PROFILE OF A COLLECTOR
Debbie Britt

Debbie Britt is the married-for-30-years, mother of three.  She is raising two grandchildren and is the founder of the Black Doll E Daze project.  Debbie  was born and raised in Boston and is proud to be 50! 

To help us get to know her, we asked Debbie a series of questions.  Her answers are as follows:

 Q How long have you been collecting black dolls? 

I began collecting Black dolls as a child. My father would take our toys away if we did not put them where they belonged. When I moved into my first apartment, he gave me all of my childhood dolls in the box mint no less because three days after the holiday [in which they were originally received] they were everywhere they weren’t suppose to be. I saved all my dolls and gave them to my daughter when she turned seven.

Q What prompted you to begin collecting? 

I started collecting because of low self-esteem I originally collected trying to find a doll that I could relate to. My collecting became serious around 1993 when my nephew was experiencing low self-esteem and identity issues. I wanted to share with him the beauty of being Black and wanted to surround him with some of the more realistic looking dolls.

Q Did you own black dolls as a child?  If so, which ones?  

As a child, I owned a white baby Bye Lo. My mother couldn’t find any Black dolls that she thought truly represented our race and only allowed me to have that one doll.

I loved chatty Cathy as a child and my grandmother a seamstress made me many rag and soft sculptured dolls. I also owned hundreds of paper dolls that I cut out from the weekly newspaper.

Q Do you still own any of your childhood dolls? 

I still own that Bye Lo baby, a doll from Vietnam that was given to me by an uncle stationed there, and all of my daughters dolls from the early seventies.

Q Please share one or some of your fondest childhood doll memories? 

My fondest memory as a child was receiving a doll from Vietnam from an uncle who was stationed there. I received a letter three weeks prior to the doll's arrival. The day that she came I was waiting on the porch playing with a friend who owned about twenty Barbies. I told her how my uncle was marrying a Japanese woman and the doll was part of my heritage even though she didn’t look anything like me.

Q As an adult collector of Black dolls, what types of dolls do you prefer to collect and why?

I am not really committed to any one type of doll. I enjoy my porcelain dolls because of the realistic features. It took Byron Lars to get me to accept the beauty of Barbie and the WLBD [WeLoveBlackDolls] group to have the courage to research and purchase vintage dolls.

Q  What usually inspires you to purchase a doll?

I am usually inspired to purchase a doll if there is history attached to the doll.

Q Approximately how many Black dolls do you currently own?

Don’t tell anyone but at last count in 1999, I catalogued 700 dolls and averaged about 20 dolls per month. Since joining WLBD and finding eBay, I average about 40 dolls per month. I still enjoy my flea market and thrift store finds though. A good guess [of the total amount that I currently own] would be 1000 plus.

Q Where and how are your dolls displayed?  

My dolls can be found all over my home. However, Barbie has her own home, which is a 12 x 14 foot shed. I had it fully insulated, added carpeting and sheet rock on the walls with a cork ceiling. They seem to do very well there, and I have no problem with the dramatic changes in temperature. I also have a 20 x 24 foot room over the garage that currently stores my eBay finds. My bedroom has a major Raggedy Ann collection, and my spare bedroom houses all of my babies that have been tenderly used.

Q Do you keep your dolls NRFB (never removed from box) or do you remove them from their boxes? 

Most of my dolls have been RFB not because I am a stickler, but I just love to keep them from the elements of dust. Also it is important that I share my collection so I do not want to display them crunched in a box.

Q From which sources do you purchase dolls?  

I love the thrill of the hunt when purchasing my girls so I love the spring flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores However, I use eBay for most Black Americana.

Q  Do you consider yourself a 'seasoned' collector?  If so, what doll-collecting tips would you offer to beginning collectors? 

I do not consider myself a seasoned collector. I say purchase what you love. Most of my purchases have been at bargain prices. Like I said it is the thrill of the hunt for me. Money is the last thing I am concerned about when it comes to buying a doll. If I see something I will forgo an outfit or even a meal to get that baby home. So just buy what you love within reason.

Q  If you could own one doll today, which doll would it be and why?  

There really isn’t one doll that I feel I must have; however, I would like to make sure that my collection is complete with dolls from every era. So I would like to expand on my antique collection and purchase an original Leo Moss.

AS A FINAL COMMENT, DEBBIE ADDS:    It is important that as collectors we obtain as much information and history on Black dolls. As with most facets of Black history, documentation is not available. If we take on the hobby, we must also take on the responsibility of educating to insure that our children understand how we have evolved as a people.