Publisher's Synopsis
In 1951, the National Museum was made a gift of the Bradford DollÆs House, built on a scale of one inch to one foot. Within itÆs 23 rooms you can see 1,354 miniature specimens including furniture, linens, toys, and other household items. And you can meet Mr. and Mrs. Peter Doll, their 10 children, two visiting grandparents, five servants, and 20 pets. A large household indeed: all resident at the National Museum of American History. And continuously on display since 1951. Veteran author William L. Bird, a curator at the museum, tells the story of the the famous Bradford DollÆs House: Faith Bradford collected miniature furniture since childhood and is creator of the Doll House; upon retirement and with no female heirs to whom she could leave her beloved collection, she decided to offer it to National Museum. Margaret Brown, a member of the museumÆs curatorial staff visited BradfordÆs home and immediately realized the value of the miniatures, dioramas and period rooms. She agreed to take the collection if a donor could be found to build a new dollhouse. Bradford and Brown worked together to this end and a model maker was found to build a plywood shell of floors and rooms with wallpapers and floor coverings. Bradford then glued into place all the furnishings and figures and specialists at the museum fastened tiny mirrors, picture frames, light fixtures and towel racks to the papered walls.
