Rachel Franklin Doll - Part 1

Rachel Franklin sits in the corner of my dining room on the ledge underneath my collection of family photos. Here she is!

Arta Johnson, my mother, was gifted the Rachel Franklin doll during a Johnson Family reunion. I didn't attend the reunion, and don't have too many details about this gift so would love for people to add what they know in the comments. What I did understand from Arta was that Aunt Nadine and my cousin Charlene (maybe with the help of other aunts and counsins) made a huge collections of hand-made dolls that were raffled off at a Johnson Family Reunion. Each doll was named after of one of our ancestors. The only doll that wasn't raffled off was this one--Rachel Franklin. It was gifted to Arta. I'd love to hear the back end story about this. I can only imagine why they chose this doll for Arta. In my mind it is because this doll is a one of a kind, like Arta. The doll is so unusual, quite spectacular. A doll not afraid to be herself. Check out the details of the handiwork below.

Don't you love the earrings, makeup, breasts and hands. Of course Arta added the rings to the fingers I love the mix of colors and patterns in the dolls clothing. Her earrings and hat of course have the flavour of a gypsy. The sash and rings of course are so over the top.

The tights, bloomers and boots are also very smart. Your can't easily see the bloomers and underskirt which are really fun. What I love most of all is the hidden envelope pinned to her bloomers. If you carefully open the envelope, you will find a one page history about Rachel Franklin. Rachel was our great great great grandmother on the side of Bessie Johnson. Rachel was born 14 December, 1817 in Clanfield, Oxfordshire, England. She married Thomas Hadlond. They had 11 children. She died in St. Louis, Missouri, on 29 March, 1879. She is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Read the letter for some family intrigue.

In a follow up post, I'll share the story of how this doll came to live at my house.