The Girls Inc. Controversy

A few years ago American Girl started selling their "I Can" band. All of the proceeds from the sales of the hair band, wristband, whatever you want to call it were promised to go to a company called Girls Inc. Well it turns out the Girls Inc supports things like abortion and homosexuality. Many people began to boycott American Girl by having the daughter's sell all of their American Girl toys and things like that . Eventually, people were so mad about the sale of the "I Can" band, that American Girl stopped selling them.

American Girl Collecting Website

A man named Curt Danhauser has a website about American Girl Collecting. On his website you can see all of the current items for sale, as well as all retired items. Also, you can usually find out things about American Girl (i.e. upcoming movies, next Girl of the Year doll,etc.) before it actually gets published on the AG website.

Visit www.curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting for an inside look at AG doll collecting.

American Girl Part 3

At the end of 2001, American Girl introduced their Girl of the Year doll. Lindsey was the first doll American Girl released. She was a modern day doll, as all of the Girl of the Year dolls are. Lindsey was available until the end of 2002. Kailey was the second doll and she was introduced in summer 2003. Kailey was available until July 2004. Marisol was the third doll. She came out in December of 2004. She became retired early at the end of 2005 due to the sell out of her items. The most recently retired doll was, Jess. She was introduced at the end of 2005. She became sold out on December 30, 2006.

Nicki is the doll that is currently for sale. She was introduced January 1, 2007. As of now Nicki has four outfits, two animals (horse and dog), several accessory sets, and her paperback book.

Lindsey, Kailey, Marisol, and Jess are all retired. You cannot purchase the dolls or any of their accessories. (All the books about the dolls are still available. As for the accessories, Jess still has a few things for sale from American Girl. ) Most retired items can be found on Ebay.

Picture credits: Nicki doll and paperback book courtesy of www.curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting. Thank you!!!

American Girl Part 2

To continue on American Girl, let's start with their line of 18 inch dolls set in modern times. In 1995, American Girl released a new collection of dolls. They were look-alike dolls called "American Girls of Today." Originally, the collection started with 20 dolls. As of now there are 25 dolls currently for sale. Three other dolls have been marketed and then retired. You can also purchase many different outfits, accessories, and furniture for the dolls. Unlike the historical dolls, the dolls come unnamed with no specific outfit for certain dolls. Also just recently, this line of dolls was renamed "Just Like You".

Visit www.americangirl.com for more info.

Original Dolls

Here are the three original dolls, Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly.

Visit www.americangirl.com for more info.

American Girl

In 1986 a woman named Pleasant Rowland founded Pleasant Company. Her company produced and sold three eighteen inch historical dolls. They were called Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly. Their time periods were 1904, 1854, and 1944 respectively. Along with the dolls, Pleasant Company also sold historically correct outfits and accessories to accompany each doll. Also produced were books that depicted stories about each character. In 1991 Pleasant Company introduced Felicity, their fourth doll. She was set in 1774 and her collection also included extra outfits and accessories. Addy, a doll that was set in 1864, was added in 1993. Josefina, depicted in 1824, was added in 1997. In 2000, Kit was added to the collection. She is a Depression era doll set in 1934. In 2002, Kaya was launched. She is a Native American girl set in 1764.

In 2004, Samantha's best friend Nellie was added along with American Girl's first movie, Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. Felicity's friend, Elizabeth, was added in 2005. American Girl also made another movie, Felicity:An American Girl Adventure. Just this past Christmas, Emily, friend to Molly, was added along with the latest movie, Molly: An American Girl on the Homefront, which was set in 1944.

At some point Pleasant Company officially switched its name to American Girl. This is also the reason that older dolls are marked with "Pleasant Company" on the neck, while newer ones say "American Girl".

I will try to post more about American Girl soon.

Visit www.americangirl.com for more info.

American Girl vs. A Life of Faith

Sorry it has taken me forever to post on here again. I am planing to do a series of articles on the American Girl company and the A Life of Faith company. Both companies sell dolls for girls. American Girl dolls are 18 inches tall. A Life of Faith dolls are 18 3/4 inches tall. Both companies also sell books about their dolls.

Please look for future posts about these companies, there differences and why to chose one or the other.