Madame Alexander Dolls

Beatrice Alexander Behrman, also known as Madame Alexander, grew up in the apartment over her father's doll hospital in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, she often played with the dolls that were left to be repaired, and during World War I, she made cloth dolls to help her father's business. In 1923, at the age of 28, Madame Alexander started her own doll company.

Madame Alexander's early dolls were made of composition. She created some of the first dolls that were modeled after licensed characters from literature and movies, including "Alice in Wonderland," "Little Women," and Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone with the Wind." After 1947, Madame Alexander dolls were made of hard plastic. In fact, Madame Alexander was the first company to use hard plastic in doll production. Madame Alexander was also the first to make dolls representing living people, including the Dionne quintuplets and the future Queen Elizabeth.

Some of the most well-known dolls that Madame Alexander produced were the Alexander-kins dolls, first produced in 1953. These dolls were 8 inches tall and made of hard plastic. Many other dolls have been introduced over the years including international dolls, First Lady dolls, and fashion dolls. Madame Alexander sold the company in 1988 and passed away in 1990. The company was acquired by the Kahn Lucas children's clothing company in 2012. They continue to produce Madame Alexander dolls today.

Quick Facts

• During World War II, Madame Alexander introduced dolls modeled after the armed forces to help boost wartime morale
• Madame Alexander introduced the first full-figured fashion doll, Cissy, in 1955, complete with couture wardrobe
• Madame Alexander was named the first lady of dolls by FAO Schwartz of New York in 1986