Dolls
History of Corn
 Corn began from a strain of the grass "teosinte" and s
till grows wild in parts of Mexico. The Aztec, Maya,
and Inca peoples began to cultivate corn and, during
the 1400s, corn growing spread to Argentina, Chile,
and Canada. The Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblos eventually
learned to grow corn. Christopher Columbus took seeds
from Cuba to Spain in 1492 and by the late 1500s, corn
was growing in Africa, Asia, southern Europe, and the
Middle East.
 Corn is also known as "maize." Corn is now one of the
world's most important crops. The United States
produces about two-fifths of the world's corn. Corn
grows best in the Corn Belt, a region of the American
Midwest, which includes Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota,
Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Missouri, South Dakota, and
Kansas. Other major corn-producing countries include
Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Mexico, and
Romania.
Corn Husk Doll
 American colonists learned to grow corn from
the Indians and depended on corn as one their
basic food staples during the 1600s and 1700s.
The Indians also taught these early settlers
how to make cornhusk dolls. The dolls could
be made with corn husk clothing or real fabric
scraps; plus, other decorative ornaments could
be added to the corn husk doll to make it as
beautiful as any little girl wanted.
 Native Americans did not waste any part of the
corn. Cornstalks were used for poles to support
crops or as walking sticks or kindling for fires.
Corncobs were used to make pipes or soaked
in fat and used for fire starters. Cornhusks
were also used to weave mats and make dolls.
Corn silk was used for healing teas.
Corn Husk Doll
 The general idea that a doll would be a
lasting toy is not a belief of many Indian
tribes. Even a very beautifully decorated
cornhusk doll would be expected to fall
apart. A cornhusk doll, like many
playthings, would naturally disintegrate
over time and as the child grew older, he
or she would no longer need the toy
anyway.
 Some cornhusk dolls were used in sacred
healing ceremonies. An Iroquois cornhusk
doll was made to carry away the evil spirit
of a dream, and the doll was later put back
to earth after it had served its purpose. The
Oneida tribe has a legend about why the
cornhusk doll has no face.
 Colonial mothers made dolls for their
daughters from a variety of items that
were available around the homestead. A
wooden spoon featured a ready-made
head for a doll, which could be adorned
with paint for the face and hair, or with
yarn for hair, or with fabric for a bonnet.
The body was formed around the handle
of the spoon and was probably made in
numerous designs because each mother
worked with items that were available to
her. If the mother had a little extra time
and the supplies, she might make arms
and legs and use lace. If time was
pressing, she might just wrap fabric
around the handle in a way that it looked
like a dress. For a young colonial girl,
any doll was special.
Jamestown and Wooden Spoons
 From inventory records, we know that the early
Jamestown settlers brought wooden spoons to the
New World. Native Americans whittled wooden
spoons from laurel wood and sold them to the
early settlers. Because the blunted knives imported
from England around 1630 were hard to eat with,
the colonists began using a spoon to steady their
meat while cutting it. The early practice of eating
with a knife involved a very sharp one or possibly
two (this was before forks were invented), one to
hold the meat and the other to cut up the food.
 All colonists, rich and poor, used wooden utensils
for nearly the first century they inhabited North
America. Some wealthy families were able to
procure metal utensils before the 1700s. All
colonial kitchens were sure to have a wooden
spoon, as this was a significant tool, along with
wooden bowls, trenchers, and tankards. Even after
metal knives, forks, and spoons were in common
use, no kitchen was without a wooden spoon.
 In Wales, a spoon was carved and given to a woman who was about to
be married. She would hang this spoon on her wall as a message that
she was "taken." The word "spooning" comes from the giving of a
wooden spoon, usually carved, to the intended. Her suitor might carve
a heart-shaped spoon which meant "I love you." A key-shaped spoon
meant "You hold the key to my heart." A bell-shaped spoon meant
"Let's get married." A wheel-shaped spoon meant "I will work hard for
you." The carved wooden spoon given to a newly married woman was
called a "love spoon." Some of the other patterns carved into a spoon
had special meanings, such as a chain (a wish to be together forever),
diamond (wealth or good fortune), cross (faith), flower (affection), and
dragon (for protection).
 In recent times, some brides have carried a wooden spoon
tied with ribbons and flowers along with their wedding
bouquets. Since a wooden spoon was absolutely one of the
most useful items a newly married woman could have, a
female friend would usually give the gift. The bride's
mother, sister, and friends would make sure to provide her
with the necessary kitchen utensils to "set up house."
 Wooden spoons have been a common item throughout
history and in nearly all cultures because most artisans
could carve spoons and they were inexpensive to make. Is
there a wooden spoon in your kitchen?
Fun Facts
 Many sailors carved wooden spoons during long
voyages.
 A wooden spoon was listed as a necessary item for
cake baking in the 1894 edition of "White House
Cookbook" by Ziemann and Gillette.
 Stainless steel utensils were invented in the 1920s.
 The earliest "love spoon" found (so far) is
displayed in the Welsh Folk Museum in Cardiff
and is dated around 1667.
Clothes Pin Doll

The clothespin began as a one-piece wooden
clothes peg made by hand. One of the
traditional occupations of American gypsies,
who first appeared in the 16th century, was the
clothes peg maker. Gypsies from Scotland
were also clothes peg makers. In 1820,
wooden clothes pegs were manufactured by
Lyon and Company. Their package of 48
clothes pegs sold for 17 cents. That's about
like getting three clothes pegs for a penny.
Other companies began manufacturing
wooden clothes pegs and, between 1852 and
1887, the U.S. Patent Office granted patents
for 146 different clothespins. It's amazing to
find that there can be so many different
designs for such a simple item as a wooden
clothespin. In 1908 and, again in 1926, the
U.S. Patent Office transferred thousands of
patent models to the Smithsonian, including
clothespins.
Manufacturing of Clothespins
 As early as 1857, Ezra B. Eddy began manufacturing wooden clothes
pegs at Table Rock in Canada. George and John Lewis started a
clothespin factory in Maine in 1895 in an area they named Lewiston,
which was rich in yellow and white birch. After the clothespins were
manufactured, they were packed in boxes made from softwood sawn at
the mill. In 1921 and 1922, the peg factory was dismantled and
shipped to East River, Sheet Harbor, by horse and wagons. They had
depleted the forests of the yellow and white birch and the destination
for a new factory was Stewiacke. The machinery from the factory was
stored in the warehouse but then the two brothers dissolved their
partnership so John built the peg factory at Ship Harbor. Later, the peg
clothespins changed in favor of the spring type. Another manufacturer
located in Maine, the Penley Corporation, was started in 1923 and
made clothespins until December 2002. Most of the one-piece wooden
clothespins, which are really clothes pegs, are now packaged as "doll
pins" and are made in China.
Wooden Penny Doll
 Jointed dolls made from wood and clay
have been found in ancient Greek and
Roman tombs. Archeologists are not
certain whether these items were
children's playthings, or whether they had
religious significance. One particular doll
from ancient Rome circa 200 B.C.
features jointed arms at the shoulders and
jointed legs. Other types of wooden dolls
follow the era of ancient dolls. Less than
30 primitive "stump dolls" from 16thand 17th-century England still exist.
Wooden "shoulder-heads" for dolls were
made in many countries around the world
and feature the doll head and chest from
one piece of wood. Antique Doll World
magazine reported one early American
hand-carved wooden "shoulder-head" to
have been made in Maine in 1810.

Penny wooden dolls are also known as "peg
wooden dolls," "common wooden puppets,"
and "penny wooden." They were produced in
Germany beginning in 1810, were very simple,
and resembled a clothespin with simple peg
joints. These dolls were fairly durable and could
be carried around by little girls without the fear
of breaking them. These dolls were readily
available in English "cent shops" for a penny. A
cent shop carried candy, cookies, small dolls,
and other inexpensive toys for children, much
like the American "dime stores" that appeared
during the 1950s and 1960s. One resource notes
a 2-inch high penny wooden doll, which is a lot
smaller than the 7-inch doll sold by Historical
Folk Toys. The earlier made small penny
wooden dolls would have been easily available
to many children in small quantities so they
might afford a whole family of them. Of course,
inflation has hit the wooden doll market since
the early 1800s, and these dolls are no longer
offered for merely a penny. Other dolls, even as
large as 11 inches, of this same type have been
made and feature round heads and carved
noses.
Poppet


"Poppet" is just another name for "doll." The
Medieval English word for doll was "poppet."
The French word "poupette" meant the same
and was derived from the Latin word "pupa."
The Spanish word for puppet is "titere" and
derived from the French word "petite," which
means "little one." The stringed marionette
puppet did not evolve until the 17th century.
The German nickname for "Dorothy" was
"doll" and as Germany had a great influence
on the English, they began using the word doll
instead of puppet or poppet by the 18th
century.
Actually, a poppet was any doll that was
probably made from cloth. Many dolls
resembled puppets with only a fabric handle
under the dress to hold on to. There is no
particular pattern for a poppet so references to
poppets may describe many different cloth
dolls. The word "poppet" was used in early
America and is referenced in the book "Sarah
Morton's Day" by Kate Waters. This book is
about a day in the life of a Pilgrim girl.
Pew Baby or Handkerchief Doll
 During the Civil War (and at other times
when supplies were scarce), dolls were
made from handkerchiefs for little girls.
These "handkerchief dolls" were carried
to church and did not make noise if they
were dropped. They were also known as
one of the "Sunday toys" that children
were allowed to play with only on
Sundays, along with Noah's Ark, Jacob's
Ladder, Buzz Saw, and other quiet toys.
Some mothers would put sugar cubes or
candy in the head of the handkerchief
doll for a youngster to suck on to keep
the child quiet during the long church
service. Other names for the
handkerchief doll are: "church doll,"
"church babies," "pew doll," "pew
babies," and "prayer doll."
Rag Doll



The pocket folk doll belongs to a group of dolls known as "rag
dolls" or "cloth dolls." The simple pattern used is called a
"pancake style pattern" because it is flat on both sides. The
miniature doll may have first been made as a baby for a larger
doll or just because the materials at hand would only make a
small doll. The history of dolls dates back to ancient Greek and
Roman times. Many dolls were just playthings for girls, but some
dolls had religious significance. Cloth dolls can probably be
traced to when woven cloth was invented, but none exists today
because fabric disintegrates over time.
Miniature dolls were made for dollhouses that date back to the
1500s. There are records from the 1800s showing that many
dollhouses came from Germany. Some of the earliest miniature
dolls were made from wood or wax. Later, they became more
elaborate and were made from glazed china and bisque.
Let your students show their creative ways with doll-making.
During colonial times, dolls were made of all sorts of things.
They were made from pine combs, corn husks, rags, and even
socks. Dried apples were even sometimes used as a face. It is lots
of fun to make sock-dolls with your students. Each child will
need: one sock, two rubber bands, and rags for stuffing, glue,
scissors, buttons, ribbon, and assorted material. The students will
need to cut off the old sock right above the heel. They will then
stuff the sock with rags. Then they will need to pull the bottom of
the sock together and close it with a rubber band. To form the
neck, they will need to squeeze the sock a few inches from the
end opposite the rubber band. Then they will secure a rubber
band over the section being squeezed to separate the head from
the body. Then they can glue the button eyes and material for
clothing. Be sure to make room for your students to display the
toys they created.
Black Folk Doll

Dolls have been created for children in nearly
every culture. Handmade cloth rag dolls would
have been popular in the early American
colonies since porcelain dolls from Europe
were very costly. Slave children in the
southern plantations were not allowed to play
with white dolls. So many children were made
black dolls by their relatives using unwanted
fabric. Surviving black rag dolls have been
found in "Underground Railroad" hideouts
where black slaves hid on their escape routes
to the north for freedom. A child would not
have been able to carry much and, in a hurry,
could have dropped or misplaced a doll in the
dark. Since there is not much history written
on handmade black cloth dolls, much
information is relied on from oral history that
has been passed down or from the actual dolls
that were found.
Post Civil War – Black Dolls
 After the Civil War, black women had few opportunities available to
them, except dressmaking, so some of them became very skilled
seamstresses. They would use the leftover scraps from the beautiful
clothes they made for their customers to make elaborately dressed
dolls. Beginning in 1893, the E.I. Horseman Company manufactured a
black Baby land Rag Doll named "Dinah." This doll was featured on a
U.S. 32-cent stamp in 1997. A "Black Mammy" cloth doll was
produced around 1900 by the Baby land Rag Company, which also
made black dolls with lithographed faces. Patterns for black dolls were
produced during the first half of the 1900s. Some of these vintage
patterns are still available. Most of these dolls are the cherished
possessions of individuals, and some are even featured in museums.
Many of these dolls have become collectibles and are considered to be
valuable folk art today.
Topsy Turvy Doll
 Considered a controversial doll by some,
the authentic Topsy-Turvy doll features a
black doll with a headscarf on one end
and a white doll with an antebellumstyle dress on the other end. The black
doll could represent a maid, slave or
servant and the white doll could
represent the master's child or the
mistress of the house.
 The original Topsy-Turvy dolls were
created before the Civil War in the
Southern United States on plantations
where slavery was prominent.
Arguments arise as to whether the dolls
were made for the slave children to play
with or whether they were made for the
white children who lived in the
plantation house.
Topsy Turvy
 With one identity on one side and an
opposite identity when flipped, slave
children could have played with their
prohibited black doll and then
flipped it to the white doll when the
master was around. Others believe
that the double-ended dolls were
made for white children with the
black doll used as a maid for their
other dolls.
 Stephanie V. Siek writes that this doll
"was a mirror of the AfricanAmerican woman's life. She took
care of white children, but had
children of her own -- the white child
is present when the black child is
invisible, the black child is present
when the white child is invisible."
Topsy Turvy
 Kimberly Wallace-Sanders has explored
the possibility that Topsy-Turvy dolls
were made by the black mammies to
represent the two categories of children
they took care of: the white master's
children verses their own. After the Civil
War, the white side of the doll was
identified as that of a child, while the
black doll suggested the black mammy
caretaker.
 Black and White Topsy-Turvy dolls
began to be mass manufactured after
1900. One of these dolls made in 1901
was purchased with the advertisement:
"Turn me up and turn me back, first I'm
white, and then I'm black." The Baby land
Rag company produced a Topsy-Turvy
doll with a hand painted face in 1901.
Later, wooden Topsy-Turvy dolls were
made with jointed arms.
Nursery Rhymes Topsy Turvy Doll


Regardless of the doll’s history, it is a very
unique doll and many storybook and nursery
rhyme characters have been based on it since
its inception. These upside down dolls have
been used to teach the differences between the
characters, showing contrasts between two
opposites, good or bad, rich or poor, average
and prominent, innocent and evil, subservient
and authoritative.
During the mid 1900s, McCalls, Vogart,
Redline and Butterick pattern companies
began producing their own Topsy-Turvy Doll
patterns. Vogart's pattern in the1940s was
titled, "Topsy and Eva Doll--One doll with two
change about faces." Redline's pattern in the
1940s was called Topsy and Eva. McCalls'
1940's pattern #1014 was for an "Upside
Down Doll," but both dolls were white. Some
of these historic patterns are now available as
copies.
3 faced Topsy Turvy Doll


Some of the dolls that were made in the mountain
regions of North Carolina in the1970s featured one doll
head on one side and 2 to 3 doll heads on the other side,
like Goldilocks and the Three Bears (with three heads),
or Little Red Riding Hood on one side and
Grandmother on the other side, but with the wolf on the
back side of grandmother. Even Hansel and Gretel
appeared with two heads (the children) on one side of
the doll and the evil witch on the other. Some of these
dolls are featured in a book titled, "How to Make
Upside-Down Dolls" by John Coyne and Jerry Miller,
published in 1977, which features patterns and
instructions for ten upside-down dolls. The introduction
in this book mentions the Crafts Unlimited group and
craft cooperatives that the doll makers in the
Appalachian area belonged to. Many of their dolls were
sold in New York City and Chicago. John Coyne states,
"This book is the first time any of these upside-down
dolls have been shown in a 'how-to' fashion."
We don't know if the original Topsy-Turvy dolls were
used in a teaching manner or whether they were just
played with. Only a very few of these flip-flop dolls
remain from the early 1900s. Several are located in
museums and others are in private collections.
Symbolic
 Valerie Borey who holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the
University of Minnesota and an M.A. in the Social Sciences from the
University of Chicago writes: "Although the Topsy-Turvy doll had
changed substantially in design since the pre-war years in the
American south, it retained its essential capacity to emphasize the
differences between the powerful and the powerless. For this reason, it
is a doll uniquely able to detect and reflect cultural tensions as they
changed with the times and economic conditions. As if a looking glass
into the American social order, the two-headed, reversible, upsidedown doll is able to turn things, well, topsy-turvy. In this sense, it is
more than a doll--it is a symbol of power, of resistance, of secrecy, and
of revolution."
Yarn Doll
 Yarn dolls were made during the
Colonial America period from
homespun yarn. Yarn was one of the
first products to be industrialized in
North America. The Coats and
Clark Company in the United States
first marketed Red Heart Yarn in
September, 1936, and the first
acrylic yarn in 1959. Making yarn
dolls became a popular pastime, and
the yarn doll was listed as a craft
activity in one of the earliest
Brownie Scout Hand Books. Yarn
Dolls are a fun and easy craft
project that is perfect for a group
activity or an individual.
Apple Dolls
 Apple Dolls are folk dolls
originating from early rural
America when settlers
made dolls from whatever
was at hand. Apple dolls
are made by carving a face
in an apple and drying it.
Due to the different effects
drying produces, no two
dolls are alike.