Newsletter

In celebration of the 75th birthday of one of the most beloved play dolls ever produced, we are devoting our winter Changing Gallery exhibit entirely to the Patsy family of dolls. Introduced in 1928 by the Fleischaker & Baum Doll Company, also known as “Effanbee”, Patsy was an instant hit with little girls across the country, (prompting a spin-off series of dolls, such as Patsy Joan, Patsy Ann, Patsy Lou and Wee Patsy). Today, the granddaughters of those little girls are playing with their own Patsy family dolls, which were reintroduced by new owners of the Effanbee company in 1995.

The original Patsy design was the work of Bernard Lipfert, a German immigrant and sculptor who designed many dolls for the American market. Over the years Patsy would “change with the times” somewhat. For example, reflecting the trend towards longer hairstyles in the 1930s, her molded bobbed hairstyle was covered with a mohair wig.

Patsy did not just follow the latest trends, however. She was a trendsetter. Prior to Patsy, oftentimes dolls came wearing just a simple chemise, and their little owners (or Mom) had to sew clothes for the dolls. Patsy was the first doll to offer a pre-made wardrobe, along with other accessories. Another “first” attributed to Patsy, was the founding of a Patsy Doll Club in the late 1920s. Club members received a membership certificate and quarterly newsletter, the “Patsytown News” (originally known as My Doll’s Magazine). Stories about Patsy and her “sisters”, letters from young readers and poems were featured, and of course new dolls and accessories were often introduced via the newsletter. The Effanbee company operated the club through about 1941-42.
Patsy will be joined in the Changing Gallery by Patsy Lou, Patsy Ann, Babyette and many other friends and family, along with countless costumes and accessories. Please join us as we celebrate 75 years of Patsy doll history.

Reflecting back over the last ten years and seeing a new slate before us, it seems that we arrived here by way of a whirlwind. For those of you who have been receiving our newsletter and visiting the Museum, you may have felt caught up in it yourselves. While it has been more than fun, educational, challenging, and a myriad of other descriptive words, it isn’t always clear if we are providing our members and visitors with what they actually want. While everyone is genuinely kind and supportive, and it has been truly appreciated and what has kept us going at the pace we do, I guess it is impossible for you to know what to ask for when you probably don’t know what all we have to offer.

We thought we would take this opportunity to reach out a bit more, keep you more informed about the collection and what goes on behind the scenes, and be open to your ideas about what turns you on when it comes to dolls, toys, and clothes. You also know that our two stores, the Museum Store and Rosie’s Too, are essentially what keep our doors open, so we depend on your shopping and would like to know more about what you would like to see offered. We know that we are in competition with every retail store, attraction, and even your mortgage payments, so we would like to make it as easy as possible and provide you with the most enjoyment and value for your money when you come shopping with us. The one thing we pride ourselves on is service. My staff continually goes that extra length to make sure our customers know how we value them. And I see how truly excited they get when they have found that doll of your dreams and connected you with it, or answered a question or identified a doll that you longed to learn about. Of course, we’re all doll lovers, too, and I think that part of us finds joy in each other’s happiness. So, as you read through this first newsletter of 2003, be thinking about what you like best about the Museum, our stores, the changing gallery exhibits, programs and seminars, our publications and exclusive items, and even this newsletter. And please let us know what you would like to see more of or less.

Let us know how well we communicate with you, and if we are providing the inventory you wish to purchase. We will be providing some ways for you to do this beginning with this issue and also giving you more information to help you make decisions. There will be some things we won’t be able to change because of restrictions beyond our control, but we promise we’ll try all within our means to continue to make this the best doll museum in the world for you.
Read on, dear reader, and see what we have planned for you this year! And may yours be a year of creative accomplishment, close family ties, and blissful enjoyment, whatever that may be for you. My Best,

We would like to thank the following people for their generous
donations during the last quarter:

Call or stop by for more details or call the Museum Store:
(425) 455-1116 or toll free at 1-800-440-DOLL.

If you and a group (doll club, senior center, school, scouts, or even your large family) are planning a visit to the Museum, please call ahead so we can better serve you. Timing (so that your group’s visit doesn’t conflict with another one), how to qualify for group rates, special exhibits you may enjoy seeing, and our special greeting at admissions are all things of which we would like to make you aware. Anyone at admissions will be happy to take your call. We look forward to your group’s visit and want it to be the best it can be!

Antiques Roadshow & the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art

All adds up to too much fun! Be watching as Rosalie and Richard Wright, renowned doll dealer and Road Show expert, spend an afternoon in the Museum galleries on February 3rd. The Antiques Road Show (Channel 9 KCTS) visits Seattle, and of course Bellevue, for three weeks in January and February. You’re sure to see someone you know, maybe even yourself.
We’d like to thank Richard for his part in connecting us with the Road Show, and we’d like to thank the Road Show staff for the great time we had filming this with them, and for the program we all love to watch! Keep ‘em coming, we could never get enough of all those fun finds!

TeenHope Update

You will be glad to hear that TeenHope, a shelter for homeless ‘teens is open and operating today because of the generosity of so many of you. You attended our fashion events, or worked to see they succeeded, you purchased “Hope” the Robert Tonner exclusive Tyler Wentworth doll and Madeleine De Baine’s diary, then you purchased the video of the Saturday evening fashion gala. All the proceeds have gone directly to TeenHope and their operating budget. Since then many of you, and particularly doll clubs and their members, have continued to support TeenHope with outright monetary donations or with donations of food, Christmas gifts, clothing, toiletries or other items these kids need who came to the shelter with only the clothes on their backs.
We would again like to thank from the bottoms of our hearts those of you who we know have made these contributions: The Seattle Doll and Toy Club and its individual members, the Daffodil Dollers, the Cascade Doll Club, and even the Spokane Falls Doll Club and all of you from near and far who have made the above purchases. It feels so good to make a positive difference in the lives of these kids, doesn’t it? But it also feels wonderful to know so many of you who truly care and share so abundantly with others. God Bless you all.

Volunteers Spend a Day Hat Making

On Saturday, January 11th there was alot of fabric and feathers flying in the Rose Room of the Museum. That was where many of the volunteers from our TeenHope fashion shows got to dabble in a little bit of fashion - for themselves. Using leftover or nearly completed hats and hat supplies, our volunteers created beautiful and unique hats. Hats for adults, children, dolls, bears, and even a dog (little Rudy)! The creations were everything from simple and elegant to large and flamboyant. The materials were remanents from the master milliner Walter King of Lyzon. (Nearly all of the hats in the fashion shows and many that appear in our Galleries are from this esteemed maker.) The Museum was fortunate enough to purchase such an amazing collection of ladies fine hats and with this collection came many of the supplies used to create them. We could not have had more fun, chatting, eating, and designing. We hope you all had just as much fun and thank you for all your efforts! Don’t forget to wear you lovely creations!

A FOND FAREWELL

The Hedricks, Susan, our past curator, and Basil, our past marketing director, are moving home to Kansas City, Kansas. They both started with the Museum in the planning stages providing expertise from their museum backgrounds. Susan has authored a book which is in the publishing stage and we will keep you posted when it is out. Both were active in local theater as well as doll shows and clubs. Susan and Base also have interests in the music fields. We will miss them greatly and wish them God speed in their new home.

If you were the unlucky one who missed our woodens exhibit or are just missing them, we have good news. We were able to install on permanent exhibit nine of these amazing and early dolls. They are so important we felt it a great loss not to include more of them in the galleries. Thankfully, we didn’t have to remove anything to do this. Do come visit these lovely ladies and children who have survived so miraculously these past 200-300 years to be with us today. You “wooden” want to disappoint them, now “wood” you?

DID YOU KNOW?
*Virginia Vinton of Seattle was the first visitor through our door on September 16, 1992, the day we opened. She is also Member #1 and has been a member for all these years. Thank you, Virginia. We love you.
*It takes a staff of 17 and 15 volunteers to keep the Museum and 2 stores running 360 days a year (and many, many nights).
*For the past 10 years the most consistently asked for doll has been “Poor Pitiful Pearl”. We believe that says a lot about all of us. Do we have one on permanent exhibit? No, because every time I get one, someone wants to buy it. We did have one in the changing gallery in the American doll exhibit.
*We plan our changing exhibits from three to five years in advance.
*The Museum offers free scavenger hunts for groups of all ages. It really is a fun way to learn about and be involved with the dolls, whether you’re 4 or 94.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN:
-Renting a set of slides of one of our past changing exhibits for your doll club meeting or as a study guide for your self?
-A book club that would utilize out of print books from the Museum library such as children’s books, early ladies’ magazines, resource books on dolls, clothing and textiles, toys etc., or ethnic dress?
-Helping promote the Museum rental spaces such as the Rose Room to organizations to which you belong for their meeting or event requirements?
-Helping us decide future changing exhibits?

Love At First Sight

We all just love the thrill of having an emotional connection with a doll or bear! Isn’t that why we collect in the first place? Working at the Museum brings another side of this bonding experience; watching it happen to someone else. So, we thought we might share just such a story with you.
Meet Tracy Mullen, a fellow doll lover and Museum Member. She matter-of-factly states, “Dolls are my passion. They don’t have to be perfect – for example, one Jumeau has a hairline crack but you don’t see it and she is so pretty.” Like any true collector, Tracy hasn’t limited herself to just dolls. “I have a lot of other collections too – it has gotten where my husband doesn’t see when I bring [new things] in because I have so many.” And what doll enthusiast hasn’t had their heart stolen by a fuzzy faced bear or animal? “Well I really love artist bears. One-of-a-kind, so they don’t have to be old.”
One fateful day, Tracy came into the Museum Store and a Bruin Bear sat on the shelf. A rare and wonderful vision of white mohair and black button eyes stared out. From around 1907, he had his original thread claws, humped back, and working squeeker. “This [bear] is by far the most special to me. I couldn’t resist him when I saw him. It was love at first sight and when I picked him up, I just melted. There was no putting him back down again.” The deal was sealed. “While he was on layaway I came in every month and visited him. They took very good care of him!” Finally, the day came when the Bruin left to begin his new life with Tracy. The Museum missed his sweet face greatly, but knew he had found a wonderful caretaker. And off they went.
Then, Tracy entered her precious treasure into the UFDC Regional competition. And just as if to confirm all that she knew and felt for her dear friend, he came out top bear!
“I didn’t realize how important it was for me to win the blue ribbon. When I walked across the room and saw it, I was thrilled.” This deserving bear proudly wears his prize, an additional piece of wardrobe if you will, as he sits in his suitcase home. Tracy and the Bruin exchange adoring glances, she for her find and he for his new owner. What’s next for this duo besides the “Happily Ever After”, perhaps a UFDC National competition? We’ll let you know!

If you have a story of the Museum playing matchmaker to your collecting dreams please let us know. We’d love to share your story!

SEATTLE DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE SHOW Seattle Center Seattle WA Saturday March 8, 2003 10am - 5pm Sunday March 9, 2003 11am - 4pm	NADDA NATIONAL ANTIQUE DOLL DEALERS ASSOCIATION* Embassy Suites Hotel San Francisco CA Saturday April 26, 2003 10:30am - 5pm & Sunday April 27, 2003 10:30am - 4pm
CROSSROADS DOLL & TEDDY BEAR SHOW* Puyallup Fairgrounds Puyallup WA March 15 & 16, 2003 10am - 4:30pm	ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE DOLL FLEA MARKET* Lake City Community Center Seattle WA Saturday May 3, 2003 10am - 3pm

FEBRUARY 3, 2003 Antiques Roadshow The Museum is featured on the infamous Channel 9 program	FEBRUARY 1, 2003 - MAY 18, 2003 "Our Heart Throb Patsy and Family"
FEBRUARY 6, 2003 Doll Making as Art: Mirrors of Human Lives Rosalie lectures at Tumwaters’ Henderson House Museum (Whichalso broadcast on Tumwater local TV that week)
APRIL 12, 2003 Annual Joint Meeting of Eugene Area Doll Clubs Rosalie will be doing a slide & lecture program for the group.
APRIL 20, 2003 Easter Day Museum OPEN	MAY 24, 2003 - NOVEMBER, 2003 "The Glow of the Gas Lights: Early Ladies of the Stage" Traphagan School Dolls Part II

	Our Heartthrob: Patsy and Family
	February 1st through May 18th 2003