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| Giggles enjoys a flower garden, photo from Betty J. Ativie |
The recently published post about my re-connection with Ideal's 1968/1969 Giggles doll prompted fellow doll collector/sister in Christ, Betty Ativie to pen a heart warming letter to me. I was so touched by her recollection that I wanted to share it here. The undated letter was written sometime after August 24, 2015. With Betty's permission to share, I scanned it (chiefly because she has such great penmanship and there was really no need for me to retype it as a result).
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| Giggles is joined by another one of Betty's favorite dolls, Patti, a composition mama doll, circa 1930s. |
Thank you again, Betty, for allowing me to share this beautiful story. May God continue to bless you and your family.
The Giggles post Betty's letter references can be read here.
dbg
Hi Debbie, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful letter with us. Give my thanks to Betty for allowing you to share it with us. What a beautiful memory! It is a vivid one. It was as if I was by her side when she spotted Giggles in the store. I could feel her sadness when she realised that someone had harm her doll by cutting the hair she loved.
ReplyDeleteWhat I particularly love is her love for Giggles and the fact that your post enabled her to go down memory lane.
Those photos are priceless as well as Betty's letter.
Again, thanks for sharing all this with us.
Take care,
Arlette
You are so welcome, Arlette. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I probably read it in my car after retrieving the letter from the post office and viewing the photos (all of which were not shared here). The letter and the photos came at the most opportune time. They both lifted what was then a very down spirit.
Deletedbg
In addition to the letter and photos of Betty's beautiful doll, Giggles, and the others she shared, an article from a past issue of AARP The Magazine was included. The article is about Anita Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters), who is an avid collector of black memorabilia. Here is a link to the online article, A Lesson in History.
ReplyDeleteExtremely touching reflection. I have several memories about my dolls; however, all of my dolls were Caucasian. Black dolls just weren't plentiful. My mother does still have the only Black doll I remembered from my childhood.....she is a tall girl, about 36-40" and she used to walk when you held her hands. She wears a wig now, because our brother decided to cut her hair almost bald! Boys!! She is either my age or older than me....at least 55-62 years old.
ReplyDeleteBrenova,
DeleteYour doll sounds like a Patti Playpal-type. The original Patti Playpal was first introduced by ideal in 1959. Several other companies made black versions of Ideal's popular 36-inch walking doll. Ideal, unfortunately, did not make a black version until 1980. I have a Pinterest boad of walking dolls that can be viewed here.
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That name sounds familiar. I'll check her for markings. She was my sister's doll.
DeleteThank you for sharing this, it was a joy to read!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed it, Linda!
Deletedbg
Very sweet letter, Giggles is so precious. I want one (in my kid voice). I like Brenova had all Caucasian dolls as a kid and recall Cara being my first AA doll. I need to check eBay to see if I can find one. Thanks for another great post.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, GG. Me too (all white dolls), which is why I am so enthused with black dolls today.
DeleteI have a couple of Cara or three. Ballerina, Quick Curl, and Free Moving Cara and Curtis.
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How wonderful! This is what blogging is all about. Sharing our own reflections and letting it touch others.
ReplyDeleteIt is always reassuring to know something I have written has been an inspiration to someone else.
Deletedbg