It was our honor to talk with the founder and director of the Philadelphia Doll Museum, Barbara Whiteman. The Philadelphia Doll Museum is the only known institution in North America dedicated to the history and preservation of the black doll. Boasting an in-museum exhibition of 300 dolls and a standing collection of over 1000 dolls, Mrs. Whiteman has done a herculean job, often using her own personal resources, to establish and sustain this 20 year old treasure trove. Located one block from Temple University, the Philadelphia Doll Museum is a mandatory visit for all doll enthusiasts and doll collectors.
Q: How long have you collected black dolls?
A: I have been collecting for about 20 years, totaling about 300 - 400 dolls. Many of the dolls I have collected have been integrated into the museum collection.
Q: Describe the types of dolls you love the most?
A: I like this question but it is really a two-part question. Generally, when we talk about doll types we are really talking about the materials that constitute a doll (i.e. cloth or clay) and the period the doll was created in or the period it represents (contemporary, historical, etc.). I personally like the material Cernit because it has a human-like tactile quality. This is distinct from, for example, porcelain dolls which are hard and cold to the touch or cloth dolls which are generally soft but lack tactile realism. Today's dolls are made of many types of materials, including newly man-made polymers and composites. My favorite period doll types are those that are historic or represent historic figures.
Q: Do you have a set of doll artists you constantly find yourself following? Describe their work.
A: I also like this question too but the answer is no. Doll artists are like most artists in that they are constantly evolving their style and interest: one year they may be making school children, the next they may be making babies. Unfortunately, I never had enough money to follow a particular doll artist. I generally follow many different artists and collect many different black dolls.
Q: How does doll play assist in the development of the black child?
A: Doll play in children typically imitates the behavior they see in adults. You can see attributes such as nurturing, the telling of confidential information (secrets), socialization through tea parties (for girls), creativity, imagination, etc. Essentially, you can see all early adult behaviors.
Q: Furthermore, how does "action figure" play (the man word for doll) assist in the development of the black boy?
A: Action figures allow boys to see themselves in these dolls - rough, tough and ready. Generally speaking, the action figure does not provide nurturing attributes. Boys are driven to be "super hero" types, like the army - be all you can be. This is a result of the societal and cultural influence on boys.
Q: How important has the black doll been to you as a woman, wife, mother, grandmother and professional?
A: I think the main point of your question involves the importance of the black image in various stages of life, particularly coming out of childhood, and how the black doll contributes to that image. Is that right? Well, I think the black image is influenced by the environment one is in and how one perceives the "toy" the black doll is: do I want to grow-up and be like this doll. There are many people of color who never had exposure to the black doll. So what is more important in there lives are the other black images that exist in their environment.
Q: In your opinion, what is the current state of the black doll in the United States?
A: There are two viewpoints that must be considered when examining the current state of the black doll in the United States: one from the collector and the other from that of a manufacturer. Currently, there are no black-owned black doll manufacturers in the United States. On the other hand, the collector community has grown over the past 20 years. However, this is tied to the overall economic fluxes of the country.
Q: Over the past few decades, has the black doll gained retail shelve space in the United States? Please elaborate.
A: Yes. This is the case because incumbent doll companies are making more dolls of color. This trend began in the late 1950's, early 1960's. However, it should be said that many of these dolls may not be true ethnic dolls, simply white dolls painted the hues of people of color. There has always been pressure for retailers to offer black dolls. What is ironic is that if you go into many neighborhoods of color, there is still a dearth of these dolls. So there may be more black dolls manufactured but few can be found on retailer shelves in black communities and other communities of color.
Q: In your opinion, what is the international state of the black doll, particularly in the Caribbean, South America and Africa?
A: This is a large question. What is at issue in these parts of the world is the role of the doll as a play-thing or as a statuette. For example, in Northern Africa countries, where religion plays a significant cultural role, use of dolls as a play-thing is restricted because it is interpreted as a form of image worship. However, you will see the use of "Fertility Dolls" by adult women. In this context the women use the fertility doll to become pregnant and/or delivery health children. In some instances, once the woman delivers a healthy child the fertility doll will be given to a young girl for some degree of play. So one must be careful when naming and interpreting what is a doll versus a statuette in these parts of the world.
Q: What inspired you to create and establish the Philadelphia Doll Museum?
A: At that time, I had amassed a collection of 200 - 300 dolls and really needed a larger home for them. Also, when I conducted seminars and demonstrations in schools, I was often asked what museum the dolls came from so that they can be seen again by students, teachers and family members. Many people already considered us a museum, so it was very natural to establish ourselves as one.
Q: What obstacles did you face? What challenges do you continue to face?
A: Funding is the typical obstacle most nacent organizations face, and we were no different. We received some small seed money but, in truth, I leveraged some of my retirement funds to help establish the museum and cover operating costs. We were very fortunate to find a location close to Temple University. The challenges we continue to face are funding, space for new exhibits and programs, and staffing.
Q: Tell us some facts about the black doll most people do not know.
A: Most people who purchase commercially manufactured black dolls do not realized that they are produced by white-owned companies. Secondly, many of the older commercial black dolls were manufactured in Germany. The Germans made dolls of all colors, although they did not have ethnically correct features. Essentially, Germany drove the global doll market up until World War I. After World War I, American companies began to emerge and establish production lines. There were black doll artisans during this period too. For example, Leo Moss produced dolls at the turn of the 20th century that displayed the classic "tear in the eye". Mr. Moss' dolls are highly sort after by the doll collecting community and there are probably less than 100 in existence today. Many collectors say that they would love to have a Leo Moss doll before they die. It is that serious.
Q: Tell me about the Philadelphia Doll Show.
A: The Philadelphia Doll Show is the pride of the museum and we established this show before the museum. It was a way to bring doll collectors, particularly black doll collectors, together with doll makers to create a market. This illustrated that black dolls have real value. We attracted, and continue to attract, people from all over the country. This year marks our 20th anniversary of the show, which will be held on May 23, 2009, 10 AM - 5 PM, at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
Q: If we fast-forward 200 years, what will be the stature and role of the black doll for people of color?
A: Like today, dolls are artifacts of history and culture. I believe they will illustrate how black people were perceived and will be perceived in that time.
Q: Finally, what do you want to tell all doll lovers and collectors about the black doll?
A: First, collect what you love and enjoy. Secondly, if you love and enjoy your collection, share it with others.
What you just read barely scratches the surface of this wonderful resource. We strongly encourage you to follow-up this article with a visit to the Philadelphia Doll Museum. Let them know BlackDollShows.Com sent you.
Philadelphia Doll Museum
2253 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Web Site: http://www.philadollmuseum.com
Hours: Thursday - Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM
Phone: (215) 787-0220