Introduction
Corncob Doll
Enslaved children's playthings were often handmade by the child or other
family members. Toys were sometimes cobbled together from everyday scraps
and bits of fabric on hand. This doll, representing an African American
slave or servant, is made of a corncob and fabric scraps (GLC09188). It
probably dates to the 1860s and is an example of the ingenuity slaves
used to create amusements for their children.
The experiences of enslaved children varied greatly depending upon the
disposition of their owners and whether they lived on a plantation or
in a city. Some were treated well, received ample clothing and shelter,
and were able to live with their parents. Others barely received the necessities
of life and were separated from their families by sale or purchase. They
sometimes served as playmates for their owner's children, ran errands,
and assisted with domestic chores. However, their childhoods did not last
long. Owners had a vested interest in speeding up the process into adulthood.
Parents sought to extend the childhood of their offspring and provide
them with some pleasures despite their small means. This handmade doll
can be seen as a symbol of that desire.
Marisa Morigi
Deputy Curator
The Gilder Lehrman Collection
Item Description and Credits
GLC09188: Corncob Doll, Object, 1860s.
For more information or to obtain copies, contact Alyson
Barrett at reference@gilderlehrman.com or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.
Suggested Reading
Books:
Schwartz, Marie Jenkins. Born in Bondage: Growing Up Enslaved in the Antebellum South. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2000.
King, Wilma. Stolen Childhood: Slave Youth in Nineteenth Century America. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995.
Mintz, Steven. African American Voices: The Life Cycle of Slavery. St. James, New York: Brandywine Press, 1993.
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