History of the American Girl Historical Characters
Part of this article was originally published by American Girl Wiki in 2021. Visit americangirl.fandom.com to read the entire article and explore other articles.
The Beginning
Pleasant Rowland gave two reasons for her initial creation of the line. One reason was to provide a doll the same age as the child who would be playing with it and present it as a friend rather than a baby to take care of or an adult to be like in the future.
The other reason was to offer a chance to teach history to children using the method of a character near their age, offering a smaller personal focus for largely arching historical time periods and giving a personal focus from a character whom they could relate to.
The Flagship Line
The Historical Characters refers to the flagship American Girl doll collection that focuses on the lives of various historical characters through American history. First known as The American Girls Collection, the line was rebranded in 2014 as BeForever with new “meet outfits,” new collections and changes to books.
The BeForever name was dropped in 2019 with the line reverting back to Historical Characters, while still keeping many of the changes implemented from BeForever such as the newer and brighter “meet outfits” and accessories.
Meet Outfits and Accessories
In the American Girl: 35 Years of Strong Characters exhibit, the Changnon-Piper Museum of Toys and Collectibles showcases the historical characters in their current or more recent “meet outfits” and accessories. However, we want to take this moment to showcase historical characters in their original and current “meet outfits” and accessories.
Note: The museum is only showcasing historical characters who have had two or more different “meet outfits” and accessories.
Felicity Merriman
Felicity’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Felicity’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a woven printed gown with a rose print and ruffle trim, an ivory satin hair ribbon she ties around her ponytail, a white cotton shift she wears under her dress, a pair of ivory woolen stockings and a pair of black shoes with faux-brass buckles.
Felicity’s Classic Accessories include a white cap with a satin ribbon, a red brocade purse with a drawstring, a white cotton handkerchief with a lace edge, a coral beaded necklace, a pair of woven ribbon garters that tie around her stockings and a reproduction colonial bit worth 12.5 cents.
This outfit and accessories were used between 1991 and 2005.
Felicity’s Purple Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Felicity’s Purple Meet Outfit includes a lavender taffeta gown with white vertical stripes and blue and red embroidered flowers, a white shift, a pair of off-white stockings, a pair of black colonial style shoes with brass buckles and a white satin hair ribbon.
Felicity’s Purple Accessories includes a lavender-ribbon mob cap, a lavender-floral choker, a red brocade purse with a drawstring, a pair of ribbon garters that tie around her stockings, a white cotton handkerchief with a lace edge, a reproduction colonial bit worth 12.5 cents.
This outfit and accessories were used between 2005 and 2011 until she was archived.
Felicity’s BeForever Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Felicity’s BeForever Meet Outfit includes a traditional floral patterned blue-and-yellow dress with a scoop neck, short sleeves with ribbon detail, bustling in the back and an attached contrast petticoat, white knee-high stockings and sturdy brown shoes with golden decorative buckles.
Felicity’s BeForever Accessories include a hat with ribbon trim, a mob cap to wear under her hat, a fischu to protect her neck from the sun and a pretty coral beaded necklace.
This outfit and accessories were used between 2017 and 2019 until she was archived again.
Josefina Montoya
Josefina’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Josefina’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a white camisa with short puffed sleeves edged with lace, a colorful red skirt with a black floral print and a white lace hem, a woven brown sash that ties in the back, a pair of white knee-length cotton drawers, a blue hair ribbon to tie around the end of her braid, a sprig of three pretend yellow primrose she wears in her hair and a pair of faux-leather lace-up moccasins.
Josefina’s Classic Accessories include a rebozo, which is a woven shawl she can wear to cover herself from the sun, to carry items, or to wrap around her body, a metal pendant necklace with a faux garnet gemstone, a white hanky with an embroidered flower and a faux metal jola coin.
This outfit and accessories were used between 1997 and 2014.
Josefina’s BeForever Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Josefina’s BeForever Meet Outfit includes a white camisa edged with lace, a colorful print skirt, a blue woven belt, white drawers, faux-leather moccasins and a little pretend sprig of yellow primroses tied with a blue ribbon in her hair.
Josefina’s BeForever Accessories includes a long, fringed rebozo, or wrap, to shade her face from the sun when it’s hot or drape over her shoulders when it gets chilly, a faux-garnet pendant brought to her all the way from Mexico City, a faux-leather pouch with working button closure, an embroidered hankie and a reproduction metal jola coin.
This meet outfit and accessories were introduced in 2014 and are currently being used today.
Addy Walker
Addy’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Addy’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a cinnamon-pink dress with wavy white stripes and buttons down the front, a pair of white cotton drawers trimmed with lace, a straw bonnet with a calico print blue ribbon, a blue hair ribbon that comes tied around her braid, a pair of black stockings that go up to her knees and a pair of black lace-up boots.
Addy’s Classic Accessories include A printed kerchief she uses to hold her belongings a pretend water gourd, a faux cowrie shell necklace brought from Africa by her great-grandmother and a reproduction half dime.
This meet outfit and accessories were used from 1993 and 2014.
Addy’s BeForever Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Addy’s BeForever Meet Outfit includes a royal-blue print dress trimmed with black ribbon, with bows atop short bell sleeves, lacy white pantalettes, white stockings and two blue ribbons for her hair.
Addy’s BeForever Accessories includes a bonnet with a black-and-white gingham ribbon, a patchwork-print bag and a faux cowrie shell necklace brought from Africa by her great-grandmother.
This meet outfit and accessories were introduced in 2014 and are currently being used today.
Samantha Parkington
Samantha’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Samantha’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a checked taffeta dress with a pleated front, puff sleeves, and a ribbon belt with a buckle at the waist, a pair of white cotton bloomers with an elastic waist, a pair of black rib-knit tights, a pair of black Mary Jane shoes and a wide hairbow made of the same taffeta as her dress.
Samantha’s Classic Accessories include a plush burgundy hat trimmed with ribbon, a pink velvet purse with a gold clasp and chain, a white lace-trimmed hankie embroidered with flowers, a golden metal bow-shaped brooch with a heart pendant that she keeps a picture of her mother and father in and a reproduction penny from her time.
This outfit and accessories were used between 1986 and 2009 until she was archived.
Samantha’s BeForever Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Samantha’s BeForever Meet Outfit includes a petal-pink dress with a layer of sheer dotted mesh on top, a lace hem and collar, short puff sleeves and a burgundy velvet sash, white tights, white bloomers, black Mary Jane shoes and a burgundy ribbon for her hair.
Samantha’s BeForever Accessories include a golden locket necklace, a lace headband featuring a pretty flower with pearly accents at the center and a velvet burgundy purse on a golden chain.
This outfit and accessories were introduced in 2014 and are currently being used today.
Rebecca Rubin
Rebecca’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Rebecca’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a red tweed drop waist dress with a black velvet collar, cuffs and belt loops and gold button trims, black stockings, off-white and black high button shoes, white bloomers and an oval gold hair clip.
Rebecca’s Classic Accessories include a black velveteen soft hat with gold and red silk ribbon in a bow, a multicolored fringed shawl and a brooch with a rabbit and flowers that belonged to her Bubbie who brought it with her on her journey to America.
This meet outfit and accessories were used between 2009 and 2014.
Rebecca’s Historical Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Rebecca’s Historical Meet Outfit includes a white dress with a pleated plum herringbone skirt, a pretty purple boucle jacket with faux-pearl buttons, black tights, cute white bloomers, matching shows with faux-pearl buttons and a shiny golden barrette.
Rebecca’s Historical Accessories include a hat with a rushed crown, velvet ribbon trim and a ribbon, a velveteen purse, a necklace with a stone pendant, a woven shawl with a traditional floral design and fringe that Rebecca’s family brought from Russia and a printed movie magazine with articles, advertisements and photos of movie stars.
This meet outfit and accessories were introduced in 2014 and are currently being used today.
Kit Kittredge
Kit’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Kit’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a lavender knit sweater and cardigan with pearl buttons, a floral print linen pleated skirt, white bloomers, ivory-colored canvas t-strap sandals and a jade green barrette with two open diamond shapes.
Kit’s Classic Accessories include a white crocheted cloche hat with a green band around the brim with a bow on the right side, a woven clutch purse with embroidered flowers, a compass necklace and a reproduction nickel.
This meet outfit and accessories were used between 2000 and 2014.
Kit’s BeForever Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Kit’s BeForever Meet Outfit includes a bright sleeveless dress with a Peter Pan collar, flower-shaped buttons and a skirt with a vivid floral print, a red barrette, white bloomers and a scarlet shoe.
Kit’s BeForever Accessories include a pretty cuff bracelet, a felt cloche hat trimmed with a wide red ribbon and a purse with embroidered flowers.
This outfit and accessories were introduced in 2014 and are currently being used.
Molly McIntire
Molly’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Molly’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a navy-blue wool skirt that reaches her knees, a navy-blue knit sweater with a blue, red, and green argyle pattern on the front, a dickey with a white woven collar and rickrack trim that Molly wears under her sweater in place of a full shirt, a pair of white bloomers with an elastic waist, a pair of white ankle socks, a pair of black Mary Jane shoes, two red hairbows and a pair of round-frame silver metal glasses with a red felt glasses case.
Molly’s Classic Accessories include a navy blue felt beret, a shiny red purse with a shoulder strap, a woven white hankie with her name embroidered on it in red, a silver heart necklace that she keeps a picture of her father in and a reproduction steel penny in a paper envelope.
This meet outfit and accessories were used between 1986 and 2013 when Molly was archived.
Molly’s BeForever Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Molly’s BeForever Meet Outfit includes a blue cardigan, a coordinating navy, red and white plaid skirt, brown round glasses, white socks, two red satin ribbons, underwear and red saddle shoes.
Molly’s BeForever Accessories include a red wool beret, a red purse, a silver heart-shaped locket and two dollar bills.
This meet outfit and accessories were introduced in 2018 and 2019 when Molly was archived again.
Julie Albright
Julie’s Classic Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Julie’s Classic Meet Outfit includes a multicolored striped long-sleeved turtleneck, a white, loosely worn peasant-style yoked blouse with blue and bronze embroidered on the front, two-toned bell-bottom jeans, a braided leather belt with pony beads knotted onto the ends, a pair of tan-colored sandals and pink underwear.
Julie’s Classic Accessories include a purple crocheted beanie-style cap with a flower design, a faux-suede shoulder bag purse with a flower stamp on the front, a gold chain necklace with “Julie” written in script and a replica of a Bicentennial quarter.
This meet outfit and accessories were used between 2007 and 2014.
Julie’s Historical Meet Outfit and Accessories:
Julie’s Historical Meet Outfit includes a lemon-yellow crocheted vest, a tank top with a groovy peace-sign graphic, bell-bottom jeans with funky floral insets on each leg, platform sandals and underwear.
Julie’s Historical Accessories include a fun tie-dyed bag to hold her things, a braided headband with a groovy flower, purple-framed sunglasses, a shiny golden metal “Julie” necklace, a petition for Julie to join the boy's basketball team and a pretend purple wooden pencil for people to sign, a clipboard to hold the petition with daisy and smiley-face stickers.
This meet outfit and accessories were introduced in 2014 and are currently being used.