Dewees Cochran 1947-1948 Cindy doll, 15" 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 the Dewees Cochran Doll, Inc. company was formed. 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 in the 1950s. Ms. Dewees retired in the 1960s and the company ceased doll production by the 1970s.

F & B dolls 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | Patsy type | 1940s+ | Little Lady / Anne Shirley | 1950s | 1960s

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

*reproduced by Effanbee and dressed by Robert Tonner in 2003, 2004.

1936-1939 Gloria Ann doll 17" tall

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

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

2004 Ruth Ann doll 21" Effanbee Reproduction doll

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

1939 Boy Doll 17" tall

Dewees Cochran American Children Portrait dolls for Effanbee not shown

1936-1939 Effanbee American Portrait Dolls; Barbara Joan doll, 15" tall, also used to make the 1939 Ice Queen doll, Barbara Ann doll 17" tall, Barbara Lou doll 21" tall, all composition socket heads with jointed body, human hair wig, tin stationary or sleep eyes, open mouth, dolls marked: Effanbee American Children or Effanbee Anne Shirley or unmarked. Also, Betty Jane doll and Peggy Lou doll, size and details unknown at this time.

Dewees Cochran Cindy doll 1947-1948 (by Molded Latex Company)

Fewer than 1,000 of the Cindy 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 Dewees Cochran Cindy doll 15" tall, all latex jointed body, human hair wig, painted eyes, real lashes or painted, closed slightly smiling mouth, doll mark a production number, Dewees Cochran in an oval. Reproduction doll is 14" tall.

1947-1948 Cindy doll 15"

Photo courtesy of flozdolz

1947-1948 Cindy doll 15"

Photo courtesy of flozdolz

Cindy doll 14" reproduction

Dewees Cochran Grow-Up Doll Series Identified 1952-1960

This series of doll progressed in age (and height) from 5, 7, 11, 16 and 20 years of age, 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 doll 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, doll mark DC AA #/#.

Angela doll shown is 15 1/2" tall and about 11 years of age.

1952-1960 Angela (Angel) Appleseed doll 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, doll mark DC BB-54 #.

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

1952-1960 Belinda (Bunnie) Bunyan doll 12 1/2"

1952-1960 Susan (Stormie) Stormalong doll 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, doll mark DC SS-58 #.

Susan doll on left is about seven years and 12 1/2" tall and on right she is about eleven years and 15 1/2" tall.

1952-1960 Susan (Stormie) Stormalong doll 15 1/2"

1957-1960 Jeffery (Jeff) Jones doll, 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, doll mark DC JJ-60 #.

Jeffery doll shown is about seven years of age 12 1/2" tall.

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

1957-1960 Peter (Pete) Ponsett doll, 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, doll mark DC PP-55 #.

Peter doll shown is about seven years of age 12 1/2" tall.

1957-1960 Peter Ponsett doll 12 1/2"

F & B dolls 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | Patsy type | 1940s+ | Little Lady / Anne Shirley

DeWees Cochran Doll Resources:

Effanbee Dolls That Touch Your Heart 1912-1982 book in 1983 by Patricia R. Smith, Effanbee Dolls The Formative Years 1910-1929 book in 1984 and Patsy Doll Family Encyclopedia book, vol. I in 1992, vol. II in 1998 both by Patricia Schoonmaker, Composition Dolls books, vol. I (1928-1955) in 1991, vol. II (1909-1928) in 1994 both by Pam and Polly Judd, Collector’s Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls 1900-1950 books vol. I in 1999, vol. II in 2004 both by Ursula R. Mertz and continued research across the Internet since 1999 which we share with you.

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