God Bless American Girl Dolls!

Ever since the first three American Girl dolls were released, the American Girl dolls have been loved, collected and played with by little girls all over the country.  One thing is for sure: the American Girl dolls have become a true American institution in the world of adolescent girls in the past two decades!  Each American Girl doll is based on a character in the American Girl series of books and represents a girl in a particular time period in American history and. Not only are these special dolls wonderful learning tools for children, but they are also a popular and potentially valuable collector’s item. If you are a parent, American Girl Dolls could be a great way to get your girl(s) excited about history while building a fun and lasting collection.

The History of the American Girl Doll
(courtesy of http://pages.ebay.com)

When Pleasant T. Rowland started the Pleasant Company in 1984, she announced that she was going to make dolls for girls between 8 and 12 years of age that were both educational and dealt with the topic of girlhood. No other doll makers targeted girls after the age of 10, but the success of the American Girl line has since inspired other doll manufacturers to attempt to reach that market.

First-edition American Girl dolls

The first edition of American Girl dolls was shipped in 1986. It featured Kirsten Larson, a Swedish immigrant; Samantha Parkington, a girl growing up in the early 20th century; and Molly McIntire, a girl from the Midwest during World War II. Many girls were added to the line throughout the years.

Production of American Girl dolls

In 1998 Mattel acquired the Pleasant Company and Rowland later left the company in 2000. Collectors generally divide the dolls into two groups: before and after the purchase of the Pleasant Company by Mattel.

Three separate manufacturers have created American Girl Dolls. The first was Goetz in Germany. Older dolls will have a “Made in West Germany” tag. Production was later moved to Hungary and China.

American Girl Doll Construction

With the introduction of the Felicity doll in 1991, all American Girl dolls started being made with a muslin body that was the same color as the doll’s face. Before 1991, the dolls all had white bodies. These American girl dolls are much rarer than those with flesh-colored bodies.

Rare American Girl dolls and accessories

Even though Mattel bought the Pleasant company in 1998, the changes in the American Girl line didn’t become apparent until 2000. At that point, some American Girl products from the core collection (items derived from the first six books) were then discontinued and other accessories were added. In 2002, for example, Felicity was no longer offered and Mattel was hit by a wave of mail. Retired or discontinued American Girl products are highly collectible and, therefore, can be harder to find.

The American Girl Doll Line
(courtesy of http://pages.ebay.com)

The American Girl line of dolls features 9-year-old girls from different eras in American history. Each doll comes with a corresponding book that teaches what being a girl was like in that era and with clothing unique to her era, location, and social class.

Kirsten Larson: Kirsten Larson is one of the original three American Girl dolls released, and hers is the only story that hasn’t been changed. She is a Swedish immigrant whose family became pioneers in Minnesota in the mid-1800s.    

Samantha Parkington: Samantha Parkington, one of the three original American Girl dolls, is also one of the most popular. She lives a life of luxury in the first years of the 20th century.      

Molly McIntire: Molly McIntire, who grows up during World War II, was also one of the three original American Girls. Her father is in Europe aiding the war effort, and Molly must adapt to her changing world.    

Nellie O’Malley: Although Nellie O’Malley is an Irish servant and Samantha is a wealthy little girl, the two are friends.    

Addy Walker: Addy Walker is an escaped slave fleeing north to Philadelphia with her mother near the end of the Civil War. Addy has been produced since the early ‘90s, prior to the Mattel era.   

Kaya: Kaya, a young Native American in the Nez Perce tribe, lives in the West in 1764. The doll’s image and dress are faithful to Nez Perce culture.   

Josefina Montoya: Josefina Montoya lives on a New Mexico rancho in the 1820s, just as Americans begin to settle and trade in the area. She was the first Hispanic doll in the American Girl line of dolls, and she was the last doll created before Pleasant Rowland left the company.     

Felicity Merriman: Felicity Merriman is a colonial girl who lives just before hostilities erupt in the Revolutionary War. She was the first doll to have a flesh-colored body.

Kit Kittredge: Kit Kittredge lives in the Midwest during the Great Depression. Her family struggles with poverty after her father loses his job.

Tips for Collecting American Dolls

• Familiarize yourself with the characters the dolls represent. Do your research on each of the American Girl dolls so you know what to look for while adding to your collection! 
  

• There are a variety of different dolls in addition to the original American Girl Dolls, including the “American Girl Today” dolls that are meant to represent modern girls. These dolls are made with a variety of hair, eye and skin colors to resemble the child they are being purchased for. Also available are the American Girl baby dolls - Bitty Babies.

• Don’t forget to Accessorize!  American Girl dolls come with a large selection of accessories, include period clothing, clothing that the child can wear to match the doll, period furnishings, corresponding books, games, ornaments, stockings and holiday items.  So many things to collect, so little time!

• Remember - you can order American Girl dolls only from the American Girl company online or through the American Girl catalog.  Set yourself a budget!  The starter kits, which includes a doll, clothes, furniture accessories, a brush and three books start at around $280.

American Girl Doll Price Guide