What got you started?

Since I'm an 'older' fan and this seems to be a place for older fans (either grew up with AG or Daughters have them), I'm always interested in the stories of how you got into American Girl.

I, personally, was introduced by a friend. My best friend during most of my childhood had a Molly doll when we were in 5th grade. I'm sure she had it before, but that's when we really started hanging out and I used to go to her house all the time. I saw all the cool stuff the doll had and that it was related to history. When I was young, I was a huge history buff, so this was right up my alley. I told my mom I wanted a Molly (though Samantha looked more like me, she was to froo-froo for my tastes), but since I was never a doll kind of girl my mom said I had to save up the money to buy her myself. Between Christmas and babysitting, I managed to save up $84 by my birthday in May...and much to my surprise, one of my presents was Molly! I read all of Molly's books and collected as much of her stuff over the next couple years. I always admired some outfits from other dolls, but never asked for them or read any of their books, I was (and still am) one who believed you shouldn't mix the time periods of the dolls. Several years later when I was in college, the interest rekindled and I fell for one of the newer dolls, Kit. Last fall when I started working at American Girl, I got Kit and then I also tried to read as many of the dolls' stories as possible. I found all the stories I read to be very enjoyable and now I can't wait until I have a daughter some day to share these great dolls and literature. My only dilemma is I don't know if I want to give up my two dolls - hee hee. I'll definitely make my daughter save the money for the doll she wants (if it happens to be one of mine, she can have it, if not I'll get her her own), I think she'll appreciate the doll more and be less likely to ruin it.

Now that's my story...
What's yours?

<font face="Comic Sans MS">When I was in 4th grade last year, I went over my friend's house and she had Kailey and an American Girl Today doll, I was never really into dolls so my mom was like why are you suddenly getting into American Girl Dolls, My friend also had The retired Coconut's Stationary set and I really am into stationary and Dogs so I loved it. When I went to the website Americangirlstore.com I really badly wanted Kailey. I told my dad I wanted her and he said if you clean your room we will go down tomorrow to the store and buy her. I was so excited! When I got to the store I got Kailey, the Retired Glitter Jeans Outfit, The hreat print Pajamas, Coconut, The Coconut statationary set, and The retired heart trundle bed and sheet set.</font>

That sounds awesome taht you work for AG!

About 15 years ago, my mom received a catalouge in the mail, and I was so intrigued with the dolls, but nothing ever came from that, then. Five years later(or 10 years ago) I noticed that a bunch of my friends at church had these dolls and would bring them to church. Somehow I convinced my parents that I really wanted a doll, so for Christmas I got my Girl of Today doll(this was the first year they had been out) and a few things, and the next day(my birthday) I got some more things, haha. Though I usually only got new AG things for Christmas and my birthday. I rarely got anything throughout the year.
Now that I'm older, I'm hoping that will change. Hehe.

Growing up and as an adult I have always loved and collected dolls. I learned about american girl dolls from a friend at work who was poring over a catalog. I looked at the catalog and admired the dolls but I couldn't justify spending so much money so I dismissed them. Months later I found a bitty baby for a low price and my girls started going to our local bookstore for american girl book meetings. It was there that I saw the dolls up close for the first time and I was hooked. I saved up money and bought second-hand dolls from ebay for my girls and eventually Molly and Samantha for myself. Now here I am addicted! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I checked out Kirsten's books from the library summer '87 and sent in the card in the back. I didn't actaully get one of the real dolls till about 8 years later though.

We receieved the very first catalog in the mail and my mom showed it to me because she knew I loved dolls and books and history. I fell in love with Kirsten's pretty smiling face and asked if I could have her. My parents said "save your money!" That was a lot of money for a 9 year old, so I appealed to Santa Claus and he came through for me! [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

My mom received a catalogue in the mail around 1992, when I was just 3, and I fell in love with the blonde Our New Baby. I knew that she was "my baby," and on that very Christmas, Santa brought me my Sarah Elizabeth.

As I got older, I began to fall in love with Molly and Samantha. My friend had Samantha, who she was more interested in than her baby doll, so I appealed to my mom for Molly. My mom told me to read the books first, and then I could get Molly. So in July of 1996, when I was 7 1/2, I received Molly....not knowing that more dolls would keep on coming later!

Right around Christmastime when I was six turning seven i got an American Girl catalogue in the mail and my mom showed the catalogue to me. I told my mom I really wanted Molly for my seventh Birthday and I got her! [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

My first involvement started in about '89 to '90, when I went over to a friend's house for a birthday party. She had Samantha and Kirsten, and I was in love with them even though I had never been into dolls before. Somehow my mother got the catalouge and I started reading the books. I ended up with Molly in May of 1991, and she's been my dear friend ever since, enough though there was a dark period she was exiled to the basement with the toys I was "too old for" but wanted to save if I ever had kids. My My Little Ponies, Breyers and Beanie Babies did not survive this and I'm still on the mission to rebuy all the ones I sold.

So after I started pony collecting again at 21 I lightened up alot about having to be "so mature" and in Nov of 04 an AG catalouge came to our house, though I haven't gotten ones for years before then. I was entranced, paritculalry by Kaya's collection (who I oddly enough don't have yet, lol) and ended up on the site. I saw the only other doll I ever wanted, Felicity, and I had to have her. That Christmas my Mom got me Kit and Marisol and Kirsten followed, with Nellie coming on my birthday this year. We've went from one doll to six in about six months, lol. I plan on buying the rest of the historcials and friends, and AGT 3 and 4. (Because I want an Asian AG and I wanted a 18 inch Neela)

Back in 1993, my older cousin brought her Kirsten down from Oregon for Christmas. Soon after that, my sister received two of the books for her birthday and I *had* to send away for a catalogue. I fell in love with Felicity and used to play tea party with the life-size photo of her in the catalogue. I received her for my tenth birthday, and have cherished her ever since.

Around the time of Felicity's banishment from the catalogue, I started going through my own "dark years," and Felicity spent some time in the closet boxed up. My interest was rekindled last fall when I received a catalogue and saw all the new things they had introduced. Then I found this board, and am now more completely obsessed than ever! [img]wink.gif[/img]

- Becca

When DD was 2 1/2 she crawled up in her grandfather's lap with a catalog and said, "Ho Ho bring me this." Santa came thru with Bitty, her Lullaby Basket and changing table. As she grew we got the twins, then Hailey from Hopscotch Hill. Last summer we met my inlaws (the same grandfather) in Chicago for DD's birthday and Molly came to live with us. I found the board after that trip and was easily convinced she needed a friend (I needed my own doll) so Dorothy came to us via ebay. We thought she was a today girl but she is really a Molly. DH surprised me with Kirsten for Christmas and DD with Marisol for her 1st Communion. I've also been able to spread the addiction to my MIL (DD look-a-like),sister (Addy), 3 nieces (Samantha, Kit, and Bitty) and 1 nephew (Boy twin Jack.)

My sister and I will be driving to Chicago next week with 4 kids. My niece has saved all year to but Nellie. I can't wait to see her face as she pays for her. It will be priceless!

Well... it's long story...
I got some of the catalogs back when expecting DD, but at that point we were more broke than anything, so I just dreamed of one day being able to get some of the dolls.
Later, still in financial hell, I saw the opening of AGP inNYC and dreamed of bringing my daughter there one day, despite the fact that it was so incredibly pie in the sky...
Well.. may be I wished upon the right [img]graemlins/star.gif[/img] but here I am, 8 years later, living in Long Island and with a decent salary, so I could bring DD to AGP, get her Alice (AGT22) and that is where it started! Now I am getting stuff for myself too! INcluding a birthday party at AGP in July!
Fun!
Ana [img]graemlins/wilted.gif[/img]

When I saw the title of this one I knew I had to respond! My older DDs used to show me the catalogs when they were younger and were reading the books they got from the library! They really wanted a doll and we just couldn't financially do it those days! I have one younger daughter (who is 9 years younger than the rest.) The rest had graduated and left home and she first received Josefina. She had a younger friend who had Kirsten and really wanted an AG! After that I found a Samantha on Ebay. She had never been played with and came with about 20 outfits!!! She then received Kirsten,Felicity, Lindsey,and Kailey. This year she said she didn't want anything AG for Christmas and I was kind of heartbroken! After Christmas she said that Christmas jsut wasn't as good without any AG doll stuff!!!
In December of 2002 I found this board and had always admired my daughters dolls so much that with just a little encouragement...by January I had my first doll. I found her on Ebay and she is a white bodied Kirsten. She's is in great shape. After her I also got Samantha, Felicity,Molly, Agot 21,Corinne, Agot 15,Suga and a redo Kirsten and redo Molly. The last two are redheads and are named Margeaux and Meg. I know I'm not done collecting and really want my own Josefina and Marisol. I can say that I still want many more and only time will tell! My husband thinks we are running over! This summer I plan to finish my doll house building and will be putting more albums together! Who thought one little board could do all this! [img]wink.gif[/img]

I picked up the Molly Story Collection and read the first story. I read it after reading Anne Frank. Anne Frank was the first entire book I read from beginning to end, and Molly's Story Collection, which has all 6 Molly books, was the second. That was in 2001-not when I was a child but when I was 25. After I finished Molly's collection, I read Kit's, then Samantha's, then went through all the girls. I bought my first dolls-Molly and AG19 together at AGPC later that same year.

Well I was a big AG fan when I was a little girl, I always read the books and read every single collection of the American Girl Collection Dolls. But I was never had a doll because I could not afford one. So when I turned 21 I rediscovered my childhood again.

My AG Obsession started in August 2003. When I went to a Yankee Game and recived a Yankee Doll Sized Team Jacket. The guy thought I was like 14 yers old because I look younger then my actual age. So the guy handed me the jacket and said here you go little girl. I was like ok what am surpose to do with this. Then after the Yankee Game I came home and went on line and looked at American Girl.com. I brought my doll which was Kaiely LE American Girl Today 2003. After that followed Coconut and then soon after that followed Samanthana for my Birthday in 2004 and then Christmas 2004 came Nellie, and the for my Birthday 2005 came Pre-Mattel Felicity from my good freind Lorie here on the baord (mom_to_an_americangirl).

Since I have collected almost of Samantha and Nellies clothes some of thir little acessories and for Felicity I have entire wardrobe of what is not retired. In time I plan to collect all their furtiture and accessories.

Nikki [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ June 06, 2005 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Samantha_Nellie_ Felicitys_Mommy ]</font>

I don't remember the first catalog that came to the house, but I remember staring at the pages for hours. I'd circle everything I had wanted. (I still don't have everything I circled, but that is neither here nor there). I loved Samantha! I got her for Christmas of '89 and my sister got Molly even though she wasn't supposed to get it until her birthday in February. I don't know if she was really that into her doll because she had hundreds of Barbies and Molly didn't exactly fit in with the dreamhouse, but she got her anyway. After that I bought Kirsten and Felicity on my own and pretty much forgot about AG until my Nana bought Josefina for me when she first came out. I put the dolls away again until a few months ago when a paper I wrote about class distinction brought up the AG's. I took Samantha's dusty trunk out of the back of my closet and haven't been able to close it since.
That's my story...
now I am on a mission to get everything ever made for Samantha. Unfortunately I am going broke in the process. Oh well, all in the name of American Girl! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

My grandma (may God bless my grandma [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) asked me if I wanted one. I fell in love with Kit the very first time I saw her, so my wonderful grandparents got me Kit and her Christmas dress (and a pottery wheel [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) for Christmas, and I've been addicted...I mean collecting ever since. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

We started to get the catalogues in the mail around 1990 or so, and my mom and I would look through them. Even before I read the books I loved Kirsten. In second grade, I read all of the books (at that time there were only Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly - Felicity was added a bit after I started being interested in AG). I wanted Kirsten so bad (and I had a friend who wanted Samantha) that I used to pretend one of my other dolls, who was blonde, was Kirsten, while my friend pretended that her dark haired doll was Samantha. My friend's mom then bought her a Samantha, and soon after ('coincidentally') as a surprise for finishing 2nd grade, my mom told me that she would buy me Kirsten. I still remember the moment she told me that and I was SO excited, I remember screaming and being so happy. My friend and I spent the next few years playing with our dolls almost every day (no kidding). It was great, we had so much fun collecting the outfits and creating rooms and stories for the girls. I believe my devotion to AG then has kept me devoted to AG all of this time. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I got the first catalog in the fall of 1986 (how I wish I kept it!). I knew right away that these were the most amazing dolls I'd ever seen and that I had to start buying them. Fortunately, I had a newborn daughter to provide me with an excuse. [img]smile.gif[/img] She's going on 20 now and I'm still collecting.

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Originally posted by Kaileyfan1:
<font face="Comic Sans MS">When I was in 4th grade last year, I went over my friend's house and she had Kailey and an American Girl Today doll, I was never really into dolls so my mom was like why are you suddenly getting into American Girl Dolls, My friend also had The retired Coconut's Stationary set and I really am into stationary and Dogs so I loved it. When I went to the website Americangirlstore.com I really badly wanted Kailey. I told my dad I wanted her and he said if you clean your room we will go down tomorrow to the store and buy her. I was so excited! When I got to the store I got Kailey, the Retired Glitter Jeans Outfit, The hreat print Pajamas, Coconut, The Coconut statationary set, and The retired heart trundle bed and sheet set.</font>

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">For cleaning your room? Wow...

I never cared much for dolls as a little girl, but my mom always did, so maybe those genes are coming out at last.
I first heard of AG when I somehow received a catalog in the mail in the early 90's--Addy was the newest doll that year. I just LOVED them, especially Felicity and Kirsten! But with a young family (3 sons under 12), such expensive dolls were out of the question, so I sighed, and put the catalog away to dream over. After several years and several moves, my sons were older, and I was working at the public library, which carried AG Magazine in the children's section. This meant they also received the catalog, which I snagged and brought home, rather than have it thrown out. I'd also checked out and read all the historical dolls' books, including Josefina's and Kit's.
A couple more years of sighing and dreaming--then I had a chance to earn some extra money staffing a weekend backgammon tournament my DH was playing in(his passion is backgammon, mine is AG); DH said this "found money" was mine to do as I please with, so I banked it to feel rich for awhile; then it occurred to me that I could actually BUY AN AG DOLL for my very own! E-bay, here I come!
I started with a lovely PM Felicity I got last October from e-bay, but lovely though she is, it wasn't enough; I wanted Kirsten, and Josefina, and a fixer-upper for a "training doll" for my niece, one with blond hair and brown eyes, etc, etc,....Somehow, I just can't stop buying them!
I found I much preferred the Pre-Mattel dolls; their faces and hair are fuller, bodies thicker and more "little girl", peachier skintone, etc.
Then, I found out ways to recondition dolls' hair, and how to replace/tighten limbs (Thanks, justmagicdolls.com!), how to remove ink stains from another generous e-bayer; so now I hope to start an AG clinic/spa to make others' dolls playable and beautiful again for far less than the AG hospital charges. (I've saved over $100 just re-stringing my own dolls, not even counting shipping charges!) I can also bid on less than pristine dolls on e-bay, because I know I can remedy loose limbs or frizzy hair without having to send them away to the AG hospital.
So between fixing-up and e-baying, I hope to keep on earning enough cash to "feed my habit" as I tell my family. Anyone who's interested, please PM* me! (I still staff backgammon tournaments, but they are few and far between)
I wonder sometimes, if there had been AG dolls around in the 60's and 70's when I was growing up,would I have liked them then? They are the only dolls I have ever really liked, but I REALLY LIKE them! And if I had liked them then, would my parents have bought me one? My mom was always a little disappointed that I didn't take to dolls like she had, so perhaps for Christmas or my birthday, I like to think they would have.
And now my eldest niece will be 7 in September, so I'm looking forward to a "partner in crime" in the new generation of American Girls.

*PM meaning Private Message this time, rather than Pre-Mattel!

Here is how it all began. We moved to Minnesota at the same time as Kirsten's books were released. We would travel to the local drug store/post office/videostore and they had a display of AG books. Each time a new once came out I would beg my parents and they would buy it for me.

We began going to Williamsburg every year and I read all the Felicity books for Christmas one year my entire extended family bought me Felicity.

For many years felicity was an only doll and would received a new outfit for chirstmas. Then one day mom spotted grandma who lives with us looking through the American Girl Catalog. Grandma said "I've never had a nice doll like this." Grandma was 85 years old that Christmas when Kirsten came to join our home. Since then every holiday grandma gets a new American Girl Outfit for Kirsten.

Then AGP opened in New York and we made our first of what would become many trips to AGPlace. On this trip mom saw Kailey and fell in love. She came home with us that trip and then there were three dolls.

Now with three dolls mom began to surf e-bay and came across a huge lot of retired AGOT outfits. The box arrived and many many outfits were inside and much to our surprise a naked AGOT who when we removed from her plastic shopping bag had brown hair, blue eyes and light skin. Looking just like me. I fell in love. Mom said No, my e-bay purchased the outfits and doll are mine. She then later said okay and AGOT (unknown number) joined the family and my collection.

E-bay again came to the rescue as we had somehow missed Lindsey. Now Lindsey also joined the family. Also, somewhere along the way another trip to AGplace and mom came home with the Blonde Bitty Twins.

Then this past Christmas mom received Marisol or at least a "gift certificate" for Marisol since she was not yet released.

Now, my college graduation was last weeek and I received a "gift certificate" for Elizabeth who will be joining the family as soon as she is released and we can make another trip to AGPlace.

This AG addiction has since spread within the past three years to my only two girl cousins (9 and 6) and my aunts (Their mom's).

Therefore the extended AG family is as follows:

Me: Felicity, AGOT, Elizabeth (soon!!!)
Mom: Lindsey, Kailey, Marisol, Bitty Twins
Grandma: Kirsten
Cousin A: Samantha, Nellie and Josephina
Cousin B: Molly, Nellie and Kaya

In 1986 the Swedish St Lucia festival my parents go to every year had Kirsten as part of an auction. I begged my mom to let me buy a ticket because I loved dols as a little girl (I was 6 at the time). I didn't win her but my mom got the first catalog Pleasant Company offered (funny story I still have that catalog so be it in pieces collaged in a doll album I made my mom). My mom got my sister and myself the book sets for Molly and Kirsten, Which I read through in a matter of days (and reread multiple times). My mom actually liked the original dolls because that year for Christmas Santa brought all three- Kirsten for me (I loved the fact she was Swedish even though she has the same hair and eyes as my sis....Felicity has my hair color), Samantha for my sister (who liked the fancy clothes she had), and Molly for my mom (who grew up in the 40s). The next year Kirsten was St. Lucia with me and I was hooked...

Jenny =)

I can't remember what got me started as clearly as others have, but I do know that I defitely learned of American Girl first through my best friend. Her name was Becky, and we were both in the 1st grade, around 1987. Her sister recieved Molly for her communion about a year earlier. We both loved her, and were very happy whenever her sister gave us the privlege of playing with her. Then in Decemeber 1988, it hit us that we should get our own American Girl dolls for Christmas. I got Samantha becuase she looked like me the most, and Becky got Kirsten, who had blonde hair and blue eyes like her.

I give Cherry all the credit for my addiction. I will explain now. I first heard of AG when one of my GD's got Samantha for Christmas. The only extra outfit she received was the Christmas dress. 2 or 3 days after Christmas she brought an AG catalog over and asked me if I would make Samantha some clothes like in the book. I've been sewing for the AG dolls ever since. The next Christmas I was given Molly for Christmas. I used my Molly for a model for the clothes I made. By now 3 of my GD's had the dolls. I played dolls with Molly with my Grand Daughters. Usually Janey(Molly) sat on a shelf. When I got acquainted with Cherry was started sending me photos of her dolls. As we became friends and discussed AG's I started getting hooked. I now have groupings of dolls. 3 Molly's and a Lindsey make up the Molly group. I won't continue, but you get the picture. I stopped counting at 20. LOL I will post a group photo at Christmas.