What important times in American History don't have a historical doll?

[Dancingfewl423]

The only big big thing I can think of right now is the oregon trail... hmmm...

[dolllover]

They don't have a pilgrim doll either, or a doll from the Alamo.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 12, 2004 04:45 PM: Message edited by: dolllover ]</font>

[rachie421]

There are quite a few actually, but many are similar to other times, are close to other dolls or would just be too hard to do. Some important time periods would be, the Puritans in New England in the first quarter of the 17th century, the progressive era in the 1910s (like 1914) would be good because of the many changes here in America and because of World War I in Europe which we would be considering getting involved in by the time series would end. There is also the 1920s, 1960s (possibly too modern, but very important), 1870s Reconstruction in the south, and like you said, a doll out west. There is also the huge wave of immigration from Eastern Europe to NYC in the late 1800s and early 1900s (could be an 1894 character), this could be a Jewish girl too. Just as the western girl could be Asian. So there are actually a lot of time periods they could do. [img]graemlins/smarty.gif[/img]

[Dancingfewl423]

I remember studying that the first continental railroad was made up of chinese workers. Perhaps they could do a story where a girl immigrated from China and her father worked on the railroad.

- Lora

[gingerharp]

I think a Jewish doll would be a great idea, and so would an 1870's doll living in the Reconstruction period. A Pilgrim doll is a good idea, but Pilgrims weren't supposed to wear any colorful dresses or have many toys. It would be hard to have a Pilgrim doll because she probably wouldn't have a fancy Christmas dress or a big birthday party. I would love to see a pre Civil War Southern doll, that wore big puffy hoop skirt gowns. Maybe 1840's. I know Kirsten is in the 1850's so that might be too close to her.

[Grapedy1982]

The hoop skirt wasn't invented as we know it until 1851 when Empress Eugenie of France wore one to a ball. Her skirt was so big that no amount of petticoats could hold it up!

I'd love to see a doll in the Reconstruction period too. However, having lived in the South all my life, I highly doubt that would ever happen. In my experience, people outside the South and people who haven't had family living here for generations, just don't understand the impact that Reconstruction had on our way of life. Even to this day it affects the Southern mindset and is part of the reason that we so cherish tradition and proper manners and all of the other things associated with the antebellum Old South. It was a hard hard time that bred a lot of hard feelings between Southerners and Northerners. And it'll be at least another 100 years before those feelings truly begin to fade.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want a Pilgrim doll and an 1880's or 1890's RUSSIAN immigrant! There's so much rich culture and history they could bring in with that kind of a character. And so many beautiful names and traditions and accessories. I'd love to have a doll sized set of matroishka dolls. She could even have a real Russian fur coat and shapka. (the Russian fur hat) And a traditional Russian outfit. Those are so gorgous!!! Lots of goldwork embroidery on red red fabric.

I am slightly despairing over ever getting this wonderful Russian immigrant doll that I dream of, and that's why I want Gotz PD Emily. To be my Russian immigrant from the late 1880's.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 12, 2004 10:40 PM: Message edited by: Grapedy1982 ]</font>

[rachie421]

As far as the pilgrim girl, I would really like to see it happen as well, its such an important time period in our history. But I do understand why it would be hard. All of her dresses would look very much alike, but even though they were pretty stuffy back then, there clothes did vary more than we think in color. I know what you you mean Grapedy1982 about Recontruction. I may be a Yank, but my grandmother is from the south so Im familiar with the culture and I have vacationed done there a few times. And as a history major I know about how hard it was, the south was worse off than Europe after either World War. I think thats something most people in the north dont realize and thats really too bad. Reconstrution gets glossed over a bit in high school, its not until college that you really get into it and realize how hard that time period was.

[lj01]

I would love to see a 1894 Jewish immigrant girl
that would be WONDERFUL! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Although I have my doubts that they would do that because Nellie was from an immigrant family.
Maybe if enough people suggest it, they would do it anyway.

[prettyannamoon]

There are lots of cool periods in history that AG has missed so far, but the question is, do they have pretty dresses? I'm half-joking, though I do think there's a reason we have Kit from Cleveland instead of an Okie girl from the Depression.

Some ideas? A girl from Washington D.C. during the War of 1812, when the British burned the White House. A girl from Texas in the 1830s, with news of the Alamo. A girl from Hawai'i in 1894, when it was annexed to the US. And I agree with those of you who have said a 60s doll would be great (as would one from the 50s)! An Islamic girl in 2004 would be great years from now, but it would probably be too controversial at the moment.

[courtneysunshine]

Everyone has such great ideas. I really like the idea of a girl during the War of 1812 and the 1830's in Texas. I also like the 50's and the 60's.

I agree Rachel with your observations on the affect of the war on Southerners. I grew up in the South as well. My Mom was born in RI, but my Dad from Mississippi. Since I was schooled in Atlanta, the Reconstruction was definitely not glossed over in school. The Diclorama at the Atlanta Zoo used to be my favorite place to go to and always brought a tear to my eye. I know there are a lot of people who think it is a "redneck" sort of thing, but I went to school with a lot of kids whose families still flew the flag of the CSA and would make the quote "The South shall rise again" frequently. These were not prejudice people but families that had been affected by the war down through the years and if you study history you will see that slavery was not a major issue in the Civil War...states rights was the main cause. The North wanted more laws to promote the growing industries they had. The South was still agrarian and wanted government to favor them. Anyway, to cut the history lesson short, there is a rich history down here and I think you truly have to have grown up down here to appreciate everything the Southern people went through.

Kim [img]smile.gif[/img]