The historical collection is mentioned as early as 1865 in the stockbridge library association records. The original hitty is now on display at the stockbridge library museum, in stockbridge. I have learned that some illustrations in the early printing editions of the hitty book were originally in full color. Hitty book covers pictures of the real hittys stuff in stockbridge. She is carved from a piece of mountain ash and now resides in. On loan from the stockbridge library in massachusetts, where she now makes her home, hitty is into her second hundred years the book tells of her first hundred years. Hitty, her first hundred years university of florida. The library houses the historical room, a museum and research center containing the original hitty doll and artifacts from the towns earliest inhabitants, the mahican indians. The stockbridge library, museum and archives museum.
Museum and cultural passes west stockbridge public library. In stockbridge library museum, ma original hitty see more. Hitty rachel in norman rockwells stockbridge, massachusetts. Mehitabel, the ancestor of modern hittys, was discovered in the window of an antique store in new york city, became the subject of an award winning book in 1929 hitty, her first hundred years. The original hitty, from rachel fields book hitty, her first hundred years, resides in stockbridge, massachusetts. This doll presently resides at the stockbridge library museum in stockbridge, massachusetts with the clothing and accessories bought for her by rachel field. As a testament to the characters charm and the books staying power, there are dozens of websites selling hitty dolls and accessories, swapping stories about collectors hitty dolls, or even holding hitty meetups. The lively side of its days and nights includes warm and casual literary gatherings, readings, art receptions, and living history programs.
May 07, 2014 hitty etta visited the library s small scale model of the hungarian settlement historical museum. Also, in the book, the family that hitty first stays with, and their house, in which she was carved, does actually exist, and rachel field knew of them. There are online groups devoted to the doll and her book. Shes there with all her belongings and clothing, provided by her owners. The pattern was created after a visit to the real hitty in stockbridge, ma, where she resides in the library museum.
Hitty currently resides at the stockbridge library museum, in stockbridge, massachusetts. The exceptionallypersonable doll inspired author rachel field and illustrator dorothy lathrop to create the newbery awardwinning childrens book, hitty, her first hundred years. Hitty explains why the doll we see in the stockbridge library has hitty stitched in red on her chemise, and how lonely and frightening her first adventure under the church pew was for her. Hitty doll collectors set includes hitty, sea chest and book. The collection is on semipermanent display in the historical room and is used for changing exhibitions in. Her first hundred years aloud to a child would be a wonderful way to share her story. The publication of hitty, her first 100 years, was announced to the world on november 3, 1929, in the pages of the new york herald tribune. Hittys home great cranberry island historical society. If you are interested in visiting the real hitty, prior to your visit please contact the stockbridge library to ensure that you will be able to view hitty. We have dozens of hitty and rachel field artifacts on display in our museum and in our archival collection. The doll that inspired rachel field to write hitty lives at the stockbridge library. Here is the original hitty at the stockbridge library museum in massachusetts. I was surprised and delighted when stories appeared in several doll reader magazine issues about the real doll, who now resides in the historical museum at. Become a member of historic new england to receive our award.
She can be visited by the public, and we recommend contacting the library before making your travel plans as it is easiest for the library staff if. The library is a charitable organization registered as a 501c3. The collection also includes personal papers and other books by rachel field, an original typescript of the book, and an illustration by dorothy lathrop. I did the hard partnow your hittys can reap the benefits. There are fan sites dedicated to hitty, some of which have tips for creating a doll very much like her. Historic new england fall 2014 by historic new england issuu. Hitty s whereabouts were a mystery for nearly half a century. The original hitty is now on display at the stockbridge library museum.
Original hitty hitty short for mehitabel is a tiny wooden doll found. The librarys holdings include over 275,000 volumes of books and journals, along with significant special collections of archives, manuscripts, photo archives and original natural history illustrations. Passes must be returned in the provided case in either of the two book returns. I was surprised and delighted when stories appeared in several doll reader magazine issues about the real doll, who now resides in the historical museum at the stockbridge, massachusetts library. Historic stockbridge library set for celebratory reopening. You can find out about our hitty doll collection here.
The original hitty doll now resides in the stockbridge library museum in. One of the oldest libraries in western massachusetts, the original structure, now the left wing, was built in 1864. The book purports to be the memoirs of hitty, short for hitabel, a 6inch doll who, during a quiet stay in an antique shop in new york city, records the adventures of her first 100 years of life. Hitty short for mehitabel is a tiny wooden doll found by author rachel field in a. The real hittys library dress pattern for hitty and other. This web site and other georgia public library service programs are partially assisted with funds from the library services and technology act through the institute of museum and library services.
This i did as quick as as a wink, in case he changed his mind. You may click here to read the appropriate uses list for the museum pictures, to determine if you need to ask. Each item in the set is numbered and the book is stamped with the stockbridge library seal. Photo gallery the stockbridge library, museum and archives stockbridge amid a whirlwind of finishing touches and unpacking of boxed book collections, director katie oneil conducted a grand tour of the historic stockbridge library on tuesday, four days before its celebratory reopening to the public. While retaining its historic character and charm, the 1864 library, last renovated in. Stockbridge library museum, stockbridge, massachusetts, us. The norman rockwell museum is in stockbridge and exhibits many of his wonderful paintings. Apr 24, 2014 when dorothy lathrop passed away in 1988, her family donated hitty to the stockbridge library museum in stockbridge, ma, where rachel field was originally from. When dorothy lathrop passed away in 1988, her family donated hitty to the stockbridge library museum in stockbridge, ma, where rachel field was originally from.
The address there is stockbridge library association, main street, stockbridge, ma 01262, and the phone number is. This set was drawn by julie old crow here at the workshophope you enjoy it. This doll presently resides at the stockbridge library museum in stockbridge. The real hitty and yes, she does exist photo above by bill fifer was found after having gone missing on one of her adventures. Dec 06, 2015 the original hitty, from rachel fields book hitty, her first hundred years, resides in stockbridge, massachusetts. Stockbridge public library, built in 1898, is one of edinburghs 28 freely accessible libraries, located in the stockbridge area of the city the library is currently open six days a week and, in addition to the collection of books, provides bookbug sessions for the underfives, a knitting club and acts as one of the citys business hubs.
Judy says, at the time i began carving hitty, i supposed the doll was a product of rachel fields imagination. The real hittys library dress pattern for hitty and other etsy. Portrait of the original hitty, doll now in stockbridge library museum. It profiles some of them, shows the real hitty, who now lives in the library museum in stockbridge, ma, and is generally entertaining as well as informative. The original hitty doll was carved from mountain ash wood, about 6. Stockbridge library museum 46 main st stockbridge ma 01262. The original hitty resides in comfort at the stockbridge library museum, in massachusetts. The original hitty is now on display at the stockbridge library museum, in stockbridge, massachusetts.
A famous doll hitty at stockbridge library museum victorian dolls, vintage. See more hitty short for mehitabel is a tiny wooden doll found by author rachel field in a new york city antique shop in the winter of. Mar 27, 2019 after all, hitty was purchased by rachel field and dorothy lathrop from an antique shop in new york in the 1920s. The more recent editions, like my library copy, only have black and white pictures. Stockbridge public library, built in 1898, is one of edinburghs 28 freely accessible libraries, located in the stockbridge area of the city. Davenport archive, uncovering the history of floorcloths, and portraits of mainers at work. Since its release in 1929, the book has charmed generations of hitty lovers. The book purports to be the memoirs of hitty, short for hitabel, a 6inch doll who, during a quiet stay in an antique shop in. Rachels friend, dorothy lathrop, illustrated the book.
In 2005 tasha tudors spirit of the holidays was on exhibit at the norman rockwell museum. Her first hundred years by rachel field hitty is on display at the stockbridge library museum. Many of us read the book as children, while others discover the book through their. You can see the original hitty doll at the stockbridge, ma library museum. Meet hitty etta, my little wooden travel doll by robert raikes. During the 1920s, author rachel field and illustrator dorothy lathrop became enchanted with a small doll that they found in a new york city antique shop. Doing some reading after i finished the book, i was amazed to see how many people like it, and was also surprised to learn that the original hitty doll is housed in the stockbridge library museum in stockbridge ma, not far from where i used to live. I know that hitty wouldnt have existed if it werent for the old peddler, even though he was only with her a short time. Jul 16, 2014 portrait of the original hitty, doll now in stockbridge library museum, ma.
The library is currently open six days a week and, in addition to the collection of books, provides bookbug sessions for the underfives, a. This video shows how the book has expanded into a culture of people who now carve wooden replicas of hitty. Hittys whereabouts were a mystery for nearly half a century. Real life museums in childrens books playing by the book. Here is the original hitty at the stockbridge library museum in. This doll is now at the stockbridge library museum in stockbridge, massachusetts. To promote the west stockbridge public library and the friends of the west stockbridge library. If you are ever in massachusetts, you can actually visit the original hitty doll in person at the library. Stockbridge library museum 46 main st stockbridge, ma. Apply to librarian, archivist, director of human resources and more. The marie louise rosenthal librarys collections are an indispensable resource for the museums research, exhibit development and educational programs. Join us for a delightful conference to celebrate rachel fields newbery awardwinning book, hitty, her first hundred years, and the doll that inspired it. The exceptionallypersonable doll inspired author rachel field and illustrator dorothy lathrop to create the newbery awardwinning childrens book, hitty, her.
Hitty rose has three of the real hittys outfits, as seen at the stockbridge library. Hitty, her first hundred years jestresss forgotten. Portrait of the original hitty, doll now in stockbridge. New information on a beloved book about a doll original hitty hitty short for mehitabel is a tiny wooden doll found by author rachel field in a new york city antique shop in the winter of 1927. She can be visited by the public, and we recommend contacting the library before making your travel plans as it is easiest for the library staff if patrons visit hitty when the curator is there. One of the women was rachel field and she wrote the newbury awardwinning book, hitty. Ooak paperdoll set hitty rose wears the real hittys etsy. About stockbridge stockbridge is a small town in western massachusetts. This 2page set includes hitty rose plus three outfits one featuring her holding her sweetgrass basket and one her mini doll. It profiles some of them, shows the real hitty, who now lives in the library museum in stockbridge, ma, and is. Their book, hitty, her first hundred years won a newberry award in 1929 and is still widely read today. This pattern set contains complete instructions for the real hittys original dress, often called the library dress. Mar 29, 20 as a testament to the characters charm and the books staying power, there are dozens of websites selling hitty dolls and accessories, swapping stories about collectors hitty dolls, or even holding hitty meetups. Their book, hitty, her first hundred years won a newberry award in 1929 and is.
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