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| Li'l Ruthie and Li'l David by Horsman, 1975 |
My blog post of August 7, 2011, included four doll controversies with image and/or information links to three of the controversial dolls mentioned. I promised to share additional information about Horsman's 1975 dolls, New Arrival Li'l David and Li'l Ruthie in a subsequent post. This is that post.
I purchased this pair of dolls during the 1990s, shortly after I began collecting, in response to a dolls-for-sale ad placed in Collectors United. I telephoned the elderly (based on the feebleness of her voice), former owner to inquire about their availability. She was surprised that I had no prior knowledge of Li'l David and Li'l Ruthie. She explained to me that they were the first anatomically correct dolls manufactured by Horsman for the play market. I agreed to purchase the dolls, sight unseen, based on her description of the dolls and the history she provided.
Because of the correctness of their anatomy (and it is very correct), Horsman knew that some parents might be opposed to their children being so informed through doll play.
The top flap of Li'l Ruthie's box reads:
READ MESSAGE BELOW*
PHYSICALLY CORRECT GIRL DOLL
New Arrival Li'l Ruthie
(Li'l David's box flap reads the same with the exception that "GIRL" is replaced by "BOY."
The asterisk leads the reader to the warning Horsman included on the lower front of the box to no doubt eliminate any parental backlash the dolls may have created. The warning reads:
*This doll has true-to-life features which differentiates little girls from little boys. For those who feel they do not want their children to be aware of this difference we do not recommend this doll.
This was a clever move by Horsman, one of America's oldest doll companies, having begun operation in the US in 1865. Horsman is one of the earliest American manufacturers of black dolls (Black Baby Bumps, 1911, being one of their early black-doll products).
More About Li'l David and Li'l Ruthie
Li'l David and Li'l Ruthie are 13-1/2in (34.29cm) dolls with a one-piece, stuffed-vinyl body. They have panted hair and painted brown eyes. With the exception of their different anatomy and outfits, the dolls are identical.
Li'l David wears a blue and white gingham shirt and diaper that has a front button closure.
Li'l Ruthie's dress is pink and white gingham. She has a matching bonnet. Her diaper also has a front button closure. Each doll has a pacifier, rattle, and bathing sponge.
An added extra for the little owner is a punch-out birth certificate on the back of each doll's box.
Li'l David and Li'l Ruthie were designed by Irene Szor, who designed dolls for Horsman from 1957 through 1986.
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