Meet Brittany Biggett, A Real American Girl...

...paper doll. 

Brittany Biggett is my most recent real American Girl paper doll acquisition.  I recently wrote about Kara Irby's paper doll, which explains the concept of these real live girl paper dolls made by the makers of  American Girl dolls.

Brittany's paper doll appeared in the September-October 2000 issue of  American Girl Magazine.   Hers is paper doll #47.  According to Brittany's biography, at the time her paper doll was created, she was a Virginia resident.  Brittany "traced her family back close to 170 years to her great-great-great grandmother who lived in Georgia."

Brittany's paper doll includes fashions from 1841, 1928, 1974, and 2000 to simulate those worn by her great-great-great-grandmother, her great-grandmother, her mother, and by Brittany, respectively.

The back of each fashion provides a description of the woman who wore it and the occasion for which it was worn.   Brittany's great-great-great-grandmother, Ellen's dress is shown and described below:

When Ellen was a girl, she was enslaved on a plantation in Georgia.  To show off their wealth, some slave owners wanted enslaved people to wear nice clothes, like this dress, when they worked inside the house.  This dress was reserved for indoor chores and Sundays.  Ellen spent most of her time working in the field.  Children usually had only one piece of field clothing--a long coarse shirt--and no shoes.  Ellen was not only poorly clothed, but also poorly fed.  Lunch in the field was usually just apples and milk.

Brittany's research into the lives of the women who came before her no doubt shed insight on how much she can achieve in life.  This is conveyed in the description on the back of her paper doll's karate fashion:

Brittany loves her karate class, especially the challenge of earning a new belt for each level she achieves.  She worked hard to earn her yellow belt, which is one step above the beginning white belt.  She hopes to enter competitions someday, but right now she's busy with tennis, in-line skating, and writing stories.  Brittany appreciates all her opportunities.  She says, "As I learn about the lives of my ancestors, I understand how hard many of them had it.  With each generation, life got easier.  I am proud to be who I am.  I am me because of them!"

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Meet Kara Irby, A Real American Girl...

... Magazine paper doll that is.

Kara's paper doll is shown with booklet and outfits worn by her great-great grandmother, her grandmother,  her mother, and her Kwanzaa celebration costume.

Kara is one of several real-live American girls who have had paper dolls created in their likeness by the American Girl company.  The featured girls traced their family roots and sent in photos of themselves along with photos of female ancestors. A punch-out, card stock booklet containing the results of the girls' research was included with each paper doll along with fashions representing clothing worn by the girl and that of the girls' ancestors.  The back of each fashion contains information about the real girl's family member who wore it.  The opposite side of the paper doll contains highlights about the girl. 

Kara is paper doll #38 in the series.  Her booklet includes her profile, her mother's, her grandmother's, and her great-great grandmothers!  At 9, I am sure she enjoyed conducting the research that led to knowledge about the remarkable women in her family, past and present. 

In 1999, when Kara's paper doll was published, she aspired to be a minister (like her father).  She wanted to help make the world a better place.  Kara's booklet states her "great-great-great grandmother helped start a church in Washington, D.C. that's still going strong." I wonder (some 12 years later) if Kara's aspiration has become a reality (she is approximately 21 years old now).

The Real American Girl paper dolls were published in the bi-monthly American Girl Magazine beginning in 1992 through at least 2000.  I am not sure if American Girl Magazine still includes these unique, real-live girl paper dolls in their publication, but you can view headshots of past paper dolls here.


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