American Girls

This just in: public historian Lauren Kennedy joins Dolls of Our Lives for a special supplement. Lauren works as Digital Projects Coordinator for Ohio Memory. In addition to being super knowledgeable about material culture and American Girl fandom, Lauren has the scoop on the ins and outs of Ohio's digital newspaper collections. We talked to Lauren about intrepid journalist Kit Kittredge and her homemade paper Hard Times (not yet on microfilm). She gave us an insider's perspective on digitization work and what was popular in Ohio's print media during the Great Depression. You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrock

In 1951, Sydney Taylor introduced All-of-a-Kind Family to the world. Her novel about a Jewish family living on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century features five American girls: Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie. These tight-knit sisters love to read, eat candy, and occasionally, dust for their mother. We talk about our (first) read of Taylor's book, which holds up all these years later as an absolute delight. We also discuss the biography From Sarah to Sydney (2021), by the late Jane Cummins and Alexandra Dunietz. How much of Sarah Brenner’s life was put into the all-of-kind-family? How did Sarah become Sydney Taylor? Join us in separating fact and fiction. (Episode originally released May 27, 2022) Want to join us on patreon? For $3/month, you can get a bonus episode, join our discord community, and more! Join us here: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com We love to hear from you!

We’re taking a break this month, and are bringing you our recent appearance on the American Girl Women podcast. Here is a description from their feed: Laura and Lindsey are joined by dream guests and fellow American Girl kindred spirits Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney of the Dolls of Our Lives Podcast. The group chats about how they came to love AG and why it has stayed with them after all these years. Learn more about American Girl Women here: @americangirlwomen on Instagram and “American Girl Women” wherever you get your podcasts. Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow Mary @mimimah

Some American Girls wear capes and some take part in capers. In Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, we meet a rising star who could do both. We talk about the fantastic cast of the Kit movie, how the film differs from the books, and what we can learn now from its portrayal of the Depression. If you’re curious about the art of the steal and intense dinner-time conversations on the New Deal, don’t miss our coverage of the endearing and mysterious Kit movie.  Time stamps  00:00-10:00 - We discuss the recent controversy in the AG community about "A Smart Girl's Guide: Body Image” 10:30-12:00  - We talk the Mole, Love Island UK,  12:00- end  - We talk Kit Kittredge: An American Girl  Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollsli

In the final book of the Kit series, our hero is ready to become an agent for change. But first, she’ll have to deal with a cranky relative…again. When conservative Uncle Hendrick gets injured, he makes it everyone’s problem. The upside to his unwanted residency at the Kittredge home? Kit learns how to engage with anti-New Deal rhetoric while typing letters to the editor. We talk about this six-book Tripp through the Depression, real letters written by kids in this era, and what we imagine for Kits future. Time Stamps: 00:00-11:20 We talk Hallmark Movies, representation in romance novels, and Sandra Bullock's  The Lost City 13:00 - We talk Changes for Kit Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1025gH1SYZXOz9qi6AmYd5ZEwl_LXMGqN/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110973921299858291020&rtpof=true&sd=true Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear

As the old saying goes: where there's a Will, there's a way...to end up in jail? In book five of the Kit series, our hero wants nothing more than to hit the road. After meeting Will, a self-described hobo traveling the country, Kit longs for adventure and a break from chores. Kit gets more than she bargained for, however, when she hops a train and only gets as far as the local jail. We discuss Kit's anti-carceral state activism, the hobo code of conduct, and the durability of Saves the Day tropes. Fans of Love is Blind will want to tune in for our review of season three of the series; fans of Kit's Aunt Millie should also be sure to give this one a listen, just because she said so.  Time Stamps: 2:00-5:00 Bruce Springsteen and “tramps like us?” 5:15- 12: 00 - Love is Blind recap and discussion 14:44- end - We talk “Kit Saves the Day”   Resources: See the symbols left on Jimmy Carter’s childhood home’s mailbox here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our

How do you throw a party on a tight budget? In book four, we learn that Kit has set very low expectations for her tenth birthday. Then, everything changes when a mysterious stranger comes into town. Enter Aunt Millie, who comes to the big city from Mountain Hollow. Millie has plenty of life lessons and home hacks, but her new ideas are not always appreciated by Kit or her mother. We explore how Kit continues to adapt to her new life, the adoption of Grace the dog, and portrayals of family life during the Depression. Time Stamps: 0-5:00 - Would FDR/Eleanor have a podcast today? 5:00- 10:00 FDR Memorial, Kit, and mass communication (radio, twitter, etc) 10:00-12:00 which OGAG’s would stay on Elon’s twitter? 12:00-15:35 Pop culture we’re loving: Weird Al Biopic, Enola Holmes 2, See How They Run, Married at first sight, love is blind, Kate Beaton’s Ducks 15:35-end We talk Happy Birthday, Kit  Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourl

It's Christmas time and time for a...quarrel? By December 1934, all was not well in the Kittredge household. Kit and Ruthie have been fighting, the mortgage hasn't been paid, and Uncle Hendrick was acting out more than usual. Still, Kit does her best to keep spirits bright, making the most of visits to her cranky uncle and keeping the change along the way. Throughout book three, the rickrack life gets to Kit, and we talk about the broader implications of the Depression for children and families. Join us for a fireside chat about Kit's evolution thus far and (of course) the release of Midnights. Join us as we celebrate our 100th episode!!  Time Stamps: 0:00-3:00 - Fala 3:00 - 7:30 Taylor Swift’s Midnights 7:30 - 11:00 - Love is Blind 11:00 - end - recap and discussion of book Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsof

Have you ever wondered why you even tried? In book two, Kit takes on new chores at home and fights about the first Thanksgiving at school. She also somehow finds time to hatch an interior design plan with Ruthie. Despite this hustle, hard times start to really hit home. During Kit’s forced Tripp to a soup kitchen, the truth about dad’s business lunches comes out. We discuss underlying assumptions about poverty in the books and reflect on the pop culture scene of 2000. You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow Mary @mimimahoney (Instagram) or  @marymahoney123 (Twitter) Need a source of calm in your d

You know her, you love her, you may even be a bit jealous of her stunning haircut … at last, it’s time we all meet Kit Kittredge. In the summer of 1932, Kit is a comfortably affluent and (in AG terms) spunky girl living in Ohio. We quickly learn that Kit is fond of baseball, her typewriter, BFF Ruthie, and a good headline. She does not appreciate the intrusion of strangers or the general economic collapse happening in her lifetime. We talk about Valerie Tripp’s triumphant return, Kit’s class consciousness, and Maryellen’s recent PR issues. Time Stamps: 00:00-12:30 - Mary-Ellen AG tiktok reintroduction and Mariah Carey on 9/11 Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Dolls

Grace McGookey and Danielle Wetmore are museum professionals with very different relationships to American Girl. One was a huge fan, and one watched the rise of AG from afar. Years later, while working together at the Tenement Museum, they became colleagues and friends. They also got to be quite familiar with one Rebecca Rubin. During this episode, Grace and Danielle answer some of your most pressing questions about Rebecca’s world. Listen for their tremendous knowledge about life in New York’s historic tenements. Want support around your own work life? Send us your questions for a care and keeping of you episode on navigating work today. VYou can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Doll

For this Rebecca Rubin bonus, we chatted with Leah Sauter. Leah works as a historian, educator, and translator extraordinaire. In addition to generously sharing her own experience with Rebecca, Leah shed light on the significance of having Jewish American Girl as part of the historical collection. If you've wondered about Rebecca's puzzling bagel choices or what Grandpa Shereshevsky was reading in the newspaper, this episode is for you. This show also provides further context on events happening leading up to Rebecca's timeline, such as a real housewives' meat boycott/riot that occurred in New York in 1902. Want to hear more from Leah? Revisit this earlier episode featuring Leah: "Molly's World and Historical Memory." Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram

Which American Girl would have the best Real Housewives tagline? Whose stories would most benefit from a rewrite? Is it possible to map 18" dolls onto seltzer flavors? During this episode, you'll hear our answers to these urgent questions and Meet Analee, a new member of our team. Think of this summer mailbag episode as a supercharged Ask Analee, Allison, and Mary Anything (AAAMA). You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow Mary @mimimahoney (Instagram) or  @marymahoney123 (Twitter) Need a source of calm in your day? Listeners will get a free audiobook when you start a new monthly Libro.fm membership

A lot of ten-year-old kids wouldn't try to make a movie and participate in a labor strike. But Rebecca isn’t like other ten years olds, and she does both of those things, and more, in her final book. Radicalized by her visit to see family employed at a local factory, Rebecca speaks out about labor conditions. Despite her first directorial debut being a bit of a flop, she also gets the courage to come clean about her desire to be an actor. We talk about these plot points, make plenty of Samantha comparisons, and get into the overall arc of the Rebecca books.    You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow

What Happens at Coney Island: Rebecca to the Rescue There comes a time in every American Girl's life when she is asked (totally unreasonably) to save the day. In Rebecca to the Rescue, our hero steps up, literally, and climbs a huge ladder at Coney island. Over the course of book five, Rebecca also questions societal gender roles, puts on an impromptu side performance, and saves her cousin who is terrified of heights. We talk about iconic Coney Island pop culture moments and whether theme parks are exceptional. Join our summer-long wikipedia edit-a-thon! Here is a resource guide with tutorials and a link to our event dashboard. New editors welcome! https://mimimahoney.notion.site/Wikipedia-Edit-a-thon-Resource-Guide-5b0d67748dd44e4aa41e88b4eab32c48 Time Stamps: 00:00:00-00:12:07 - We talk about our experiences with amusement parks and associated fears 00:12:07-01:04:00 - We talk about the latest Rebecca book! Resources: Check out the Coney Island Oral History Archive: https://www.coneyislandhistory.org

Lights, camera, and...action! Kid star Rebecca Rubin is ready to take center stage. Hot on the heels of her tenth birthday, Rebecca spends the day with her cool cousin Max at a movie studio. When the opportunity presents itself to take on a (non-speaking) role, Rebecca rises to the occasion, of course. During this episode, we talk about Rebecca's birthday celebration, her family's Passover traditions, and the world of cinema in her lifetime. We also offer our summer reading recommendations (so far).  Check out Theda Bara as Cleopatra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theda_Bara#/media/File:ThedaBara-Cleopatra.jpg Time Stamps: 00:01:00-00:04:00 - We talk about Rebecca’s birthday and her celeb birthday twins (and ours). 00:04:00-00:08:00 - We talk about what we’ve been reading 00:09:00-01:05:00 - We talk about book four in the Rebecca series 01:05-:00 - 01:07:00 - The People Vs. Ryan Phillippe Resources: Add your content to our community zine project! More info here: https://twitter.com/AGirlsPod/status

For the third Rebecca book, author Jacqueline Dembar Greene drew on her childhood experiences to explore what makes a day on the calendar a “national holiday.” When Rebecca is pressured to make a Christmas decoration at school, she feels conflicted. Not only does her family not celebrate Christmas, she is getting ready for Hanukkah and thinking about her place in the festivities. So, on top of her homework and friendships, Rebecca finds herself involved in some secret gift plans…and a complex pigeon situation. We chat about Dembar Greene’s heartfelt Hanukkah story, recent music news, and an excellent remix by a listener.  Read more about "The Americanization of Hanukkah" here: https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2014/december/americanization-of-hanukkah.html Learn more about the ”pigeon lady” in Central Park in November, 1981:  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/28/The-pigeon-lady-of-Central-Park/3161375771600/ Time Stamps: 00:00-11:50 - We talk pop culture (90 Day Fiance, Mariah Carey Songwriter Hall of F

We don’t mean to boast or brag, but the second Rebecca book is filled with lots of heartwarming moments and a few fun surprises. When cousin Ana finally gets to New York, she has a lot to learn from Rebecca. What’s the deal with the classroom dunce cap? Why are so many American laws unjust? How does anyone pull off a solid performance of “You're a Grand Old Flag?” This book boldly tackles these topics while also bringing new meaning to the term full house. We talk about surveillance and health at Ellis Island, Rebecca’s friendships, and how adversarial shopping might make you feel like an American. You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter

In 2009, a new girl hit the pop culture scene, joining the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Kesha. Her name? Rebecca Rubin. Her height? 18”. Looking for her backstory? Cruise on over to the Wikipedia page for the Lower East Side. Actually, her books are a far better source (take it from us). In reading Meet Rebecca, we learn that this girl really only wants a few things: to be taken seriously, an acting career, and aid for her family looking to immigrate to the USA. We discuss Rebecca’s introductory plot lines, the awesome side characters, and some of the inspiration behind the book. Time Stamps: 00:00-14:30 - We talk Owl City, pop culture moments from 2009, Unexpected, Taylor Swift's honorary degree, the Lower East Side wikipedia page 14:30-01:01:07 - Meet Rebecca discussion You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gma

Did you ever dream of working for American Girl magazine? Meet Aubre Andrus, a writer who turned that dream into a reality! Aubre is an award-winning author who gave us an insider's view on the tragically discontinued American Girl magazine.  What happened to all those letters people wrote to AG? How do you plan the best bowling birthday party ever? During our chat with Aubre, we get answers to these questions and more. If you've ever wondered about the people behind the pages--or whether American Girl's advice still holds up, don't miss this one.   See what Aubre is up to now! Visit her website to learn about her Look Up Series and follow her on social media.  Website: https://aubreandrus.com/  Instagram and Twitter: @AubreAndrus You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagra