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.

October 8, 2023, Meeting

Member Kenneth Reeves did the program on Ginny  and other Vogue dolls. He explained that in 1922 Jennie Adler Graves opened the Ye Olde Vogue Doll Shoppe. She began by dressing dolls imported from Europe and by 1925, Graves had to hire an additional seamstress, as well as home workers. In 1937, she purchased composition Toddles dolls from  from Arranbee Doll Company. Her daughter, Virginia, joined the company in 1942 (she would take over the company from her mother in the 1960s) and in 1945 Vogue Dolls was incorporated. The company moved to hard plastic in 1946. In 1948, Graves introduced an 8-inch hard plastic doll. The doll was so popular that Graves designed her own version, christening her creation "Ginny," after her daughter, Virginia. Ginny originally had painted side-glancing eyes with sleeping eyes introduced in 1950. The early dolls had painted lashes, with molded lashes introduced in 1955. In 1954, "walking" dolls became popular, with the head turning from side to side as the dolls legs were moved. Kenneth said that Vogue focused on doll fashions. 

Kenneth shared these two early Vogue dolls with painted side-glancing eyes. The girl in the bonnet is Little Bo Peep. 

The doll in the striped dress is a bent-knee walker, introduced in 1957. 

Kenneth said that in 1957, Vogue began creating a family for Ginny. Jill (floral gown) was Ginny's big sister. Jan (doll in polka dot dress), was Jill's best friend and made for one year in 1959. 

Jeff was Ginny's big brother.

Vogue brought back Jill in 1962 in vinyl and reintroduced her again in 1965, dressing her in historic eras. The doll in the floral bonnet and blouse and blue skirt is Jill as "Frontier Days."

Kenneth explained that Vogue acquired Arranbee (R & B) and used used the R & B molds for Littlest Angel until Vogue redesigned the doll in 1964. He stated that the girl in the white dress with tiny pink flowers was made by R & B in the mid 1950s. The chubby-cheeked cutie in the pink dress was made by Vogue in 1963, the last year Vogue used the R & B mold.  The redhead at the end of the front row is Li'l Imp made by Vogue in 1959 and 1960, using the R&B Littlest Angel mold. The charming child in bright yellow in the center is the Vogue version of Littlest Angel and the doll in the blue and white print dress and big pink bow is Vogue's Lil' Lovable Imp. Kenneth stated that Vogue reintroduced Littlest Angel in 11-inch and 15-inch sizes (the brunette in the back row in the red and white outfit is 15-inch example). The smaller size was discontinued in 1975 and the 15-inch version in 1980. The curly-headed blond with the character face in the back row is Brikette

Kenneth explained that in 1972 Vogue was sold to Tonka Toy Company and in 1977 Lesney took over the Vogue Ginny name. In the 1980s, R. Dakin & Company bought out the Ginny and Vogue names.

He told the club that Ginny was introduced in the 1970s as an international doll. The doll in green represents Ireland. The baby doll in pink is Ginnette

In 1970s, Kenneth said that Miss Ginny was introduced. This example is pretty in purple.

Members shared their Ginny and Vogue dolls as well. The cowgirl belongs to Elaine Jackson. She was made as a souvenir for a United Federation of Doll Clubs convention. The Ginny in the blue dress with the blond "pixie cut" belongs to member Myrna Loesch.

Myrna also displayed these two hard plastic Jill dolls from 1957-1960 in detailed "mommy-made" outfits.

This little Ginny on roller skates belongs to member Bette Birdsong. . . .

as does the darling doll in the colorful felt dress.

This is a childhood doll of member Elaine McNally. The photograph shows a young Elaine with her doll. 

Member Jenell Howell brought several examples of vintage Vogue dolls. The twins in the front row garbed in blue and white gingham are Toddles.

A Jill babysits two of Jenell's Ginny dolls.

This is Jennie Southern Belle from 1943 to 1944.

This curly haired cutie from the 1950s is from Vogue's Crib Crowd.  The Crib Crowd dolls use the standard Ginny head, but have curved baby legs.

Graves began by creating outfits and trousseaus for imported dolls, like this "Just Me," a googly-eyed character doll by the German maker Armand Marseille. This 9-inch tall example belongs to member Sharon Weintraub.  Although the doll has her original dress, shoes, and socks, they do not carry the "Vogue" tag.

 

Here Comes the Bride. . . Again

Member Kenneth Reeves was unable to attend the June meeting and participate in the bridal-themed program, but he wanted to share pictures of this blushing bride from his collection. She is a 15-inch tall Vogue Miss Ginny, produced in this bridal gown between 1972 and 1974. Kenneth says that she appears to still have all the original components of her outfit, including underwear, nylons, and petticoat, but that he added a new petticoat to give her gown a fuller appearance, as well as the colorful bouquet.

March 12, 2023, Meeting

In honor of the upcoming Saint Patrick's Day, members were asked to bring Irish dolls or dolls dressed in green. Jenell Howell brought this little German boy in his original outfit. He was made by Porzellanfabrik Rauenstein.

This little doll in an Irish outfit is by Madame Alexander. Myrna Loesch told this club that this is one of the last dolls she received as a child. This doll has bent knees and was made between 1963 to 1972. 

She also brought these Madame Alexanders in outfits Myrna said represented the six flags that have flown over Texas.

Sharon Weintraub shared some Japanese dolls in honor of another March holiday. She explained that March 3rd is the Japanese holiday of Hinamatsuri, also called Doll's Day or Girls' Day. It is traditional in Japanese homes to set up a display of tiered platforms with dolls representing court figures from the Heian era (794-1185 AD). The dolls, called hina-ningyō, include an emperor and empress, always seated on the top tier, with court ladies, musicians, and ministers, and attendants displayed on descending tiers, along with miniature lacquer furniture and other accessories. The kneeling doll in the front is a hina-ningyō representing an attending court lady and the lacquer chest behind her is typical of the furniture used in the Hinamatsuri display. The little doll in green next to her represents a boy and has a head of carved ivory. Behind him is Mausu-san, a doll Sharon created using a vintage Japanese doll that had lost its head and a taxidermied mouse. In the back are two ichimatsu dolls, traditional Japanese play dolls, but these two are unusual. The little girl has a head of bisque instead of the tradition gofun finish (a mix of glue and ground oyster shells) and the doll next to her represents an adult woman, although typically ichimatsu represent young children.

Guest Mary Jordon shared a fashion doll by the Tonner Doll Company that she had redressed in an outfit inspired by the popular "Outlander" book and television series, as well as two Neo-Blythe dolls.

Elaine Jackson brought this doll created by Jay of Dublin, dressed in the traditional outfit of Sligo County Doll. These dolls were made from the 1930s through the 1960s and came in detailed costumes of the different regions in Ireland. She has a painted plaster face and wire armature body.

Another doll from Elaine, a cloth girl dressed in green. She is an early example from the Deans Rag Book Doll Company.

New member Kenneth Reeves brought a number of examples of dolls in Irish costumes. The two small dolls in the front are also by Jay of Dublin.  The little girl in the green dress and white cap is a Ginny by Vogue Doll Company and the doll next to her in the red head scarf is "Irish Colleen" by Peggy Nesbit.  

More dolls displayed by Kenneth. The three dolls with the ceramic faces and painted features are by Si-Og, a company that handcrafts the dolls in Ireland using local materials. Kenneth explained that Si-Og means "little people." The red-haired girl in green is Adora Irish Belle by Marie Osmond.

Elaine McNally brought these tiny tots clad in green. The doll in the front was hand-carved and dressed by Elaine and the other doll is a needle-sculpted and painted creation by doll artist Dianne Dengel.

More creations by the talented Elaine, three cloth dolls inspired by antique Izannah Walker dolls.

Pam Hardy shared these two dolls in shamrock print dresses. She told the club that the dolls were given to her and her sister when they were children by an aunt who collected dolls. Pam said that she played with her doll, so that it looks a bit "loved."

Sylvia McDonald brought this Effanbee vinyl doll dressed in green as Goldilocks. Sylvia received this doll from her brother.

Skilled seamstress Jan Irsfeld shared this reproduction doll she had dressed.

Nancy Countryman brought several dolls gowned in green. This is Scarlet O'Hara by Madame Alexander. Nancy added the hat in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.

Two other dolls from Madame Alexander are the little girl in the Irish outfit and "Little Lambkin Wendy." The doll in the back is another Goldilocks from Effanbee.