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I think there are several different schools of thought about Hitty collecting coming to light lately. All of these views of Hitty are perfectly fine with me. Most of my Hitty friends and I fit into Hitty collector types 1 and 4:

      1 Hitty the storybook doll
      2 Hitty the fashion mannequin
      3 Hitty a time traveler
      4 Hitty as a travel doll and souvenir collector

1930 Newbery Award Winner 1998 Paperback and Hardback and Audio Hitty Books

Can't find the book? You can buy "Hitty Her First Hundred Years" on-line right here in the Lotz / Amazon Bookstore. Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Fields HARDBACK or 1998 PAPERBACK HITTY IN AUDIO CASSETTES Order the 1998 Paperback with the authentic looking cover! It is a colorized version of one of my favorate Dorothy Lathrop illustrations from the original Hitty book  I really didn't like the cover illustration for the old purple paperback!

"The New Hitty book" Hardback

"THE NEW HITTY BOOK" Rachel Field's Hitty : Her First Hundred Years by Rosemary Wells, Susan Jeffers (Illustrator)  This is a modern interpretation of the 1929 book by Rachel Field geared to younger children.  This is NOT the book that won the 1930 Newbery Award. It should not replace the older book on any library shelf but rather it can introduce Hitty to younger children so hopefully they will be eager to read the Newbery award winning book as their reading skills allow.

1) Hitty the storybook doll - The traditional Hitty collector loves Hitty as a storybook doll. A storybook doll collector would want to relate their collection back to the book as BJ suggests. And this is how I've always viewed Hitty. I want my Hitty to be dressed as she is described in the book and how she is illustrated.

The non-illustrated outfits give the most freedom to the creativity of collectors who are interested in dressing dolls in period clothing.

Outfits and assessories from Rachael Field's 1929 Hitty book

BJ Male's Hitty dressed and accessoried illustrates the book in 3D BJ is obviously a "Hitty Storybook Collector #1" but she is also a "collector #4". BJ and I had great fun coming up with wild Hitty Mardi Gras costumes for our trip to New Orleans

Doris Hupp was a "Hitty Storybook Collector #1"  Doris dressed her Hitty in each popular outfit from her 1930 book. She also made Hitty a special travel case - a representation of the famous "sweet grass basket" noted in the book.

Costumes based on The New Hitty Book
 

gown based on the new book gown by Barbara Jean Forman modelled by a Judy Brown Hitty doll photo thanks to Barbara Jean Forman

Rachel Field's Hitty : Her First Hundred Years by Rosemary Wells, Susan Jeffers (Illustrator) available from the Lotz/Amazon bookstore. THIS IS NOT THE BOOK THAT WON THE 1930 NEWBERY AWARD! This is a modern interpretation of the 1929 book by Rachel Field geared to younger children. It has totally different costumes and events illustrated thoughout. Even the Hitty doll is different. She has fingers and her pegs are independently jointed so this Hitty can move her arms and legs separate from each other. I'm sure collectors will want to dress their Hitty dolls similar to some of these images.

2) Hitty the fashion mannequin - Hitty was used as a fashion mannequin in the book. Mrs. Millie Pinch used Hitty to showcase her sewing skills to potential customers. Only two outfits are illustrated and all of the traditional Hitty doll collectors love to have their Hitty dressed in these:

• The pink silk dancing dress.
• The outfit Hitty wore as she fell at the feet of Charles Dickens. The rest of these costumes are not detailed at all in the book except to hint at the finery of her new wardrobe. You can bet that Hitty had a most fabulous wardrobe with all of the appropriate accessories. This is the set of costumes that would likely interest costumers / researchers the most, and yet interest the traditional Hitty collector the least.

Travels into the future
 

Hitty in 1999

Hitty a time traveler and Hitty as a travel doll This Hitty is owned by Allie Lotz. She represents a "skater in 1999". She has her perfectly in scale boom box and skateboard. She is dressed in her baggy jeans with her Hitty chemise (that really shouldn't be taken off). Allie wanted to streak her hair with blue and green fingernail polish too, but luckily she didn't have time. Allie and this Hitty entertained everyone at my 1999 ODACA DAY sales table. She knocked over my acrylic frame holding my Lotz Studio information to use it as a skating ramp. She had Hitty doing flips and turns on this ramp to the delight of all.

4) Hitty as a travel doll and souvenir collector (TRAVEL DOLL COLLECTORS): You also have a set of Hitty collectors that have allowed their Hitty dolls to continue their adventures. We have made special outfits that don't relate at all to the book, but to Hitty's current adventures with us.
 

Dallas souvenir cowgirl Hitty by Judy Brown

Judy Brown created a little cowgirl Hitty as a souvenir of her visit to Dallas for the UFDC Hitty luncheon. My Hitty friends and I exhibited some of our Hitty dolls dressed for a Mardi Gras ball, and in voodoo queen outfits for a fashion show in New Orleans. I can testify to the fun Barbra-Jean, Peggy Millhouse and I had coming up with last minute Mardi Gras outfits for our Hitty dolls. Elizabeth Rollins made her debut as a Hitty costumer by making some fabulous Mardi Gras outfits for several DRC Hitty dolls for display at this event. You can also see how I dressed one of my Hitty dolls in an outfit from a French Fashion Plate holding a little Lotz Holly Nut doll for this event. Recently BJ dressed her Hitty in a cute kimono.  I borrowed this kimono in honor of Hitty and I attending the 1999 J.A.D.E. (Japanese American Doll Enthusiasts) convention in Washington DC. These outfits are fun! Typically my "Sewing Hitty" travels with me dressed in her undies, as a little girl in a simple, high waisted girl's dress with puffed sleeves, or in a fanciful costume for a fashion show. HITTY IS FUN! I think we can all enjoy Hitty in our own way.

Hitty dressed for a Williamsburg gala for the 1st Hitty Convention in Oct. 2000 in Williamsburg, VA dress by Elizabeth Rollins modeled by a Lotzalove Basswood Hitty photo thanks to Elizabeth Rollins

Sombrero and Serape found on a tequilla bottle while on vacation in Cancun modeled by "Hitty Lotzalove Sevashteen" photo by Andrew Tabbat

Treasure Trove Mardi Gras Costume by Elizabeth Rollins modeled by a Cote Hitty photo by Jean Lotz

"Voodoo Queen" New Orleans Mardi Gras Party This outfit was found on a cheap souvenir doll in a local store photo by Jean Lotz

Nurse outfit for a special nurse by Elizabeth Rollins moldeled by a Cote Hitty photo thanks to BJ Male

Diane Gee made this Hitty sized 1st communion dress Modeled by a Williamsburg souvenir doll photo thanks to Diane Gee

Special activities by Hitty collectors on the Net:
There is an annual Hitty Secret Santa where collectors are matched up to send Christmas gifts from their Hitty dolls to other collector's Hitty dolls. Recently there have been annual Travel Doll Fashion shows with Patsey & Friends held at the UFDC National Conventions.

Seasonal Displays and Net Challanges: 4th of July Hitty, Summer Activities, Christmas, Haloween, Williamsburg lady, etc:
 

Fourth of July outfit by Jenny Anderson on Sheila Swierzenewski's JB Kit Hitty photo by Jenny Anderson

Secret Santa Christmas Dress by Jean Lotz modeled by "Sewing Hitty" a Lotzalove Basswood Hitty

Y2K midnight celebration gowns by Jenny Anderson (right) and Patt Grethmann (left) modeled by Lotzalove White Ash Hitty Dolls photo thanks to Ken Smith

Your Favorite Ways To display Hitty

How Hitty Was Displayed By Owners From the Book:

• Many HITTY collectors like to display HITTY as Clarissa Pryce did in her own little one room display box.
• She could sit on top of your desk next to an antique ink well and quill pen.
• She could keep a menagerie of ceramic cat figurines company

Hitty by Helen Bullard Signed and dated - 1954 with the 1931 book. Photo from Regina A. Steele

Regina A. Steele says: My Helen Bullard "Hitty" I display in cabinet with the 1931 Hitty book that was given to me. I display my Mary Lee "Hitty" and Judy Brown "Hitty" in scale rooms with furniture, accessories, and trunk I made. For my Mary Lee one, I made a Shaker style sewing box with tray and many sewing accessories - also an embroidery hoop with embroidery that I have her hold. At a miniature show, I purchased a small hand carved Noah's ark for "their" toy.

• Peggy Millhouse has collected Hitty dolls by several artists:
• Hitty by Judy Brown is displayed with some of her travel souvenirs (see the photo on Hitty Travel page)

• Sheema Karp displays her Hitty dolls in an antique doll house.
• B.J. Male has tried to duplicate in 3D each of the illustrations in the Hitty book (see photos below)
• A member in my local doll collector club:
• has collected a set of Hahn/Simpson Hitty dolls and commissioned a seamstress to make each of the outfits that were worn in the book.
• She has also inspired her husband to make some really fine scale furniture and accessories for her Hitty dolls and her golliwogs.
• She also has one of the Hitty dolls standing next to her first edition Hitty book.

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Collections of Modern HITTY DOLLS:
Would you like to share a photo of a group of Hitty dolls that you own?

B.J. Male Hitty Collection
click the image to see a larger one

Hitty with sampler by Linda Camus

Many illustrations in the book were replicated using Hitty dolls and appropriate accessories from the Male collection:  Whole Hitty display - very large file - Lotz Hitty bride Lotz Hitty digging in chest Janci Shaker Hitty and (?) Hitty in a crib (?) Hitty in crow's nest Photos thanks to B.J. Male

Jana Lowsma's Lotz White Ash Hitty Doll poses with Jana's 1960's Ozark Mountain Folk Doll with a tag that reads: "Mary's Pioneer Dolls, handcarved in wood, Branson MO"

Sewing Hitty with a little wooden friend photo by Jean Lotz

Regina Steele's Hitty House Hitty by Mary Lee Sundstrom and Judy Brown photo by Regina Steele

2 Room Hitty House by Bill Fifer Hitty by Bill Fifer photo thanks to Bill Fifer

The music room Judy Brown and Lehmer Hitty dolls

The Bedroom Lotz White Ash Hitty