Dewees Cochran Dolls 1934-1970s

Dewees Cochran Dolls, Inc. 1934-1970s

Ella Dewees Cochran (1892-1991) began making portrait dolls of real children ca. 1934, which were popular with wealthy clients, shortly afterward Dewees moved to New York to create a more affordable, but quality doll. She then created six basic dolls in 1936, each with a different face shape and by changing the hair or eyes, could produce a portrait doll of most children. These were her Look- A-like dolls. Dewees also designed dolls for the Effanbee Doll Company in 1936, which are called American Children dolls.

During World War II doll production ceased, but after the war she formed the Dewees Cochran Doll, Inc. company. She contracted with the Molded Latex Company and produced the Cindy doll in 1947-1948. The final series of dolls were the Grow-Up dolls and small Baby dolls sized 5-9" tall (1950's).

Dewees retired in the 1960's and the company ceased doll production by the 1970's.

Early Portrait Dolls 1934 +

1934+ Portrait Doll, various sizes, carved wood heads, human hair wig, painted eyes, open or closed mouth, stuffed jointed silk body. Marked: Dewees Cochran under the arm or behind the ear.

Look-A-like Portrait Dolls 1936 + (six dolls)

1936+ Abigail, 17" tall, all latex, square face, jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted, closed slight smiling mouth.

1936+ Cynthia, 17" tall, all latex, oval face, jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted, open smiling mouth with teeth.

1936+ Deborah, 17" tall, all latex, heart shaped face, jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted, closed slight smiling mouth.

1936+ Jezebel, 17" tall, all latex, round face, jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted, closed slight pouting mouth.

1936+ Lisa, 17" tall, all latex, triangular face, jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted, closed slight smiling mouth.

1936+ Melanie, 17" tall, all latex, long thin shaped face, jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted, closed slight smiling mouth.

American Children 1936-1939 (for Effanbee)

1936-1939 American Children, six dolls were contracted by Effanbee to be produced for the 1936 Toy Show that were designed by Dewees Cochran, they are 17 or 20" tall, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, tin painted eyes or sleep eyes, closed or open mouth. Usually marked: Effanbee American Children or Effanbee Anne Shirley (when they used the Anne Shirley body) or unmarked.

1997 the U. S. Postal Service Stamp Commerative issued a reproduction vinyl doll based on the Dewees Cochran designed, American Children doll, of the 1930's Effanbee Dolls.

1936-1939 Barbara Ann, open mouth, 17 or 20" tall, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, tin painted or sleep eyes, marked: Effanbee/American Children or Effanbee/Anne Shirley or unmarked.

Photo N/A

1936-1939 Barbara Ann

1936-1939 Barbara Lou with honey blonde hair, open mouth, 17 or 20" tall, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, tin painted or sleep eyes, marked: Effanbee/American Children or Effanbee/Anne Shirley or unmarked.

Photo N/A

1936-1939 Barbara Lou

1936-1939 Barbara Joan, open mouth, 17 or 20" tall, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, tin painted or sleep eyes, marked: Effanbee/American Children or Effanbee/Anne Shirley or unmarked.

Photo N/A

1936-1939 Barbara Joan

1936-1939 Peggy Lou, open mouth, 17 or 20" tall, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, tin painted or sleep eyes, marked: Effanbee/American Children or Effanbee/Anne Shirley or unmarked.

Photo N/A

1936-1939 Peggy Lou

1936-1939 Gloria Ann with dark brown hair, 17 or 20" tall, closed mouth, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, sleep eyes, closed mouth. Marked: Effanbee/American Children or Effanbee/Anne Shirley or unmarked.

*reproduced by Effanbee & dressed by Robert Tonner in 2003 & 2004.

1936-1939 Gloria Ann, 17"

1936-1939 Ruth Ann with auburn hair, 17 or 20" tall, closed mouth, all composition socket head with jointed body, human hair wig, sleep eyes, closed mouth. Marked: Effanbee/American Children or Effanbee/Anne Shirley or unmarked.

* *reproduced by Effanbee & dressed by Robert Tonner in 2004.

2004 Ruth Ann, 21"

Effanbee Reproduction doll

1939 Boy doll (name unknown), 17" tall, was sold only one year, all composition socket head with jointed body, painted eyes and closed mouth, blonde human hair wig, he is unmarked.

1939 Boy Doll, 17"

Cindy 1947-1948 (Molded Latex Company produced doll)

Fewer than 1,000 of these dolls were produced when Cochran felt the company did not meet her high standards, so she backed out of production, however the Molded Latex Company continued to produce the few dolls unmarked anyway.

1947-1948 Cindy, 15" tall, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes, real lashes or painted, closed slightly smiling mouth, marked: a production #, Dewees Cochran in an oval. Reproduction doll is 14" tall.

1947-1948 Cindy, 15"

Photo courtesy of flozdolz

1947-1948 Cindy, 15"

Photo courtesy of flozdolz

Cindy, 14" reproduction

Grow-Up Doll Series 1952-1960

These series of doll progressed in age (and height) from 5, 7, 11, 16 and 20 over a five year period, so a child could "grow-up" with their doll. Dolls are signed with DC + the dolls initials and production number.

*Robert Tonner reproduced the three girl dolls in the late 1990's

1952 - 1960 Angela (Angel) Appleseed, 12 1/2, 15 1/2 or 18" tall, blonde hair, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted lashes, marked: DC AA #/#.

Angela shown is 15 1/5" tall and about 11 years of age.

1952 - 1960 Angela (Angel) Appleseed, 15 1/2"

1952 - 1960 Belinda (Bunnie) Bunyan, 12 1/2, 15 1/2 or 18" tall, brunette hair, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted lashes, marked: DC BB-54 #.

Belinda shown is about 7 years of age and is 12 1/2" tall.

1952 - 1960 Belinda (Bunnie) Bunyan,

12 1/2"

1952 to 1960 Susan (Stormie) Stormalong, 12 1/2, 15 1/2 or 18" tall, auburn hair, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted lashes, marked: DC SS-58 #.

Susan on left is about 7 years, 12 1/2" tall and on right she is about 11 years and 15 1/2" tall.

1952 to 1960 Susan (Stormie) Stormalong, 15 1/2"

1957-1960 Jeffery (Jeff) Jones, 12 1/2, 15 1/2 or 18" tall, brunette hair, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted lashes, marked: DC JJ-60 #.

Jeffery shown is about 7 years of age, 12 1/2" tall.

1957-1960 Jeffery (Jeff) Jones, 12 1/2"

1957-1960 Peter (Pete) Ponsett, 12 1/2, 15 1/2 or 18" tall, blonde hair, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes with real lashes or painted lashes, marked: DC PP-55 #.

Peter shown is about 7 years of age, 12 1/2" tall.

1957-1960 Peter Ponsett, 12 1/2"

Dewees Cochran Dolls, Inc. 1934-1970s

Items pictured here are for reference only - not for sale.

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