Books:

Discovered! 505
Odd Enterprises

Hidden Dollars

How to Make
Money at Home

Small Business
of Your Own

You Can Own
a Business

Mrs. Jaeggi, a retired school teacher, remembered the years of drumming world history into unwilling young heads, and decided that dolls created in the exact likeness of historical figures would make history much more interesting to young people.

Out of this idea came a new and interesting hobby for Mrs. Jaeggi that has paid off in cash and personal satisfaction that could not be measured.

She began by learning to carve the heads and while the first ones were very difficult to carve, and rather crude looking, she continued to practice, never losing sight of her goal—that each face must be easily recognizable, even to a child. Much time and hard work has developed perfection in her technique of creating the heads as well as the bodies and costuming for these tiny lifelike dolls, which measure four to twelve inches in height.

Even now, it sometimes takes many tries before Mrs. Jaeggi achieves the desired facial expression for a new character. She agreed to make a doll representation of Father Flanagan, famed organizer of Boys' Town, Nebraska, for a friend. She found it extremely difficult to copy the gentleness in the facial expression of the kindly man. When the impatient friend called on the phone about the doll, Mrs. Jaeggi said; "I'm sorry, but he still looks more like a gangster! You'll just have to wait!" Each doll must satisfy Mrs. Jaeggi's keen appraisal completely before she will sell it.

AS HER original collection of historical characters grew, Mrs. Jaeggi began adding Bible characters, figures from popular fiction, and present day famous and near-famous persons. Interest grew in Mrs. Jaeggi's hobby, and she was invited to show her dolls and lecture on them to school children, women's clubs, etc., in North Platte, and surrounding towns. These programs might be made profitable if she charged a fee but Mrs. Jaeggi prefers to do it for the pleasure it brings to others.

At school the boys proved to be as interested in the dolls as the girls. And is it any wonder? The garments on the masculine characters are very real. Every husky boy gets a big laugh out of Little Lord Fauntleroy, with his red velvet suit and bright golden curls. They are amused by Henry VIII in his beloved rust and green suit, carrying a spiced orange for perfume.

Another favorite is Artaban, the Fourth Wise Man, in Van Dyke's "The Other Wise Man," who missed seeing Christ on the day of Crucifixion after spending his entire life searching for Him. Artaban holds a tiny bag containing three tiny stones, simulating the three jewels for his Master.

They also like "Buffalo Bill" Cody, a burly-looking frontiersman who played an important part in the early history of Nebraska. He has long white hair, mustache and goatee; is dressed in a red flannel shirt, woolen trousers, leather boots and appliqued suede jacket. The leather is purchased from a retail leather company. Buffalo Bill carries a tiny revolver and wears a fedora hat of real felt.

Sir Walter Raleigh wears red quilted velvet trousers and the historic red velvet cape. His black shoes are painted on, with miniature genuine cork soles! The waistcoat is gold cloth, with tiny red buttons. A red velvet hat with a jaunty feather completes his costume.

A popular pair from early American history is John Alden and Priscilla. These dolls were copied from Boughton's painting, "Puritans Going To Church," a Perry picture. Priscilla is wearing a blue dress and cape with scarlet linings, white linen cap and apron, and carries a stamp size Bible. Priscilla's hand-made undergarments with hand-made lace represent her fine handiwork mentioned in "The Courtship of Miles Standish."

MANY FICTIONAL characters are included in Mrs. Jaeggi's collection, also. One interesting couple is old Dr. Mannett and Lucy from the novel by Charles Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities." The old doctor is seated on a shoemaker's bench, wearing ragged trousers, and leather apron and has several tiny leather shoes on the bench beside him, making shoes as he did in prison. On his breast is the little pouch holding the golden tresses of his wife. His hollow cheeks, white hair and beard show the suffering he has endured. Lucy is a beautiful blond girl dressed in gold with blue velvet cape and red scarf. She is visiting him in prison when she returned to try to get him released to take him to England.

Mrs. Jaeggi has made many beautiful religious dolls, favorite among these being Jesus, dressed in white satin with a blue velvet drape. The most popular group is the Good Shepherd with the children gathered about him. Ruth, Naomi, the Queen of Sheba, and many others are among her collection. One very attractive character is Aaron, the high priest. This doll was originally made for a minister doing missionary work, to go with a small tabernacle made in Bible school. It took Mrs. Jaeggi nearly a year to assemble all parts of the costume as described in Exodus, Chapter 28, of the Old Testament. Tiny seeds from the Philippines were used for pomegranates sewn around the hem of the garment. The breast plate of twelve oblong stones was made from the trimming of an old jacket and the beautiful embroidery of the ephod was in some scrap material sent to Mrs. Jaeggi by a friend. The profit on this doll was the satisfaction in helping a fine minister to make his work more interesting. Any Bible character is made by request and pictures used are from Egermeier's "Bible Story Book" and a graded series published by the Standard Publishing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mrs. Jaeggi has found that making character dolls is very educational. Before starting a new character, she must do a lot of research on the individual's characteristics and history. She finds this information at the public library in various encyclopedias, histories, biographies, magazines, also the Perry Pictures, which are put out by the Perry Picture Company of Malden, Massachusetts, for picture study in schools.

Each character is a distinct individual, and it is sometimes very hard to find just what color the hair and eyes really were. In some cases Mrs. Jaeggi decides which age she wishes to portray. She has made Queen Wilhelmina as the young Queen, the Mother Queen, and as she looked when she abdicated. Mrs. Jaeggi finds a suitable picture of her subject, and from that picture begins the creation of a new character.

TO MAKE the original head or model, Mrs. Jaeggi uses Carvocast, a plaster-like composition, which can be obtained in different size blocks or powder form to mix with water, from any art store. Mrs. Jaeggi prefers the block form. This is an easy substance to handle and facial lines are easily carved with a sharp instrument. Mrs. Jaeggi uses craft carving knives, a small pocket knife, and an upholstery needle for tiny details.

When the head is an exact reproduction of the picture she is copying, she gives it a coat of shellac, paint, or enamel, to seal the pores and make a smooth surface for making the mold.

If the head is to be made of composition, a liquid latex mold is made by dipping or brushing six to ten coats of the liquid latex over the original model. The latex should dry between coats, and set for thirty-six hours after the final coat, before it is removed from the model. It is then taken off like a glove and a composition mix is poured into the latex mold. Two kinds of composition are Claystone and Castone, which are purchased in powder form, and mixed with water to a pouring consistency. These compositions do not harden fast, thus giving time for detail work on hair styles and facial features. This is sometimes necessary after the composition head or casting is removed from the mold.

Another composition, much harder than the powders, is Plastidur, a liquid casting plastic that hardens in a few minutes to a very hard and tough plastic that resembles ivory. This is used for castings that do not need detail work after removal from the mold.

WHEN THE composition cast is dry, the latex mold IS taken off, again like a glove, and all mold marks are removed so the finished surface is very smooth for painting. If you desire to do any extra etching, for the hair or face, the mold must be removed from the cast before the composition is rock-hard.

If the head is to be china, a plaster of Paris mold is used and clayslip is poured into the mold. Clayslip is made by adding water to ceramic clay powder. Mrs. Jaeggi found complete instructions for making the model, plaster of Paris molds, casting, finishing, bisque firing and glazing in "The Complete Book of Pottery Making," by John B. Kenny, and "Ceramics for All," by J. A. Stewart.

Mrs. Jaeggi prefers to mold the hair style with the composition material since it is easier to handle than mohair, does not mat, and can be molded easily in any style desired. On many models the face and head are cast and the hair style added later before the composition is too hard. This is done by pressing soft clay onto the scalp of the casting and then forming various hair fashions with a knife. Wind-blown curls, as well as the long drawn-out curl, the water-fall, the psyche, and the shingle bob can be formed perfectly. Some of the lovely ladies have jeweled hair styles, also earrings, which are tiny stones from dime store jewelry, imbedded in the soft composition and permitted to harden. Some have tiny flowers shaped into their elaborate coiffures.

It takes a lot of practice to develop the skill required to paint heads not much bigger than a large walnut. The coloring for the face and arms is delicate and life-like. Artist's oil paint is used and dulled to give a soft texture.

The lower portions of the legs and arms are cast in the same manner as the head. Muslin is wrapped and glued to the top of the arm and then sewed to the shoulder. For the upper leg, muslin is attached to the knee in like manner, stuffed and sewed to the body.

The stockings, painted on the cast, range in colors of bright reds, purple, green, black, white, and nude, depending on current fashions during particular periods of history. Shoe styles are many and varied, high-heeled, low heeled, and without heels. The shoes are painted on in most cases. However, Henry VIII's shoes are made of leather with slashes across the wide toe so his stocking shows through. The high top shoes, gold and silver slippers and shoes of today with many cut-outs are skillfully painted on the cast. Many Bible characters are barefooted, and even the bare foot with carved toes and strap sandal is neat and trim.

THE BODY of the doll is made of unbleached muslin or flesh-colored percale. The male body is shaped square and firm, while the feminine form is slim and shapely, or chubby to fit the individual character. The muslin body is sewed on both sides across the shoulders, across the bottom, and the center back is seamed half way up. The upper back is left open, for stuffing. The body is turned right side out, and another seam made across the bottom on the outside. This makes it easier to attach the upper leg to the body. The body is stuffed firmly with lower grade cotton. The seam in the upper back is then closed and the arms and legs are attached as described earlier.

Now the head must be fastened to the body. If the head is hollow at the shoulder, it is placed over the stuffed body, and sewn down through the holes along the shoulder for that purpose. If the shoulder is solid, the cloth body is brought up over the shoulder and glued down.

When the doll is assembled, it is ready to be mounted on a standard. Mrs. Jaeggi makes a pocket by sewing a small piece of muslin vertically down the back of the doll. The standard consists of a three-ply wooden base, three inches square, with a ³/8-inch dowel inserted in the base. The length of the dowel is determined by the height of the finished doll. The top half of the dowel is whittled flat on both sides so it fits against the back of the doll smoothly. The stick mounted on the standard is inserted in the pocket and held firmly against the back of the doll, making the doll stand upright.

MRS. JAEGGI asserts that dressing the lovely ladles of history is the most enjoyable part of creating character dolls. The petticoats, undergarments, and hoops are as nearly authentic as possible. Many tiny hand-stitched tucks, feather stitching, insertions, and padded or quilted satins are found in these dainty underthings. Mrs. Jaeggi has studied underwear styles for various periods, that she may duplicate them perfectly, even to the number of petticoats that was fashionable for milady centuries ago. She found there were many styles of hoops, farthingales, and bustles.

And now our fair lady is ready for her gown, and what gowns! Using for reference, the Godey, Graham, and Petersen magazines; the books, "History of American Costume," by Elizabeth McClellan; "English Costume," by Iris Brooke and J. Laver; "The Mode of Costume," by R. Turner Wilcox, and others, Mrs. Jaeggi creates exquisite little gowns. Some of the materials are lovely remnants of silk, satin, brocade, and velvets, as well as some older types of materials which are completely strange to us in 1952. She has made some real discoveries by patronizing rummage sales. There she often finds a lovely piece of material probably stored in a trunk for several generations, and her expert's eyes quickly see its possibilities. She has found many pieces of antique lace, old ribbons, beaded pieces, and discarded jewelry, which she saves until she needs that particular item. For example, the beautiful Indian maiden, Sacajawea, may be dressed from a pair of white kid gloves, and her blue beaded belt may be the work of some little Girl Scout.

The completed gowns often have beading, lace, braid, buttons, and many other types of trim to make almost exact copies of the gowns pictured in various books and magazines. The costumes are complete with accessories of fans, muffs, bags, and hats.

As Mrs. Jaeggi showed me some of her lovely ladies in their beautiful attire, she told me stories of the great women of history, stories of their exciting lives of love and war. She said with a twinkle in her eyes, "Some of these ladies really led very wicked lives, but I certainly get a lot of enjoyment out of making them!"

Other dolls Mrs. Jaeggi has made include Christopher Columbus, John Smith and Pocahontas, George and Martha Washington, General Douglas MacArthur, Betsy Ross; also these portrait characters: Whistler's Mother (seated on a chair), Gainsborough's Blue Boy, and Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and others. She has made the Presidents' wives, with dresses copied from a Smithsonian Institution book and profiles from "Ladies of the White House." She has made many of the great queens of history, including young Queen Elizabeth.

MRS. JAEGGI has won a good deal of acclaim in the form of medals and blue ribbons, from various county fairs, exhibits, and conventions. She placed third in the national contest sponsored by the Marine Historical Association of Mystic, Connecticut, at the National Doll convention held at Detroit in August, 1951. Her seafaring character was Captain Wm. Story who helped make Salem, Massachusetts well-known as "the pepper city." This doll is in the museum at Mystic, Connecticut. Her dolls won one first prize and two second prizes in the Los Angeles County Fair last year.

Mrs. Jaeggi has exhibited her dolls and given discussions for many programs in North Platte for churches, schools, lodges, and Girl Scouts; also to the Kearney Woman's Club in Kearney, Nebraska, and to a unit of the National Doll Club when it met in Columbus, Nebraska.

The two latest displays of her dolls were at the antique show in Foot Guard Hall in Hartford, Connecticut, and at Old Port Guild exhibit in Conimicut, Rhode Island.

Displaying her dolls in these various places has led to many sales. Mrs. Jaeggi has advertised her dolls in Profitable Hobbies, and The Toy Trader. When interested persons write to her for further information, Mrs. Jaeggi sends small snapshots of the dolls they are particularly interested in, as well as an advertising leaflet which she had printed, listing all the dolls available to prospective buyers. Mrs. Jaeggi has filled orders from all parts of the United States. She made approximately 135 dolls last year, and sold thirty-five dolls after she began advertising, in the last half of 1951. The other dolls were for her own collection.

Mrs. Jaeggi keeps her own collection complete, and makes dolls to sell on order only. These dolls are sold under the trade name of "Vee" dolls. Her dolls are priced at $3.50 for the child characters, $8.50 for men, and $10 for women, plus a small postage fee if they are to be mailed.