Dolls - from a simple rag doll that went over to the USA on the Mayflower to Barbie - have captured hearts for centuries. Thrifty people have always made dolls for their children.Through the decades, early homemade dolls with painted faces gave way to commercial cut-and-sew versions. Advertisers jumped in with dolls printed on flour sacks and fabric panels, which became precious possessions of little girls during the dark days of the Great Depression and World War II.You'll find history and photographs of more than 250 dolls, fabric panels and doll ephemera inside, many rarely seen items, carefully collected and documented by historian Gloria Nixon. Enjoy the stories behind these beloved rag darlings.