2022.26.

M3 ~ Doll, Decorative 07/20/2022

001\202226M3.JPG
Collection English WFolklife
Other# Object name 2
Old# Object name 3
Accession# 2022.26.M3 Othername African American Youth Walnut Head
Received as Received date Doll

Cataloged by Ritten, Leslie Catalog date 07/11/2022

Source
Img_7502
Creditline

Home loc Atlanta History Center

Description African American female youth English walnut head doll. Walnut is split into two with the back of the head attached to the
frame and front is unattached with missing piece in the middle on the left side. Unattached piece of shell has faded red
painted lips and faded white painted eyes with brownish black pupils. Legs are constructed with wood twigs (small parts of
branches) and metal nails. Arms are constructed with wire wrapped fabric. Body is formed out of batting. A barn red
sheath dress with white polka dots and yellow and white daisy like flowers cover the torso and part of the twig legs.

Date Status date 07/11/2022

Year Range 0-0 Status by Ritten, Leslie
Condition Fair Status OK
Height 0.000 in Width 2.500 in Dim Notes Walnut head piece is 1.25"
Length 4.500 in Depth 0.500 in
Diameter 0.000 in Circum 0.000 in
Weight 0.000 oz Count
Subjects Miss Love Dolls Classification
Loveleigh Novelties
English Walnut Head Dolls
Search terms Walnut head dolls People Itira Rosalein Moreland Colley Leigh
Legal Repatriation
Publications Related Notes
Maint start 07/11/2022 Maint notes
Maint cycle
Condition Fair Cond date 07/06/2022
Condition by Ritten, Leslie Cond notes Walnut head is split into two with only the part representing
the back of head attached. Part of shell depicitng face
remains with the frame, but unattached. Walnut head flakes
when handled.
Appraisor Acq value Current value min
App notes Value date Current value max
Notes African American Youth Walnut Head Doll was a part of 2022.M1 & M2.

In the mid 1920's until the mid 1950's, African American English walnut head dolls were made by Itura Rosalein Moreland
Colley Leigh from Grantville, Georgia otherwise known as Miss Love. According to her great grandson, "she ws born the
year the American Civil War (which she called the war of Northern Aggression) ended. The figures were representations
of the post-war African American former slaves who reamined to work as free men and women in the farms of that region
of Georgia". (1)

Miss Love Dolls which eventually took on the name Loveleigh Novelties became very popular in the late 1920's. Initially,
she started making the dolls and selling them to Northerners who would travel through Georgia on their way to florida.
Some of her popular dolls were, "Old Cotton Joe", Watermelon Boy" and "Topsy, mammy's Little Angel". Mrs Colley
Leigh employed several assistants who would create the body of the dolls and get them ready for her to handpaint each of

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 the doll's faces. The dolls would be constructed with wire wrapped in crepe and dressed with clothing from material scraps
around the house. As their populairty grew, many people tried to copy and sell them. Additionally in 1930, she applied for
a patent.

One of the most distinguishing features of Miss Love Dolls were that they were always constructed using wire wrapped in
crepe for their arms and legs. In addition, most of the lisitngs today by antique dealers mention the sturdiness of the dolls.
In a brief phone interview and consultation using photographs about the dolls, Susan Heider of Susan Heider Antiques
who owns and has sold these dolls feels that this doll is a reproduction. (2)

1. Penny Hadfield, "Miss Loves Dolls," Antique Doll Collector, August 2011, 33-38.
2. Susan Heider, interview by Leslie Ritten, July 1, 2022, by phone.
2022.26.M3 ~ Doll, Decorative (continued)
Collector Janece Shaffer Coll date 02/15/2022
Site Site#
Excavated by Excav date / /
Identified by Ident date / /
Preparator Prep date / /
Pl origin
Event
Material Wood, Fabric, Walnut Shell
Found
Used
Made
Owned
Provenance

Title Artist
Signed loc Artist2
Signed name Artist3
Medium
Material Wood, Fabric, Walnut Shell
Technique
Culture
School
Accessories Frame desc
Image size Frame size
Inscription type Inscription text
Inscrip techq Inscription position
Inscrp lang Inscription translation
Makers mark

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2022.26.M3 ~ Doll, Decorative (continued)
Dating Method
Feature
Unit X-Cordinate 0.00 Datum
Level Y-Coordinate 0.00 Box Number
Stratum Z-Coordinate 0.00 Bag Number
Presrv Method

Habitat
Skeletal Elem

Kingdom Sub-Family Age

Phylum Genus Era
Class Species Period
Order Sub-species Epoch
Family Sex Stage
Varieties

Ocurrence

Texture
Formation Lithofacies
Member Assem zome
Rock type Origin
Chemical comp Grain size
Crystal System Classification
Spec Gravity Color
Hardness Fossils
Luster Pressure
Streak Temperature
Fracture Surface Proc
Updated/by 07/20/2022 10:03 AM Unknown Dataset

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