Rag Dolls by Mary Raney
This set of two rag dolls was made by Willits resident Mary Josephine Marques Guehennec Raney. Both dolls feature hand-painted faces, yarn hair, and carefully tailored outfits.
Mary made stuffed animals as a way to supplement her family's income while living in Oakland during World War II. Her stuffed animals were so popular she even received orders from Woolworths. After the war Mary moved back to Willits where she continued to make stuffed animals and rag dolls for local children and charity events. She used her own patterns and created bespoke clothes for each doll. Her skills her notoriety and she became know as the "Willits Doll Lady."
Dusty Whitney's Buster Brown Doll
This Buster Brown doll was once owned by Dusty Whitney, it was donated to the Mendocino County Museum in 2018.Buster Brown was a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault. Buster's likeness appeared on a variety of items, including toys and games, socks, cigars and alcoholic drinks, the name was even used to describe a popular style of suit for young boys. However, the Buster Brown doll owned by Whitney has been dressed as an train engineer as homage to the iconic Mendocino County "Skunk Train." His outfit is made complete with a cap and several patches and pins. This doll is great example of using a toy manufactured on a large scale to reflect a specific place and time through personalization.
Oly the Finnish String Doll
This handmade doll was owned by Joyce West who lived with her grandparents in Willits as a girl. According to Joyce's husband the doll was referred to as "the string doll" and his name was "Oly" just like the nickname of the maker, Johannes G. Frones, a resident at the Mendocino State Hospital who worked with her grandfather. The doll and several sets of clothing including a sailor outfit, lounging pajamas and a logger outfit were made as a gift for Joyce. The detailed embroidery reflects a Scandinavian motif. An embroidered handkerchief was included with the gift and is signed Johannes G. Frones -Finland -1929. A poetic embroidered note has been roughly transcribed and is believed to say, "1929 from youth in my old age." "from Blomstringar ot si pa min aldir Domisar" The transcriber believed that the note reflected the author was an elderly person who had not lived in their home county for many years.
Joyce said the maker "had been a sailor" at some point in his life. The doll, clothes, and accessories are clever in their design and the craftsmanship and attention to detail is extraordinary. The suspenders fasten carefully to small buttons on the pants. The pockets are functioning and even the belt and pants have working clasps and buttons and ties. The "Oly" doll has his own set of hats, pillows, boots, shoes and other accessories,
Some more dolls from our collection
