Philadelphia Doll Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | 2253 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
The Philadelphia Doll Museum is a special place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located on North Broad Street, which is also known as the Avenue of the Arts. This museum is unique because it's the only one in the United States that focuses on collecting and saving black dolls. These dolls are seen as important pieces of history and culture.
Discovering Doll History
The Philadelphia Doll Museum was started by Barbara Whiteman in 1988. She loves collecting black dolls and believes it's important to learn about and keep black history alive. Whiteman says that her dolls are "more than play objects or toys." She explains that "these Black dolls symbolize the struggle for freedom and human dignity."
Each doll, she believes, "has a message of truth and strength." This message is important for the growth of Black people. Together, the dolls show how Black people have been seen throughout history around the world.
The museum has more than 300 dolls on display. Its full collection includes about 1,000 dolls. These dolls come with stories and information. They show how Black people were seen at different times in history. The dolls range in size from tiny figures to life-size ones.
Community and Learning
The museum offers many ways for people to learn and get involved. It holds lectures about the history of black dolls. These talks also show how black dolls can be used as teaching tools.
Kids can join workshops to make paper dolls or clothes pin dolls. Adults can also learn to make cloth dolls. The museum is also a friendly club for adults who collect or make dolls.
One of the museum's biggest events is the Philadelphia Doll Show. This show brings together doll collectors and doll makers. It helps create a market for black dolls and shows their value.
In August 2011, the museum was even mentioned in Doll Reader magazine. It was listed as one of the "Top 10 Museums Worth a Visit." The museum gives a full look at how black dolls have changed over time.
See also
- African American culture
- Black doll
