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| Volume D, World Book Encyclopedia, 1962 and 1987, respectively |
"DOLL. In almost every part of the world, children play with dolls. They may be made of anything from cooky [sic] dough and candy to cloth and rubber. They may be made in factories and bought in shops, or they may be made at home and cost nothing. It makes little difference what they look like or how much money is paid for them. Dolls are loved the world around." (World Book Encyclopedia, 1962, Volume D, "Doll," page 234.)
Someone recently asked me if I could suggest ideas for no-sew dolls. I offered a few quick suggestions which included African Wrap Dolls and clothespin dolls. These suggestions piqued my own interest which led to a Google.com search for "no-sew dolls." Included in the search results was a blog on how to make acorn dolls. The blogger recalled discovering instructions to make acorn dolls while reading the "Doll" entry in volume D of her mother's 1950s set of World Book Enclyclopedia (WBE).
Reading the blogger's experience conjured up memories of time spent using my first non-electronic search tool: an A to Z set of encyclopedias. As a child I could easily spend hours reading several entries in one volume, prompted by an initial desire to gain information on just one subject.
I was compelled to grab volume D of my 1962 childhood set that I still own to read the "Doll" entry. I am sure I read the entry as a child; and as evidenced by my sister's first name scribbled on one of the pages, she had read it as well or at least looked at the pictures. Re-reading it refreshed my memory. This was followed by reading the "Doll" entry in the same lettered volume of my children's 1987 WBE.
I was not surprised by the scarcity of Black dolls in the 1962 entry. A recognizable few Black dolls are included in the volume published 25 years later. Both entries cover a variety of doll topics to include historical and modern dolls and dolls as collectibles. A collector and her collection are featured in the 1987 entry. Scans of both entries follow in their entirety with the exception that the collector's identity is concealed.
Doll entry scans, pages 234-244, from volume D, World Book Encyclopedia (1962)
Click/swipe images to enlarge. Alternatively, on a computer, hold down Ctrl and + to zoom in; Ctrl and - to zoom out.
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Doll entry scans, pages 234-243, from volume D, World Book Encyclopedia (1987)
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During recent grocery store and post office trips, where acorns are plentiful, I gathered several fallen acorns. The plan is to make my own acorn doll or two like this blogger did, using the instructions from the "Doll" entry in volume D of my childhood WBE.
Doll entry scans, pages 234-244, from volume D, World Book Encyclopedia (1962)
Click/swipe images to enlarge. Alternatively, on a computer, hold down Ctrl and + to zoom in; Ctrl and - to zoom out.
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Doll entry scans, pages 234-243, from volume D, World Book Encyclopedia (1987)
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The "Doll" entry in the 1962 edition of WBE contains how-to instructions for making an acorn doll and several other doll types. See also the 8th and 9th scans above of the 1962 volume. |
During recent grocery store and post office trips, where acorns are plentiful, I gathered several fallen acorns. The plan is to make my own acorn doll or two like this blogger did, using the instructions from the "Doll" entry in volume D of my childhood WBE.