Samantha Parkington (doll)

The Samantha doll shown with Manners and Mischief.

The Samantha Parkington doll was released in 1986, along with Kirsten Larson and Molly McIntire. They were American Girl's first three Historical Characters. Samantha was officially archived May 2009 after selling out Feb 3, 2009.

Samantha was rereleased in 2014 with the launch of BeForever.

Samantha Doll

• Face Mold: Classic Mold
• Skin: Light
• Hair: Dark Brown, wavy, bangs.

Her hair is pulled into a half-ponytail in the back.

• Eyes: Brown

Samantha has decal brown eyes, which are different from the standard brown on most dolls. The only other doll that these have been used on is Ivy Ling.

Meet Outfit

Classic Meet Outfit

Samantha with Meet Samantha (1986-2009).

Samantha's Classic meet outfit is an example of what girls her age and class would have worn during the Edwardian era. However, until around 1998, the only illustration of it was on the cover of Meet Samantha.

Dress

Checked taffeta drop waisted dress. Cloth pattern of small checked burgundy, brown, and ivory. High collar, dropped waist, long slightly gathered sleeves, and pleated front (the back is plain). Burgundy satin "waist" sash. Velcros up the back and at wrist cuffs.

Bloomers

White cotton bloomer-style underpants. Elastic at waist and bottom cuffs.

Stockings

Long black ribbed tights. The official descriptions called them "stockings"; however these these are full tights which, on a dressed doll, are placed under the bloomers.

Authentic stockings of the time and accompanying garters are more similar to what are included in the Lacy Whites.

Shoes

Black plastic slip-on Mary Jane style shoes. The shoes are identical to Molly's.

In the books, Samantha is shown with high button black boots most of the time; Mary Janes existed, but were just starting to emerge as a style of children's shoe.

Hair Bow

Wide taffeta bow made from the same print as the dress.

BeForever Meet Outfit

Samantha's BeForever Outfit.

The BeForever Outfit for Samantha was available alone for $36. It was released in 2014 and retired as a separately available purchase in 2018.

Meet Accessories

Classic Accessories

Samantha's Meet Accessories (1986-2009).

Hat

Burgundy faux-velvet hat with rose, dove grey, and gold colored ribbons tied into bows and allowed to dangle in the back. Samantha is generally not shown wearing the hat in illustrations and is instead carrying it in her hand; this was also true for many of the catalogs. Older hats have a rose ribbon also around the band.

Locket Brooch

A golden bow-shaped brooch with a heart-shaped locket. It comes with pictures of her mother and father to place inside and is pinned to the front of her dress.

Purse

A rose velvet clutch purse with a golden clasp and chain that slips over her wrist.

Indian Head Penny

A shiny reproduction Indian head penny, a coin used during Samantha’s time. Samantha's coin was an authentic Indianhead penny until it was replaced with a reproduction penny in 1994.

Handkerchief

A white lace-trimmed handkerchief with blue and pink embroidered flowers.

BeForever Accessories

Samantha's BeForever Meet Accessories.

Dress Like Your Doll: Classic

Afternoon Tea Dress.

A children's full outfit was available:

• Afternoon Tea Dress: $80. A pattern was also available.
• High Button Boots (black only): $55. These zipped up the inner size.
• Ribbed Tights: $8 each. Came in Black, Burgundy, Ivory, Red, and White.
• French Hairbows (Burgundy): $15
• Samantha's Keepsake Locket: $14 (later $16). Unlike the doll's, it was on a chain similar to Molly's Accessories, but was golden brass like Samantha's brooch.

These were all phased out around the year 2000.

Dress Like Your Doll: BeForever

An outfit inspired by Samantha's BeForever Meet Outfit was available:

• Pink Polka-Dot Dress: $58
• Rosy Headband: $12

Dress.

Headband.

Pre-Mattel, Mattel, BeForever, and White-Bodied Doll Differences

• White bodied Samantha dolls have a white muslin cloth body; both Mattel and Pre-Mattel Samanthas have matching cloth bodies.
• Most of the White Body Samanthas have lighter brown and curlier hair; Some have darker brown hair that is long. Mattel dolls have darker hair that is more wavy than curly and a little shorter. PM dolls transition between the two.
• Older versions of Samantha have straight-line eyebrows. The BeForever Samantha's eyebrows are feathered.

Trivia

• The pattern on Samantha's original locket (prior to BeForever) was identical to the pattern on Molly's, but a golden brooch while Molly's locket is a silver necklace.