Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles

❤️

A note from our president, CEO and founder, Blake Changnon: 🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July from Molly and Blake! 🇺🇸 As many of you know, in April 2024, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit New York with Sydney (@5hensandacockatiel) and Ashely (@dresslikeyourdoll) for a magical American Girl adventure! My favorite part of the trip was visiting Mt. Kisco, New York. Mt. Kisco has a special connection to American Girl for a few reasons. First and foremost, my wonderful friend and author of several American Girl Historical Characters, Valerie Tripp, grew up in this beautiful and quaint town. The community is so welcoming and friendly that we had so much fun exploring. Secondly, as Valerie was helping her good friend, Pleasant T. Rowland, founder of American Girl, develop the first three Historical Characters, she envisioned the Carpenter house, as Samantha’s grandmother’s home. Valerie shared that she walked by that home daily when she attended school as a child and loved its beauty. To all American Girl fans, the home will always be known as Grandmary’s Home. In addition to taking photos in front of Grandmary’s home with Samantha, we also visited Valerie Tripp’s childhood home and took pictures in front of it with Molly! Ashely even dressed as Molly! Check out these beautiful photos that Sydney took for me. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do. Stay tuned for a few more photos from this unforgettable trip! 📸: @5hensandacockatiel

Today on Juneteenth, we celebrate freedom, resilience and the enduring strength of the Black community. Let us honor those who came before us, and continue to stand together in the fight for justice and unity. Learn more about Juneteenth with @NMAAHC: https://lnkd.in/e_NqNNBb

We end our “Pleasant Dreams, Addy” display with a “Looking Back.” We hope you enjoy! ___ Looking Back: Living Situations for African Americans During and After the Civil War By: Leah Jenkins, Assistant Researcher African American’s living situations during the Civil War were varied. In the north, free Blacks lived in cities or their neighborhoods outside of commercial and residential areas. Meanwhile, enslaved housing in the South was determined by a multitude of factors. Enslaved quarters were determined by whether it was an urban or rural setting, the size of the plantation, and the dwelling’s proximity to the enslavers’ homes. Enslaved quarters were no longer the barracks of the 1600s as enslaved individuals were an economic investment, and losing one meant a major monetary loss. Family structures determined enslaved housing as families were kept together, and the closer to the master’s house, the better the furnishing. The end of the Civil War and the Emancipation of enslaved individuals created major shifts in African American living situations. Too poor and uneducated, many former enslaved individuals were unable to leave the South. With few options, some freedmen were forced to work for the people who formerly held them in bondage. Sharecropping allowed a tenant to use a landlord’s land in exchange for a share of the crop. Landlords leased farm equipment, seeds, fertilizer and housing on high-interest credit to be paid back by the yearly harvests. Ultimately, former masters conserved the slavery system as tenants were left indebted to landlords. Those able to leave the South joined large migrations out West. Inspired by President Abraham Lincoln’s promise of “40 acres and a mule,” Exodusters moved west in hopes of economic prosperity. African Americans’ living situations continued to be defined with the introduction of Jim Crow laws. Zoning laws segregated African Americans into their blocks and neighborhoods away from white-dominant spaces. Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/ebDisRrn

Did you have Addy’s African Dance Outfit of Today in your collection? ___ Classic Addy’s African Dance Outfit of Today “Addy would be proud to see girls today dancing to traditional African music. Your doll can dance to the beat in her leotard and vibrant skirt inspired by African kente (KEN-tay) cloth. Help her put on her headband, a golden cuff bracelet, and a choker and ankle bracelet made with pretend cowrie shells. Includes an anklet for you, and trading cards.” (American Girl Catalogue, Holiday 2004) Credits: Classic Addy’s African Dance Outfit of Today | 2005 | American Girl, LLC., U.S. | Object ID: 1864AC26 Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/epFBczDk

Did you have this version of Addy’s hairstyling set? ___ BeForever Addy's Hairstyling Set “Your [child] can create a fancy hairstyle for Addy with this set! It includes: -A snood that fits perfectly over her hair. -A blue cameo & bow. -A double-braid hairpiece for the finishing touch.” (American Girl Catalogue, January 2015) Credits: BeForever Addy’s Hairstyling Set | 2014 | American Girl, LLC., U.S. | Object ID: 1864AA16 Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/eQmNJMWe

Addy’s bedroom accessories are adorable! ____ BeForever Addy's Bedroom Accessories “Addy's Bedroom Accessories- When it’s time for Addy to settle down to sleep, she can’t do without her favorite things: -A brass-toned lantern that Addy can really hold—it lights up at the turn of the wick knob. -Her bedtime book, Mother Goose in Hieroglyphics, which is full of rebuses: puzzles made up of words and symbols. -Her beloved Ida Bean rag doll, made by Momma with love.” (American Girl Catalogue, March 2015) Credits: BeForever Addy’s Bedroom Accessories | 2015 | American Girl, LLC., U.S. | Object ID: 1864AA08 Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/ej9ViCxZ

We love the shade of blue in Addy’s nightgown! ___ BeForever Addy's Nightgown Credits: BeForever Addy’s Nightgown | 2015 | American Girl, LLC., U.S. | Object ID: 1864AC07 Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/etT2_kqE

Which version of Addy’s bed do you love? ___ BeForever Addy's Bed and Bedding “Once Addy and her family move into the boarding house, she has a bed of her own for the very first time. -A sturdy wooden bed frame -A checkered pillow trimmed in ruffles -A muslin mattress that’s supported by woven rope instead of bed springs, as was typical in Addy’s day” (American Girl Catalogue, Holiday 2015) Credits: BeForever Addy’s Bed and Bedding | 2015 | American Girl, LLC., U.S. | Object ID: 1864AF04 Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/e4AXbV_W

A note from our president, CEO and founder, Blake Changnon: Back in April, when I was in New York City with Sydney and Ashley (@5hensandacockatiel and @americangirlsrevue), I had the wonderful opportunity to meet the authors of The Care and Keeping of You Book 1 and Book 2, Valorie Lee Schaefer (@valorie_lee_schaefer) and Cara Natterson (@caranatterson), at American Girl Place New York City! Although I did not read the book when I was younger, meeting American Girl author royalty was an honor! Fun Fact: Valorie, who at the time was a copywriter for the American Girl catalogues, was handpicked by founder Pleasant T. Rowland to write the book!! Thanks to Sydney for taking these photos of Valorie, Cara and me! I will cherish these forever. More photos from our unforgettable trip are coming soon! 📸: @5hensandacockatiel