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These two illustrations are from a 1981 facsimile edition of, The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwogg (Longmans, Green, 1895.) It is a lively book by the mother/daughter team of Bertha Upton and Florence K. Upton. The two Dutch dolls wake on Christmas Eve in their boxes and decide to have some fun. They meet many toys including the Golliwogg, a black rag doll who they like very much. The verse is ingenious, and the illustrations are full of charm. Every Christmas from 1895-1909, the Upton's put forth a Dutch Doll and Golliwogg book. Meant as a term of endearment for her own beloved rag doll, Golliwogg went on to be used by other writers (as she did not patent the name) and evolved into a sort of racist tag for any unruly black doll in a children's story. This is unfortunate because these books are full of innocent joy and in no way make one feel as though any evil undertone or intention exists. Upton herself was extremely saddened by this misinterpretation of her mild mannered friend, the Golliwogg. |
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Miss Flora McFlimsey's Christmas Eve (Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1949,) is a story by Mariana (M.C. Foster) that takes full advantage of the magical elements of a Christmas Eve as imagined by children. It is only on Christmas Eve that the old doll Flora McFlimsey can move. She promptly leaves the attic and makes her way down to the Christmas tree. She speaks to Santa and the Christmas Angel who resides on the top of the tree. Her wish to be loved again by a child is granted by the Christmas Angel. She is made afresh and given a new wardrobe so as not to look so sad against the other new dolls. In the morning she is noticed and appreciated again. |
Exhibited Curated by Kali M.D. Roy, Collection Management Assistant, Miriam Snow Mathes Historical Children's Literature Collection