American Girl was founded in 1986 by Pleasant T. Rowland. Rowland was a writer and retired teacher from Chicago, Illinois. After an inspiring visit to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, she was motivated to start an educational business for girls. She founded The Pleasant Company, releasing American Girl dolls through direct mail in the first year. The dolls were a major success, and Mattel, Inc. purchased the company in 1998.

The first dolls were Kirsten Larson, Samantha Parkington, and Molly McIntire. Of these, only Samantha remains in production. Kirsten and Molly were retired in 2010 and 2014, respectively. Originals can be quite valuable in the marketplace. The 1986 doll line retailed for $65 for the doll alone. It retailed for $75 if accompanied by a hardcover book.

All American Girl characters have backgrounds that promote inclusion, excellence, and education. They include orphans, pioneers, immigrants, prodigies, professionals, and disabled persons.

American Girl opened unconventional flagship stores in Chicago and New York. They included a salon where dolls could have their hair styled and a wellness center where dolls could be repaired. Dolls received a hospital gown and wristband at the wellness center during their stay. Flagship stores also featured a cafe with table settings in a 1:3 scale to accommodate the dolls.

After being purchased by Mattel Inc., American Girl kept the same education model while implementing many contemporary revisions. In addition, new lines were introduced, including WellieWishers™ and World By Us™. The WellieWishers series was whimsical, and the World By Us series featured fashion-forward dolls.

What is the Value of your American Girl Dolls? V​iew more in our American Girl Dolls Price Guide.

Dolls were made using different molds, skin shades, hair colors, and outfits. Each doll had a personal history and a first and last name. Their interests and backgrounds were mentioned on the packaging or in a book series. Separate toy sets were available for each character, including accessories and pets.

American Girl dolls have plush torsos and plastic limbs. They come fully dressed. There have been few changes in design, except for a short period. In 2017, American Girl released a line of dolls with permanent underwear. This change led to backlash from consumers. The company swiftly returned to the original design after selling the altered stock.

Dolls are grouped into categories. The first, “Historical Characters,” is a series of dolls highlighting American history. This series features dolls from various ethnic groups relative to the nation’s founding. 

Kaya’aton’my is part of this series and is the only Native American doll in the line. She features thick black hair in braids and a tribal outfit in faux deerskin. The doll had its own face mold until 2017 when the mold was used for Logan Everett. Logan was the first male doll in the catalog. 

Cecile Rey and Marie-Grace Gardner were released as a pair initially. Cecile’s retirement in 2014 was notable, as she was one of two African American dolls in the heritage series. The other was Addy Walker, American Girl’s first black doll. Addy featured a unique mold and courser hair. She is popular in the collectible market and was only available online and in flagship stores.

Ivy Ling was the first and only Asian doll in the Historical series and featured the Jess mold. Ivy was an Asian-American gymnast from the 1970s.

Samantha Parkington is the most collectible doll in the series. She was the face of the brand and one of the original three dolls. Though her story continues with various special editions, originals are rare.

The Girl of the Year™ series was unique, modern, and featured different ethnicities. Popular dolls in this series include Isabelle Palmer and Teeney Grant. Girl of the Year dolls are highly collectible because each line was produced for only a year. 

Contemporary dolls had backstories that focused on inclusion rather than history. For example, Kira Bailey was the first to feature LGBT representation through her lesbian aunts. In addition, Joss Kendrick was partially deaf, Gabriela McBride had a stutter, and Gwen Thompson was homeless.

The Bitty Baby series is American Girl’s baby doll. There are both male and female babies in various skin tones. They are clothed and come with a bottle. Other accessories are sold separately, including feeding supplies. They are marketed to early learners and not as collectible as 18” dolls.

Find the Value of your American Girl Dolls. WorthPoint is the largest resource online for identifying, researching and valuing antiques. Explore over 425 Million “sold for” prices with item details and images.

Identify your American Girl Doll Marks.

In the WorthPoint Library

Modern Collectible Dolls by Patsy Moyer.

Books and Periodicals

American Girl: The Story of America by Tori Kosara and Rona Skene. 

Web Resources

American Girl Dolls Inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame www.museumofplay.com.

Our Story www.americangirl.com. 

The Enduring Nostalgia of American Girl Dolls www.smithsonianmag.com. 

Related Dictionary Pages: Advertising Dolls, Artist Dolls, American Doll and Toy Corporation Whimsie Doll.