History of American Girl

This is a timeline of the American Girl corporation. This mostly focuses on doll, character and line launches; 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 is launched with the first three books in her series and the clothing and accessories that accompany the stories. The products are only available via mail order.

1987: The birthday stories and items for Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly are released.

1988: The summer and winter stories and items for Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly are released.

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. Website launched, allowing online purchase as well as catalogue purchase.

1998: The second half of Josefina's collection is released. American Girl Place opens in Chicago, IL. 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.

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 referred to as American Girl and wholly owned by Mattel. American Girl Minis are launched.

2001: The second half of Kit's collection is released. The first Girl of the Year, Lindsey Bergman, is released Summer 2001. Felicity begins 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. Girls of Many Lands are launched with the first five dolls.

2003: Kailey Hopkins, the second Girl of the Year, is released. Hopscotch Hill, a line of dolls and books for 4-to-6-year-olds, is launched. American Girl Place is opened in New York City. American Girl Minis are discontinued. Bitty Twins are launched.

2004: Pleasant Company officially renamed American Girl. Samantha: An American Girl Holiday debuts on the WB. Simultaneously, movie items are released. The first Best Friend, Nellie O'Malley, is released, originally intended as a limited edition. The new American Girl Club is released.

2005: Marisol Luna, the third Girl of the Year, is released. Felicity: An American Girl Adventure debuts on the WB. Elizabeth Cole, the second Best Friend, is released. To match her appearance in the movie, she is blonde and blue-eyed and all illustrations are modified to make Elizabeth blond. Many previously retired items from Felicity's collection are rereleased. Girls of Many Lands is discontinued.

2006: Jess Akiko McConnell, the fourth Girl of the Year, is released. Twenty-year anniversary. Hopscotch Hill is discontinued. American Girl Place in Los Angeles, CA is opened. Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front debuts on the Disney Channel and is simultaneously released on DVD. Emily Bennett, the third "Best Friend", is released; she is marketed as Molly's English Friend. Illustrations are changed to give her slightly longer hair. The American Girl Club is discontinued. American Girl Today renamed Just Like You.

2007: Nicki Fleming, the fifth Girl of the Year, is released. American Girl Boutique and Bistros are opened in Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA. Julie Albright is released Fall 2008 with all her books and several items. Simultaneously, her best friend, Ivy Ling, is released.

2008: Mia St. Clair, the sixth Girl of the Year, is released. Ruthie Smithens is released as the fifth Best Friend. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is released in theatres. Julie's summer and birthday items are released. Samantha and Nellie are announced to be "archiving" -- all their items will be retired but the books will remain available. American Girl Boutique and Bistros are opened in Natick, MA and Minneapolis, MN. Licorice is discontinued.

2009: Chrissa Maxwell, the seventh Girl of the Year, is released along with Sonali Matthews and Gwen Thompson. Chrissa Stands Strong debuts on HBO and is later released on DVD. Rebecca Rubin is released Summer 2009 along with all her books and several items of her collection. Samantha Parkington and Nellie O'Malley are officially archived; only the Mini dolls and books remain available for purchase.