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Article: Paper Dolls Are Not Just for Play; Smithsonian Exhibit Teaches a History Lesson
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 27, 2006
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Paper dolls might not be as popular now as when your mom was your
age, but a museum exhibit in Anacostia has today's kids thinking
about these old toys in a modern way.
More than 100 black paper dolls are on display at the
Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum. They belong to Arabella
Grayson, who started collecting them after a friend gave her a black
paper doll tucked inside a birthday card about 12 years ago. "I
played with paper dolls as a child," Grayson said, but "I couldn't
recall ever seeing a black one before."
Now she has more than 300. But these paper dolls -- the oldest
of which, Topsey, was made in 1863 -- are more than childish
playthings. "Toys are teaching tools," ...