For more than 80 years, all that was known about the designer of the amazing costumes used in the Effanbee Historical Series was that she was a ‘24 year old girl, possibly of Asian descent’. There had been stories told of Effanbee promoting a nationwide contest asking people to send in their designs for a group of dolls telling America’s history through fashion with the winner going on to be hired by Effanbee to actually create the costumes. Such contests have been held over the years in all kinds of industries essentially as publicity stunts with an actual, experienced person already hired in secret for the job.

However in this case, no ads or other documentation of such a contest have ever turned up. If it had gone on, it certainly would have been terrific promotion for the traveling Display Series and the 14 inch replicas but it appears to be nothing more than another example of doll lore.

The mystery of who costumed the  Effanbee Historical Series was finally solved in 2024 when the daughter of the actual designer of this remarkable series contacted us through this very website.  And her identity wasn’t the only mystery solved!