What is a doll? 

How is defining something so simple complicated by history, geography, by gender, by economic class, by race and further considerations of who is allowed leisure, who is allowed to be a child? We, those of us enraptured by dolls, seek to illuminate these questions, and more, through historical explorations of doll history, memorabilia, contemporary doll collectors, new perspectives and representation in museums collections and more. But, those explorations don’t necessarily get us closer to the essential question – what is a doll? I am on a journey of sorts to find an answer.

• Clyde, W. (2024, December) Dollmaking: A two-part, virtual dollmaking workshop. BLUE: The Tatter Textile Library, Brooklyn, New York.
• Clyde, W. (2024, October). The Legacy of Black Dolls. BLUE: The Tatter Textile Library, Brooklyn, New York.
• Clyde, W. ( 2024, October.) Portraits of Childhood Research Grant. Portraits of Childhood: Black Dolls from the Collection of Deborah Neff, The National Toy and Miniature Museum, Kansas City, Missouri.