October 9, 2022, Meeting

Member Jenell Howell did a program on Arranbee dolls, which she referred to as a mystery company. She explained that very few collectors are familiar with the company and that many of its dolls were not marked and can be difficult to identify. When the dolls are marked, she said that they may be branded "Arranbee,” “R&B,” or with the doll’s name. 

Jenell stated that the company was founded in 1919 by Bill Rothstein and Berman, hence the name Arranbee. By the 1930s, Rothstein was the sole owner. The company’s motto was “The dolls that sell on sight.”  The company started by importing dolls from Germany. Its most popular import was “Dream Baby’ by Armand Marseille, such as this tiny example, as well as Simon and Halbig dolls. Jenell said that sometimes the Arranbee name appears on these dolls. Arranbee also sold doll hospital supplies and doll parts. 

Around 1925 the company began manufacturing composition dolls, both under its own name and for other companies. It sold a “mama doll” named Nannette. Jenell noted that Arranbee often reused names like “Dream Baby” and “Nannette” for other dolls in its line. The company was known for quality dolls at reasonable prices. Ruby Hopf, the sister of George Averill, designed clothing for the the company’s doll line. In 1927, Arranbee formed a partnership with Vogue. This little doll in blue is an example of this partnership. 

This cute 9-inch tall cowgirl belongs to member Elaine Jackson and is an example of the company’s storybook series. 

Jenell told the club that Arranbee created the Nancy doll to compete with the ever-popular Patsy doll. The doll was made in a wide variety of sizes with painted eyes, sleep eyes, molded hair, or wigged. This example belongs to member Elaine McNally and is marked “Nancy. 

Another example of Nancy with molded hair, belonging to member Nancy Countryman. The doll is marked “Arranbee. 

Debuteen was another popular doll offered by Arranbee. This example belongs to member Myrna Loesch. Jenell stated that the doll may have been made by Vogue for Arranbee. 

Jenell shared several variations of hard plastic Nancy Lee or Nannette. She said that these dolls have pointed chins and lips painted with the right side very slightly higher than the left. Several of the dolls have floss wigs.

The ice skater has a walker mechanism. Her striped dress is

not original.

This adorable redhead is Littlest Angel, which Jenell noted is similar to “Wee Imp” by Vogue. She said that Arranbee introduced the small bent-knee toddler doll. 

Jenell stated that Rothstein died in 1957 and the following year the company was bought out by Vogue. Vogue kept Arranbee as a separate company for three years, then merged the two companies. Jenell noted that Arranbee clothing uses lots of bias tape and square snaps, and that a fichu is often part of the outfit. 

Member Sylvia McDonald brought one of her childhood dolls, this charming child in her original outfit. The doll has been purchased for her in 1946 or 1947 from White’s Auto Store and put away for her as a Christmas present. However, Sylvia came across the doll before the holiday and that is how she learned that Santa was in fact her father! 

New member Pam Hardy shared this beautiful Toni doll in its original box. She said that it was given to her by a neighbor who learned that she collected dolls. The doll belonged to the neighbor’s daughter, who had never played with it. 

Jan Irsfeld displayed this Dollikin, which she said replaced one she had in childhood. Jan also created her striking outfit.

May 6, 2019, Meeting

Dressed in springtime finery, these Madame Alexander dolls greeted members at the refreshment table.

The program, given by President Faydra Jones, was about dolls that bring us joy.  Faydra said that many dolls bring happiness and that these are dolls we enjoy, but are willing to pass on to others.  She explained that when a person has a doll that brings joy, the person forms a deep and lasting connection with the doll and will always keep it.  Members were asked to share examples of dolls that bring them joy.  Brenda Kay White brought this doll, which she admitted is not her prettiest or rarest doll, but is the one that brings her the most joy.  She told the club that when she was in third grade, money was tight, but her mother did her best to ensure that Brenda and her brothers received gifts for Christmas, In addition to making each child a stuffed animal and a set of pajamas, their mother had saved enough S&H Green Stamps so that each child could select one toy.  At the stamp redemption center, Brenda saw this doll and fell in love, but her mother did not have enough stamps to get this doll and toys for her brothers.  While they were there, another shopper became angry with the center staff because they did not have a blanket in the color she wanted.  This shopper turned to Brenda's mother, handed her a bag full of Green Stamp books, and told her that she could have them because the woman was never coming back to the center again.  So Brenda was able to get her doll and has treasured her ever since.  Her nose is dented and her dress has been replaced, but Brenda said that this doll still brings her joy.

Bonnie Burch brought this Bonnie Braids doll.  As a child, she had a Bonnie Braids doll, but her mother gave it away while she was in college.  Bonnie bought this doll in memory of her childhood doll.

Bonnie told the club that she treasures this doll because it was given to her by a friend, who is now deceased.

Bonnie told the club that this doll is the first doll she made to win a blue ribbon.

Bette Birdsong bought this cloth doll by Martha Chase.  She said that she saw this doll at another member's home and each time she felt a need to pick it up and hold it.  Bette told the club that looking at the doll makes her happy.

Sylvia McDonald told the club that when she was a child, she had a beloved Patsy doll with a trunk full of clothing made by her mother.  The green sweater is the only piece remaining.  Sylvia said that after many years she has finally replaced her Patsy doll.  The Patsyette in red was purchased from the club's charity booth at its last doll show.  Sylvia described how other members found the perfect dress, shoes, socks, and other accessories for this little doll.

Elaine Jackson brought her childhood Toni doll.  When she was 10 years old, Elaine's mother told her that Santa could bring her either a new bicycle or a Toni doll.  Elaine could not decide which she wanted and Christmas day found she had a new bike.  After Christmas, her mother took her to the store and using money saved from her allowance, Elaine bought her own Toni doll.  Even though the doll was on sale, Elaine did not have enough money, so her mother helped her pay for it, but afterward deducted the debt from Elaine's allowance.  

This is the first Schoenhut doll Elaine purchased, after finding it at a United Federation of Doll Clubs convention.  Elaine said it was the first Schoenhut she had ever seen in person.

Jenell Howell brought this early Käthe Kruse doll.  She had spotted the doll tucked in the corner of a massive doll collection.

This doll was made by a friend of Jenell's.  After her friend died, Jenell helped the woman's daughter arrange her mother's dolls at the memorial service and the daughter told Jenell to take one of the dolls in memory of her mother.

Sallie Howard brought this doll by Robin Woods.  She said that looking at her always makes her happy.

Michele Thelen brought this bevy of Barbies.  She told the club that Barbie was her first doll.  Michele explained that although many of the dolls are reproductions, their outfits are authentic.  She said that they bring back childhood memories of playing with her Barbie dolls.

Beverly Evans said that she likes dolls that speak to her and have expression, such as these smiling children.

Jan Irsfeld brought two examples of Madame Alexander Cissy dolls.  The one in the bead-encrusted gown is called "Crystal Elegance" and is a limited edition.  Jan said that she was drawn to the exquisitely detailed outfit.  The doll in blue Jan dressed herself, copying the dress from a picture in a fashion magazine.

Sharon Weintraub brought two examples of dolls she always wanted to add to her collection.  She said that she admired the French Fashion dolls on jointed wood bodies, but most were too costly and many did not have especially pretty faces or expressions.  Then she found this early example by Francois Gaultier.  The doll is dressed in an old beautifully tailored and hand sewn outfit, including layers of undergarments.  Pinned to the back of her slip is a yellowed note declaring in French "Margueritte of France, Sister of Francis the 1st."  This would indicate that the doll represents Margaret of Valois, but Sharon pointed out that if so, the doll should be more properly dressed in Elizabethan garb rather than a romanticized outfit of the Middle Ages.

Sharon also collects all-bisque animal dolls by Hertwig and Company of Germany.  She told the club that these tiny dolls came in several sizes, ranging from 2.5 inches to 1.5 inches.  Sharon said that the smallest sizes can be hard to find, especially for the rarer animals, like the glass-eyed cats.  Finally, after many years of searching, she found this tiny 1.5 inch "kitten" to add to her cat family.

Faydra wound up the program by talking about her favorite dolls.  She said that she was always drawn to the looks of the Patsy dolls, like this tiny wee Patsyette.  The other dolls she created.  The little bunny-eared babies she named "Bitty Bit Cuddle Dolls"   Faydra told the club that she posted the pattern for the baby dolls for free on the Internet and that it brings her great joy when people contact her and tell her how much they enjoyed making these dolls.  

Faydra said that this Black doll is the second doll she ever made.  She spun the wool for the hair and hopes someday to give the doll to a grandchild.