Copyright © 2019 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
I came across an interesting article about the sale of “Daddy Long Legs” dolls while looking for information about the production’s scenery by Thomas G. Moses. The manufacture and sale of Judy dolls were part of a nation-wide charitable endeavor benefitting orphaned children and those in need both in the United States and over seas.
Although the United States would not officially enter WWI until 1917, the conflict was continually covered in the newspapers. That fall, “Daddy Long Legs” was playing in New York as France and Britain battled Germany, ravaging Belgium. Although the United States government remained neutral, individuals and organizations in the United immediately began to lend financial support to those devastated by the war.
In 1914, Ruth Chatteron, Jean Webster and the cast of “Daddy Long Legs” became involved in a series of charity events that benefitted orphaned children, especially those in Belgium. Throughout the fall of 1914 and into the spring of 1915, Chatternon and Webster appeared publically at many fundraisers where “Judy” dolls and other souvenirs from the play were sold to raise charitable donations. Many of the proceeds went to benefit Belgian children and others little ones overseas.
On Nov. 30, 1914, the “New York Tribune” published an article, “Santa Claus Calls Louder Than War. Daddy Long Legs Dolls and Money for Children in Stricken Battle Zone” (page 9). The article continued, “War and hard times may rule the world, but still a few people have time to plan for a little Christmas merriment for the children, both in this country and in Europe. The State Charities Aid Association announces that, beginning to-day, one thousand Daddy Long-Legs dolls will be distributed to individuals and clubs. The dolls will be dressed by them and then sold in shops and privately to get money to use for the 35,000 children whom the association looks out for in institutions and boarding homes in this state.
There are to be boy dolls and girls, if dressed accordingly to the design made by Miss Jean Webster, who wrote the play “Daddy Long-Legs,” will be in bright blue ginghams, just like Judy Abbott in the play.” The Daddy Long Legs dolls were part of a larger event. The article continued,
“Dolls of all nations will be on view and on sale at the bazaar which is to be held by the International Institute for Young Women, at 113 East 34th St., from to-day to December 3. The proceeds will be used to help foreign girls who are stranded in New York, but the dolls, which include Russian princesses, German peasants, Italian cantadinas, Roman matrons,
[racial slur for dolls that I am not including]
, English babies and Scotch Highlanders, as so fascinating that the child who finds one in her Christmas stocking will have a joyous holiday. The committee of the institute includes Mrs. W. C. Potter, Mrs. William Fellows Morgan, Mrs. Elihu Root, Jr., Mrs. Charles H. Ferry, Mrs. Edward S. Harkness and Miss Charlotte Stillman. Members of the committee will preside at the bazaar and serve tea.
Sunday schools all over the country are sending in contributions to the War Children’s Christmas Fun, of which Mrs. John Hays Hammond is national chairman. The gifts of the Sunday Schools have aggregated $1,000 a day recently. The fund has received to date $12,398. Twenty-five tons of clothing and candy have been shipped to England for English and Belgian children. Money equal in value will be sent to United States ambassadors in Russia, Germany and France to buy a little Christmas for the children whose fathers are one the front.”
For a brief period of time, orphaned children took center stage and there was a public outpouring of support. For example, the Children’s Home Society of California started a campaign to “make unique toys for the benefit and succor of hundreds of homeless fatherless and motherless little ones,” especially featuring Daddy Long Legs dolls (Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan 1915, page 11). Newspapers across the country posed the question, “Will you please buy a Daddy Long-Legs doll, mister?” Judy dolls were featured as the perfect Christmas gift that also contributed to a good cause. Newspaper pictures included the “Daddy Long-Legs” cast, stage orphans, making their appeal to the charitable, a cause that would support “their really unfortunate brothers and sisters.”
To be continued…
