Made to Play House: Dolls and the Commercialization of American Girlhood, 1830-1930

"Formanek-Brunell's study of the United States doll industry provides a fresh perspective on the construction of gender in America...'Made to Play House' is a pioneering book of interest to collectors, historians of women and of consumer culture, and anyone who has a child who plays with dolls."--Molly Ladd-Taylor, 'Journal of American History' In MADE TO PLAY HOUSE, Miriam Formanek-Brunell traces the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century dolls and explores the origins of the American toy industry's remarkably successful efforts to promote self fulfillment through maternity and materialism. She tells the fascinating story of how inventors, producers, entrepreneurs--many of whom were women--and little girls themselves created dolls which expressed various notions of female identity. "Much of the value of 'Made to Play House' is its deft weaving of business history, cultural history, and material culture studies into a coherent, largely convincing, narrative...The vivid portraits of the female entrepreneurs with an agenda for childhood are the book's most significant contribution to the literature of history and business." --Mary Lynn Stevens Heininger, 'Business History Review' "This superb interdisciplinary history deploys mechanical patents and material culture to chart the development of a gendered American doll industry."--Eileen Boris, 'Nation' "The book makes a solid contribution to the literature on childhood as well as business history and...illustrates the use that can be made of material culture in historical research."--Sylvia Hoffert, 'American Historical Review'

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1. The Politics of Dollhood in Nineteenth-Century America Chapter 2. Masculinity, Technology, and the Doll Economy, 1860–1906 Chapter 3. In The Dolls' House, the Material Maternalism of Martha Chase, 1889–1914 Chapter 4. Marketing a Campbell Kids Culture, Engendering New Kid Dolls, 1902–1914 Chapter 5. New Women and Talismen, Rose O'Neill and the Kewpies, 1909–1914 Chapter 6. Forging the American Doll Industry, 1914–1929 Chapter 7. Children's Day, Constructing a Consumer Culture For Girls, 1900–1930 Epilogue: Agents or Agency, Dolls in Modern America Since 1930 Notes Index

About the Author :
Miriam Formanek-Brunell is associate professor of history and director of women's and gender studies at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

Review :
Provides a fresh perspective on the construction of gender in America..a pioneering book of interest to collectors, historians of women and of consumer culture, and anyone who has a child who plays with dolls. -- Molly Ladd-Taylor Journal of American History Formanek-Brunell effectively challenges the popular assumption that dolls are representation of patriarchal culture and that girls are passive consumers of that culture. -- Lisa A. Marovich Technology and Culture Much of the value of Made to Play House is its deft weaving of business history, cultural history, and material culture studies into a coherent, largely convincing, narrative... The vivid portraits of the female entrepreneurs with an agenda for childhood are the book's most significant contribution to the literature of history and business. -- Mary Lynn Stevens Heininger Business History Review This superb interdisciplinary history deploys mechanical patents and material culture to chart the development of a gendered American doll industry. -- Eileen Boris Nation The book makes a solid contribution to the literature on childhood as well as business history and... illustrates the use that can be made of material culture in historical research. -- Sylvia Hoffert American Historical Review