I didn't even know this existed.
A museum dedicated to my first and favorite childhood doll: Raggedy Ann.
The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum is located in downstate Arcola, Illinois.
This morning I was disheartened to learn that the slumping economy is forcing the museum to close.
Joni Wannamaker opened the museum 20 years ago. Her grandfather created the rag-doll characters about 1915.
The dolls grew so popular that they were known worldwide, but they have since become part of pop culture history. That's a shame.
Raggedy Ann is not like today's popular dolls.
Barbie, American Girl and Bratz dolls are near perfect, like little women. They have full heads of flowing hair and thin, shapely bodies.
But Raggedy Ann is different.
She doesn't have a perfect body. She wears a simple dress, striped stockings and a bonnet.
Her hair is made from red yarn.
If a doll can teach lessons, Raggedy Ann taught me it was okay to be different and have a good imagination.
I think every little girl should have a doll like that.
What was your favorite toy growing up? And what, if anything, did it teach you?
Comments (5)
wow! I never thought at Raggedy Ann like that, that is disheartening.
Posted by Amber Porter | May 28, 2009 11:32 AM
Posted on May 28, 2009 11:32
:( I had the pair of them, Raggedy Ann and Andy, and got comfort from them more than any other doll. You could snuggle with them much easier than Barbie! Sad to hear they're losing their spot in Illinois, but they're in good hands in Rochester's Strong Museum!
Posted by Lindsey Nesselbush | May 28, 2009 4:00 AM
Posted on May 28, 2009 04:00
This is so sad to hear the museum is closing. Raggedy Ann is an icon. She is a part of American history.
Posted by Shelby Stafford | May 26, 2009 2:17 PM
Posted on May 26, 2009 14:17
I most definitely knew of the museum and I also love Raggedy Ann, but she wasn't my favorite. I would have to admit, I love Christie, Barbie's black friend. The Pink & Pretty Christie, with the sparkly top and the boa. It was what many black girls didn't own back in the early eighties. A pretty black doll. But I had one :-)
Posted by Krystal Morris | May 26, 2009 1:41 PM
Posted on May 26, 2009 13:41
She's sort of the Susan Boyle of dolls.
Posted by Tracy Timberlake | May 26, 2009 1:33 PM
Posted on May 26, 2009 13:33