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Gollies

The golly has played a significant part in the history of toys for over 100 years and the V&A Museum of Childhood has a considerable collection of golly material. Its most famous holding is the Golliwogg doll, which was once owned by Florence Kate Upton, the ‘creator’ of the Golliwogg stories. It was made in about 1880. The classic representation of the golly is depicted by this doll: large eyes and mouth, unkempt hair, red bow tie, navy jacket, white shirt, red trousers.

The Museum held a seminar during Black History Month in October 2002 to explore what the golly means historically and culturally, since it has been viewed as both a harmless nursery rhyme character and dangerous racial stereotype, and to consider the public display of this historical toy.

Information on the golly was provided by Carol Tulloch - Senior Research Fellow for University of the Arts London/V&A.

What's the Matter with Golly?

The golly emerged at a time, in the late 19th and throughout the first half of the 20th century, when numerous illustrators, food companies and toy manufacturers used exaggerated images of black people to promote their products.

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The Golliwog and Florence Kate Upton

Florence Upton was born in New York in 1873. She was the daughter of Bertha and Thomas Upton who had immigrated to the USA from England. Following her father's death in 1889, Florence and her family returned to England in 1893.

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The Golliwogg and Dutch Dolls

In 1895 Florence and her mother produced the book entitled The Adventures of two Dutch Dolls. Florence provided the illustrations and Bertha wrote the verses. The book was published by Longmans, Green & Co. of London.

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Let Me Tell You a Story

The Golliwogg at the Sea-Side, published in 1898, is held in the collection of the V&A Museum of Childhood. As in Upton's other books, the story is told in rhymes which are not offensive towards the Golliwogg.

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A British Institution

As part of the First World War effort, the British Red Cross Society and The Order of the Hospital of Saint John held art sales at the auction house Christie's. Florence Upton donated to the third of these sales.

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Golly, Golly, Everywhere

The Golliwogg, as he had been developed by Florence Upton in her books, had not been copyrighted. Therefore from its first wave of success in the late 19th century, the character was reproduced in various forms. To date, there is no explanation as to why this evidently unattractive doll was so popular amongst children.

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James Robertson & Sons

The golly also became a British household image through the jams and marmalades of James Robertson & Sons. From about 1910 Robertson's, the company trade name, began to use the golly as the company's motif.

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Gollies at the V&A Museum of Childhood

The V&A Museum of Childhood has been collecting gollies and golly related material since 1961. The collection includes several soft toy gollies, rag sheets, figures, playing cards, puppets, and children's china.

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