Meet Blake Changnon
AUTHOR: Blake Changnon
Hi, I’m Blake Changnon, and I am the founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles, a digital museum dedicated to showcasing my collection of Pleasant Company and American Girl books, dolls, products, papers, and collectibles.
My passion for Pleasant Company and American Girl began in my childhood. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I found comfort and healing in the stories of the American Girl characters. Their journeys helped me process my own traumatic experiences in ways I couldn’t have articulated at the time. Through The American Girls Collection, I connected deeply with Kirsten, Addy, and Samantha, each of whom faced difficult obstacles and found strength to overcome them. Kirsten taught me bravery. Addy showed me the power of hope. Samantha demonstrated generosity. These traits not only helped me face my childhood trauma, but have also guided me through many of life’s challenges, including being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teenager and navigating a divorce.
While my earliest connections were with Kirsten, Addy, and Samantha, I’ve come to feel deeply connected to all the American Girl characters. Their stories continue to teach me about empathy, resilience, friendship, and the courage to stand up for what’s right. Even now, they shape how I see the world and help me face new challenges with strength and perspective.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I launched The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles as a way to safely share my growing collection with friends and family. What began as a fun side project quickly grew into something much more meaningful. It became a space where fans from all over could revisit the characters of their childhood and connect with one another through our shared love of Pleasant Company and American Girl.
Since then, I’ve curated several virtual exhibits, including “American Girl: 35 Years of Strong Characters,” celebrating the company’s anniversary through the lens of its inspiring historical figures; “Childhood Nostalgia: A Collection of Pleasant Company and American Girl Catalogues;” and “Addy Walker: Why She Matters,” which honored the 30th anniversary of Addy, American Girl’s first African American character, with a nearly complete collection of her related items and materials.
Creating these exhibits has not only brought fans together from across the country, it’s brought me closer to the women whose stories saved my life: Janet Shaw, Connie Porter, and Valerie Tripp. They are now cherished friends. Meeting them in person was a dream come true, and gave me the opportunity to express just how much their writing meant—and still means—to me. These experiences have helped cement my reputation as a Pleasant Company and American Girl historian.
This lifelong passion has opened doors I never imagined. I’ve had the honor of being featured in the upcoming documentary All American Girls, produced by Participant and Conduit Films. My museum and I have also been quoted in HuffPost and CBS News, and featured on the American Girl Women podcast. Scholars have begun citing the museum in dissertations and anthology books. I’ve also had the chance to present at academic conferences such as the Northeast Popular Culture Association conference, the Black Doll Symposium at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, and the “Oh, You Beautiful Doll” conference at the University of Pittsburgh.
Outside of my work with the museum, I’m a marketing and communications professional based in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, with experience across media, nonprofit, and government sectors. I credit much of my success in this field to Pleasant Rowland herself. Her visionary marketing approach in launching Pleasant Company continues to inspire me. Any time I face a professional challenge, I ask myself: What would Pleasant Rowland do? That question has guided me through countless campaigns and communications projects, and I believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without her influence.