The Doll Makers: Women Entrepreneurs, 1865-1945

Women have made dolls for millennia, but it was only in the 19th century that American women began to patent and mass produce dolls for commercial markets. This excellent video profiles several of these fascinating women and examples of their work, beginning with Izannah Walker, who was among the first women inventors to receive a patent for her doll designs, and continues with other major doll makers such as Julia Beecher, Martha Chase, Ella Smith, and Bertha Alexander Berman. Part of Sirocco's Historical Doll Series, the tape exhibits dolls from Strong Museum's renowned collection. While the tape is primarily geared to collectors, crafters and patrons interested in women's history will also enjoy it. Highly recommended. (R. Reagan)