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Izannah Walker Dolls
Izannah Walker was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1817. Orphaned at age 7, she and her sisters went to live with her mother's relatives in nearby Somerset, Massachusetts. Little else is known of her early life, but, by the time of the 1865 Census of the state of Rhode Island, she was listed as a doll maker residing in Central Falls.
It has often been said that mechanically minded Izannah lamented the fact that she was not born a man. She consequently entered into many areas of interest that were thought to be within the male domain. She became a skilled carpenter, was active in real estate, raised canaries, designed her own parlor heater, and liked to tinker with household gadgets. Fortunately for us, she also made dolls.
~Linda Edward
"Cloth Dolls From Ancient to Modern"
Izannah patented her doll on Nov. 4, 1873. The Walker doll is said to be the first patented rag doll in the United States.
