Exhibit Donors Toy History Active Toys Miniatures Vehicles Trains Construction Sets Board Games Dolls and Stuffed Animals Other Toys

DOLLS AND STUFFED ANIMALS

Since very early time, people have made dolls out of whatever materials were available to them. Dolls have been found in Egyptian tombs four thousand years old. A doll can be a model of a human (often a baby), a humanoid (like Bert and Ernie), or an animal. Dolls are usually miniatures, but baby dolls may be of true size and weight. Raggedy Ann dolls were introduced in 1918 and were very popular before being overtaken by Madam Alexander dolls in 1929. Baby dolls remained the favorite until the introduction of Barbie dolls in 1959.

Dolls or stuffed animals made of soft material are sometimes called a plush toy. The Teddy Bear was named after President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. Sock monkeys became popular in the 1930s. And of course, dolls needed their own houses, clothesquilts and furniture.

 


Return to Toy and Game Timeline