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American Girl: 1920

"Miss Smith and Dolls." Emily Smith (1901-1980), daughter of New York Gov. Al Smith, circa 1919-21. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection.

"Miss Smith and Dolls." Emily Smith (1901-1980), daughter of New York Gov. Al Smith, circa 1919-21. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection.

 

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Miss Smith and Dolls

Miss Smith turns out to be Emily Smith (1901-1980), daughter of four-time New York governor Al Smith. Below, Emily in 1924. The doll photo was made around 1920.

Bench

This is a little offbeat, but I LOVE that bench the dolls to the left are sitting on.

The "wedding ring"

The "wedding ring" is yarn.

[Something tells me you're looking at the wrong hand. Explanatory illustration from our Graphics Department below. - Dave]

Looks to me like somebody

Looks to me like somebody had money to have that many dolls back then.

Miss Smith could pass for a

Miss Smith could pass for a doll with a curly wig and a crochet hat and shawl.

I have to agree that the photo is a little creepy though...

Knitting needles - or personal safety devices?

Miss Smith can defend herself with those knitting needles, should any of her doll "friends" get out of line!

Doll House

Everything about this picture is CREEPY.

The doll

It's a circus costume. Ringmaster or lion tamer maybe? Pierrot style, like the clown at far left. Miss Smith looks like she could be 20. She seems to have a wedding ring.

pant suit

The doll in the pant suit is a boudoir doll, popular among flappers in the 20s and 30s. It was designed for women, not children.

A pants suit in 1915?

Doesn't it seem odd that the doll closest to Miss Smith, sitting on the bench to her right, is wearing what appears to be a colorful pants suit? Is it supposed to be a male doll with long hair, or maybe a foreign doll? I was under the impression that as close to pants as a female would come in that time period was maybe puffy bloomers for the most daring, but I'm no expert.

The dolls eyes

Ok cute picture, cute kid, nice room, BUT look at that dolls eyes, curly hair with bow, standing on the bench, eyes to the side, has murder on her mind!!!!

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