History of American Girl

Our New Baby]] Baby]]Montoya]]a timeline of the American Girl line. This mostly focuses on doll launches and lines; specific release dates on items can be seen on their respective pages.

Prerelease; Pleasant Rowland takes a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in the mid 1980s. She is inspired by the "living history" of the setting. Later, seeking dolls as a gift, she sees that there are very few dolls marketed as companions to a girl or focusing on girlhood.

The original line is molded off of a line of dolls once produced by Gotz dollmakers.

1986: The American Girl line launches with three Historical Characters: Kirsten Larson, Samantha Parkington, and Molly McIntire. Each doll comes with the first three books in their series and the clothing and accessories that accompany the stories and are only avaliable via mail order.

1987: The last three books in Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly's series are released with accompanying accessories.

1988: The "Dress Like Your Doll" line is released, allowing a young girl to wear outfits similar to the doll's historical clothing.

1989: Character-related crafts and patterns are released.

1990: Our New Baby line is launched.

1991: Felicity Merriman is released Fall 1991 with her first three books and accompanying clothing and accessories. Because of the low neckline of colonial outfits, the cloth bodies are changed from a white color to a matching tan color.

1992: The second half of Felicity's collection is released. American Girl Magazine is launched. Dolls sent in to the American Girl Hospital began to be returned with hospital gowns and accessories.

1993: Addy Walker is released Fall 1993 with her first three books and accompanying clothing and accessories. Paper dolls are released.

1994: The second half of Addy's collection is released. Theater, craft, and cookbooks are released for each character.

1995: American Girl of Today line is released. Our New Baby rereleased as Bitty Baby.

1996: Ten Year Anniversary.

1997: Josefina Montoya is released Fall 1997 with her first three books and accompanying clothing and accessories.

1998: The second half of Josefina's collection is released. American Girl Place opens in Chicago. Ms. Rowland sells the company to Mattel for 700 million dollars. American Girl of Today line renamed American Girl Today.

1999: Short Stories and outfits released. Website launched, allowing online purchase as well as catalogue purchase.

2000: Kit Kittredge is released Fall 2000 with her first three books and accompanying clothing and accessories. Ms. Rowland steps down and the company is now refered to as American Girl and wholly owned by Mattel.

2001: The second half of Kit's collection is released. The first Girl of the Year, Lindsey Bergman, is released Summer 2001. Felicity begans to be pulled from catalogues.

2002: Kaya'aton'my is released Fall 2002 with her entire collection (her collection is much smaller due to cultural limitations). She is billed as the First American Girl, as is her right as a Native person. Lindsey is discontinued at the end of 2002.

2003: