Preservation Project

[ElizabethClark]

I'm putting this in the Citizen's Events area, for lack of a better spot to discuss it; when we open the project formally, I'll put it in the Preservation area.

Some may remember a few years back, my husband and I (and a bunch of great people across the country) sponsored a traveling doll and her collection as a fundraiser for the McDowell Museum purchase.

We're going to do another similar project starting January 2007, with the proceeds of raffle ticket sales going to preservation through the ACPP. Here's the gist of it:

This time around, the doll is a reproduction of a glazed china doll from mid-century (she's gorgeous!), about 19" tall with china head, hands, and feet, firmly stuffed cloth body. She'll travel to interested participants between January and July, 2007, gathering items for her collection. Ticket sales will open up in January, and close in October, with a November drawing for the winner; she'll be shipped, with her collection, in time for Christmas 2007.

If you or your group would like to be involved contributing items for her collection, please email me at elizabethstewartclark@hotmail.com

I'm stuck on one thing: what to name her? Name suggestions are happily accepted!

We're setting the ticket price at $4 each, or three for $10; they'll be available to purchase with a money order by mail, or via PayPal that sends the funds right to the ACPP (details on how to order will accompany the announcement in January). We're hoping to raise at least $3000 with this project, and are excited to see just how much more than that we can accomplish.

So--who wants to play? It was a blast last time, and this time promises to be even more spectacular.

[MissMaggie]

(Sorry--I accidently deleted Maggie's note. Liz Clark, Techno-Idiot)

It was something along the lines of:

Does the doll travel to different houses, with things for the collection added at each stop?

[ElizabethClark]

Yes, sorry--should have been more clear, and here's my reply in the RIGHT spot.

At each stop in her journey, a group or individual adds things to the doll's collection. Having the actual doll to hand is nice for final fit adjustments, though there will be pattern bases made available that are sized to fit her. Clothing items, accessory items, household goods, crafting items--just about anything period and to her scale is up for grabs.

Last time, the doll was an 18" vinyl play doll, and her collection included miniature books, a fishing pole (and fish), numerous bits of clothing, bedding, wash basin and pitcher, bonnets, doll, valise, and large storage trunk.

This doll has all those same options open, for sewn & knitted items, to-scale workbaskets and other household things... it can get just as involved as the contributors care to make it. The doll and basic outfit go on to the next stop, and the contributor's items come to "home base." (This keeps the shipping weight down on the doll box, and lets us start photographing the individual items, too.) If a person doesn't need or desire the doll to visit, the contributions can go straight to "home base"--and we'll have detailed body measurements for helping with "scale" for the doll, too.

The doll's visit is also a chance to dress her up and take her on a "tour" of local sites that pertain to the era, if so desired, snapping pictures to include in her travel diary. The diary will go with her to her new owner in November 2007 (we'll scan and post pages on-line, too.) Each contributor fills out an information sheet with details on what they chose to add, their inspiration and sources, the significance of the items, any nifty details on the materials or processes, etc.

All in all, it's going to be one very cool collection! The goal is for all clothing to be done in period-appropriate textiles and styles, with period techniques (in other words, no serging seams, etc. ) I'm working on press release information for CW hobby magazines, doll magazines, sewing magazines... there are far more folks than just the CW hobby who will want to buy tickets, and that gets us to the preservation goal even faster. (Those press releases won't go out until January, for May-July publication.)

Names-wise, some I've been tossing around include:

Honoria
Araminda
Mary or Marie

It needs to be something historic, something melodic... but Mehitabel is out, as is Dorcas. I like Dorcas, but my kids vehemently vetoed that one.

[Bluegoose]

Miss Elizabeth,

What about Civility for the doll's name?

Frank & Pam Hendrix

[ElizabethClark]

Heh--that's a fun one! Have you seen it in period use (and where?) Going with an unusual name means we'll definitely have to include the source. My husband has suggested, what with the complexity of the anticipated collection, we call her "Gluttony."

I still like Dorcas.

I've had a few off-forum questions, so here are answers: Contributors may be professional sewists/artists as well as regular folks. If there's something from the past you love to do, and want to tackle it in miniature scale, let me know.

We'll need to have her "stops" finalized by the beginning of December 2006, so we can make an "optimized travel route". Each person will get to keep her about one week--the faster she's in the post, the better, generally.

[Bluegoose]

Miss Elizabeth,

Civil (Civility) Robinson was my great-great-great-grandmother. She was born in 1811, died about 1845 in Georgia. Documentation is written in the book Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia. Information was drawn from Census References for Appling county, 1830; Lowndes, 1840; Clinch, 1850 and Pierce, 1860. I used the name once in a Folklife play that I wrote and beyond that I have not seen it again.

My wife would be interested in more information as the doll plans progress. Thank you...

Regards,
Frank and Pamela Hendrix

[ElizabethClark]

That is very nifty. Thanks so much for the reference! What a unique name to give an infant. Wouldn't you love to know more about the parents thoughts? Were any of the other siblings named with similarly unique monikers?

I'd be happy to add you to the updates list; keep reading here, and if you'll pop me an email, I'll put you on the "round robin" list of participants, too. email: elizabethstewartclark@hotmail.com

[Bluegoose]

Out of eight children, only the girls got the weird names:Civility and Molsy Ann. The boys were 'normal'. LOL Civility named her 5th child after herself but the other 6 were average names. Incidentally, all three of her sons died in the CSA.
I would love to have the naming history of many of my old family names. We are from the deep south and boy they can throw some odd names on the younguns!
Note:We like Dorcas, too! My granddaughter, however, thought we were calling someone a dork.

Regards,
Frank and Pamela Hendrix

[Sandy Whitlow]

I want to play, too! I'd be happy to contribute to her collection and already have something in mind. As far as a name, I am partial to Mary Elizabeth. My very first 1860's chinahead doll came with the documentation that she had been owned by either of 2 little girls, both named Mary Elizabeth. You mentioned Mary as being one of your choices and the Elizabeth would be in honor of your coming up with this wonderful idea.

[ElizabethClark]

If we named her Mary Elizabeth, she' be my little Mini-Me... I'm a Mary Elizabeth, myself.

I'm very drawn to "Civility"--and having read through about 20 options several times daily for the last week, it's the one that keeps popping out at me. It's just so... civilized.

Seriously, it's a unique historical name, but it really embodies the hopes of many people during the conflict (hoping for a civil end to troubles), and also draws us toward the civilized goal of preserving our nation's physical history. We'll have people involved who are descended from those on all sides of the War, all united in one purpose... works for me!

(My deep thanks to so many of you who have suggested names! We will repeat the project in the future, I know, so there will be opportunities to use more names.)