Changes: American Girl Magazine Paper Dolls

Revision as of 12:53, 30 July 2013

American Girl Magazine Paper Dolls were paper dolls based on real girls distributed through American Girl Magazine.

Background

Starting with the first issue of American Girl Magazine (which debuted near the end of 1992), magazines included a paper doll of a real girl who had submitted her information to American Girl for a chance to be drawn.

In order to be considered, a girl needed to provide information about at least three direct female relatives (no aunts or cousins), and themselves. Girls were expected to be the target age of the magazine from ages 7 to 12, and needed to include images of themselves and the relatives as young girls (if plausible or possible), and stories of each girl pictured. (Photocopies of pictures were specified so as not to lose any original pictures.) They also needed to include a self addressed stamped envelope for the returning of materials and mail the information to an address specified as American Girl Paper Doll. Six girls were picked every year, one for each issue; it was specified in each issue that only six girls a year would be picked but that American Girl hoped girls liked learning about their family even if they weren't picked. Each doll would be included on a removable cardstock insert at the center of the magazine.^[1]

The series was discontinued with the last paper doll being in the May/June 2001 issue.

Doll and Outfit Details

The dolls were predominately drawn by Susan McAliley in the front-on pose of the released Historical Character paper dolls, with her name and photo above her. Each girl was given a logo and color. The girl was drawn realistically with arms tucked behind her in a one piece colored leotard in her picked color and barefoot^[2]. Each was numbered and named at the bottom. A doll stand was included, along with instructions on how to use the doll stand. Next to the girl in the side paragraph was data about the girl and how far back she had traced her family and to what location.^[3]. On the back of the doll was the girl's full name, age at time of publishing, home location (state or city), grade, siblings and/or pets, hobbies, a favorite thing, and their ambition when they grew up.

A current outfit for the girl and a historical outfit for three included relatives would be drawn.^[4]. Above each outfit on the full cardstock was the approximate year when the relative would be in the nine to ten age range. On the back of each outfit was the year again, the relative's name, their relation to the girl herself, and brief data on the outfit including its meaning to the girl who wore it and information of the time the outfit was worn. The only difference was on the direct girl, where instead of the relation it said, "Name: An American girl."

A booklet was included to be assembled; small stories of the girl and her relatives were written and included either photos or drawings for relatives that did not have photos available. The front cover gave the name of the girl and year of publishing.

For a few years, starting in 1999, the doll could be downloaded from the official site as well.

Two releases focused on dogs (#45) and cat (#48) breeds instead of girls and included data about the breeds, with the booklet discussing each animal through history.

List of Paper Dolls

#1 Courtney Price Nov-Dec 1992
#2 Shira Kalman-Hicks Jan-Feb 1993
#3 Alexandria Forsythe Mar-Apr 1993
#4 Allison Barnthouse May-Jun 1993
#5 Lindsey Kawamura Jul-Aug 1993
#6 Chrissy Lanning Sept-Oct 1993
#7 Ashlyn Denny Nov-Dec 1994
#8 Laura Benoit Jan-Feb 1994
#9 Ashley DeTillio Mar-Apr 1994
#10 Brienne Kvaran May-Jun 1994
#11 Emily Chamberlain Jul-Aug 1994
#12 Emily Tailbot Sept-Oct 1994
#13 Monica Wendel Nov-Dec 1994
#14 Ashlee Stevenston Jan-Feb 1995
#15 Falon Robbins Mar-Apr 1995
#16 Kathleen Hynes May-Jun 1995
#17 Amanda Wallis Jul-Aug 1995
#18 Ragini Srinivasan Sept-Oct 1995
#19 Elizabeth Perlman Nov-Dec 1995
#20 Taylor Norvell Jan-Feb 1996
#21 Christy Nock Mar-Apr 1996
#22 Brittany Harold-Golden May-Jun 1996
#23 Sefako Ketosugbo Jul-Aug 1996
#24 Sarah Streit Sept-Oct 1996
#25 Melissa Siracuse Nov-Dec 1996
#26 Emily Zeroun Jan-Feb 1997
#27 Rachel Scholten Mar-Apr 1997
#28 Stephanie Sutton May-Jun 1997
#29 Kaleen Long Jul-Aug 1997
#30 Stephanie Garrard Sept-Oct 1997
#31 Nicole Recomendes Nov-Dec 1997
#32 Hillary Rhodes Jan-Feb 1998
#33 Liana Katz Mar-Apr 1998
#34 Julia Lewis May-Jun 1998
#35 Marisha Castle Jul-Aug 1998
#36 Synneva Hagen-Lillevik Sept-Oct 1998
#37 Jacqueline Moorehead Nov-Dec 1998
#38 Kara Irby Jan-Feb 1999
#39 Mary Chris Denney Mar-Apr 1999
#40 Nadia Abouraya May-Jun 1999
#41 Kimberly Allen Jul-Aug 1999
#42 Vanessa Yang Sept-Oct 1999
#43 Hannah Hamavid Nov-Dec 1999
#44 Kelley Jones Jan-Feb 2000
#45 Paper Dogs Mar-Apr 2000
#46 Ilze Lazdins May-Jun 2000
#47 Brittany Biggett Jul-Aug 2000
#48 Paper Cats Jan-Feb 2001
#49 Addie Bencomo May-Jun 2001

Links

Minxworks Unofficial American Girls Magazine Paper Doll Fanpage. (The site has not updated since at least 2000.)

References

↑ The first doll, Courtney Price, was on cardstock and the outfits were included in the internal pages.
↑ The first five dolls were drawn in multicolored leotards or outfits and given shoes; the leotards were simplified by #6, and shoes remained until #10.
↑ The first four dolls were much more complex fold outs.
↑ The first seventeen paper dolls except for #1 had four historical outfits and four relatives included.

[1] The first doll, Courtney Price, was on cardstock and the outfits were included in the internal pages.

[2] The first five dolls were drawn in multicolored leotards or outfits and given shoes; the leotards were simplified by #6, and shoes remained until #10.

[3] The first four dolls were much more complex fold outs.

[4] The first seventeen paper dolls except for #1 had four historical outfits and four relatives included.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 Starting with the first issue of ''American Girl Magazine'' (which debuted near the end of 1992), magazines included a paper doll of a real girl who had submitted her information to American Girl for a chance to be drawn.
-In order to be considered, a girl needed to provide information about at least three direct female relatives (no aunts or cousins), and themselves. Girls were expected to be the target age of the magazine from ages 7 to 12, and needed to include images of themselves and the relatives as young girls (if plausible or possible), and stories of each girl pictured.  (Photocopies of pictures were specified so as not to lose any original pictures.) They also needed to include a self addressed stamped envelope for the returning of materials and mail the information to an address specified as ''American Girl Paper Doll.'' Six girls were picked every year, one for each issue; it was specified in each issue that only six girls a year would be picked but that American Girl hoped girls liked learning about their family even if they weren't picked. Each doll would be included on a removable cardstock insert at the center of the magazine.<ref>The first doll, Courtney Price, was included in the internal pages.</ref>
+In order to be considered, a girl needed to provide information about at least three direct female relatives (no aunts or cousins), and themselves. Girls were expected to be the target age of the magazine from ages 7 to 12, and needed to include images of themselves and the relatives as young girls (if plausible or possible), and stories of each girl pictured.  (Photocopies of pictures were specified so as not to lose any original pictures.) They also needed to include a self addressed stamped envelope for the returning of materials and mail the information to an address specified as ''American Girl Paper Doll.'' Six girls were picked every year, one for each issue; it was specified in each issue that only six girls a year would be picked but that American Girl hoped girls liked learning about their family even if they weren't picked. Each doll would be included on a removable cardstock insert at the center of the magazine.<ref>The first doll, Courtney Price, was on cardstock and the outfits were included in the internal pages.</ref>
+The series was discontinued with the last paper doll being in the May/June 2001 issue.
-There were about 50 of these dolls; the series was discontinued in 2001.
 ==Doll and Outfit Details==
-The dolls were predominately drawn by [[Susan McAliley]] in the front-on pose of the released Historical Character paper dolls, with her name and photo above her. Each girl was given a logo and color. The girl was drawn realistically with arms tucked behind her in a one piece colored leotard in her picked color and barefoot<ref>The first five dolls were drawn in multicolored leotards or outfits and given shoes; the leotards were simplified by #6, and shoes remained until #10 </ref>. Each was numbered and named at the bottom. A doll stand was included, along with instructions on how to use the doll stand. Next to the girl in the side paragraph was data about the girl and how far back she had traced her family and to what location.<ref>The first four dolls were much more complex fold outs.</ref>. On the back of the doll was the girl's full name, age at time of publishing, home location (state or city), grade, siblings and/or pets, hobbies, a favorite thing, and their ambition when they grew up.
+The dolls were predominately drawn by [[Susan McAliley]] in the front-on pose of the released Historical Character paper dolls, with her name and photo above her. Each girl was given a logo and color. The girl was drawn realistically with arms tucked behind her in a one piece colored leotard in her picked color and barefoot<ref>The first five dolls were drawn in multicolored leotards or outfits and given shoes; the leotards were simplified by #6, and shoes remained until #10. </ref>. Each was numbered and named at the bottom. A doll stand was included, along with instructions on how to use the doll stand. Next to the girl in the side paragraph was data about the girl and how far back she had traced her family and to what location.<ref>The first four dolls were much more complex fold outs.</ref>. On the back of the doll was the girl's full name, age at time of publishing, home location (state or city), grade, siblings and/or pets, hobbies, a favorite thing, and their ambition when they grew up.
-A current outfit for the girl and a historical outfit for three included relatives would be drawn.<ref>The first seventeen paper dolls had four historical outfits and four relatives included.</ref>.  Above each outfit on the full cardstock was the approximate year when the relative would be in the nine to ten age range. On the back of each outfit was the year again, the relative's name, their relation to the girl herself, and brief data on the outfit including its meaning to the girl who wore it and information of the time the outfit was worn. The only difference was on the direct girl, where instead of the relation it said, ''"Name: An American girl."''
+A current outfit for the girl and a historical outfit for three included relatives would be drawn.<ref>The first seventeen paper dolls except for #1 had four historical outfits and four relatives included.</ref>.  Above each outfit on the full cardstock was the approximate year when the relative would be in the nine to ten age range. On the back of each outfit was the year again, the relative's name, their relation to the girl herself, and brief data on the outfit including its meaning to the girl who wore it and information of the time the outfit was worn. The only difference was on the direct girl, where instead of the relation it said, ''"Name: An American girl."''
 A booklet was included to be assembled; small stories of the girl and her relatives were written and included either photos or drawings for relatives that did not have photos available. The front cover gave the name of the girl and year of publishing.
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 For a few years, starting in 1999, the doll could be downloaded from the official site as well.
-Two releases focused on dogs (#45) and cat (#48) breeds instead of girls and included data about the breeds.
+Two releases focused on dogs (#45) and cat (#48) breeds instead of girls and included data about the breeds, with the booklet discussing each animal through history.
 ==List of Paper Dolls==