About Us

The Philadelphia Doll Museum, located on the 2200 block of North Broad Street along the Avenue of the Arts, has over 300 black dolls in its collection. The Museum provides a resource library of information and documentation which highlights the story of how black people have been perceived throughout world history. The collection includes African, Europeans, American Folk Art dolls, the renowned Roberta Bell Doll Collection, American and internationally manufactured dolls and more.

Under the direction of Barbara Whiteman, the museum is the only known museum in the nation that emphasizes the collection and preservation of black dolls as artifacts of history and culture.

Hours
Thursday – Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sundays 12pm – 4pm

Admission
$4 adults
$3 seniors/students and children (under 12)
Group rates and tours are available
Call (215) 787-0220 for more information

Mission
The Philadelphia Doll Museum was established in 1988 as an educational and cultural resource institution, dedicated to preserve doll history and culture by presenting the art of doll making and collecting through seminars and lectures; to provide a resource library of information for doll research and the documentation of printed material, photographs, and audio recording; to develop and sponsor with other museums, cultural centers and organizations, exhibit exchange and educational workshops. Read about our recent exhibits

Goals/Mission
To preserve doll history and culture by presenting the art of doll making and collecting through seminars and lectures.

To provide a resource library of information for doll research and the documentation of printed material, photographs, and audio/video recordings. To develop and sponsor with other museums, cultural centers and organizations exhibits, exchanges, and educational workshops.

Services
The Philadelphia Doll Museum provides the following presentations and lectures to schools, churches, and cultural organizations:

Lectures

• The history of Black Dolls
• The Black Doll as a teaching tool

• Paper Doll Making workshops and Clothes Pin Doll workshops For Children
• Cloth Doll Making workshops for Adults

Other Activities
Philadelphia Doll Society is an informal adult doll club for doll collectors and doll makers.

Co-sponsor, in conjunction with Dark Images, the annual Black Doll Convention.