160514-01 Pair of Large 20" Skookum Dolls
c. 1930
20" tall
Male and Female in excellent condtion.
The history of Skookum dolls starts with Mary McAboy filing two applications for patents for a doll or toy figure on November 29, 1913. The patents were granted on February 17, 1914. One of the applications was for a male and the other a female and in three styles - a male doll, a female doll, a female doll with a baby.
The dolls started to become so popular that Mary McAboy partnered with H.H. Tammen Co. of Denver, Colorado in 1920 to keep up with the demand. She stayed on and was the head of the Skookum Assembly Division. The look of the doll stayed the same but some of the materials used to make them changed and plastic and some other materials were used. They were factory made dolls from the 1920's - 1960's that resembled Native American people and were usually sold in tourist spots
Skookum dolls came in a variety of sizes and styles to represent various tribes, customs and dress. From 2" souvenir mailers to 3 foot store displays.