"HITTY Her First Hundred Years" Of course, Hitty was a doll, else why should she rate the raves Doll Talk presents in her behalf. The first two hundred page volume of Hitty came off MacMillan's presses in 1929, such a fascinating, profusely illustrated juvenile book that more than twenty editions followed! Authoress Rachel Field was awarded the John Newbery Medal for Hitty in 1930.

Into our own Kimport library volume, there has been placed her treasured letter, written in October of 1939 - "Dear Mrs. McKim - Thank you so much for the charming copy of Doll Talk. I was delighted to have "Hitty" represented in it. No there is no such thing as a "Hitty" doll. She is too difficult to copy and to catch her character of expression; each doll would have to be done by an expert woodcarver, and so she could never be reproduced commercially."

That, and the proper painting seemed insurmountable, and we will admit coming up with several "dry runs", but now, at last, we have the Hitty of which we are really proud!

Proper size, six inches tall, all wood, with jointed hips and knees, elbows and shoulders. You will admire the carved-in sausage curls, sharp little nose and hands with old time separate thumbs all carved and jointed to perfection by Mr. Sherman Smith of Utah, so signed on all back shoulders. The painting was done professionally at Kimport to closely portray the many book. Properly dressed in pink print calico with nice old linen lace, black velvet sash, and socks just painted blue. How we now wish there was still a Mrs. Rachel Field Pederson to whom we might send one! We feel assured this version of her classic would satisfy the strictest of requirements!

NOTE: In 1965 The Kimport Hitty sold for $18.50.

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~ DATED MATERIAL FROM 1967 ~
From Kimport's "DOLL TALK" Mar-Apr 1967 Vol. 16 #11

"A GOOD MODERN WOODEN" Mr. Sherman E. Smith of Utah carves and constructs jointed wooden dolls. For Kimport, he does the six-inch story book little "Hitty", jointed at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.

When we suggested a change in one proportion, instead of cutting us off with a shilling" - Mr. Smith wrote, "I, too, think Hitty is better now, and don't you ever hesitate to be "fussy". I am so "fussy" and glad that you doll people help to keep me on the ball. Your criticism can be helpful, so thanks, both for it and the check!"

Hitty is painted and dressed at Kimport, copying as nearly as possible, her pictures which illustrate Rachel Field's delightful prize winning book printed in 1929.

NOTE IN 1967 The Kimport Hitty sold for $18.50.

The owner of this doll believes that this doll represents Hitty. This primitive wood doll might be an early attempt to carve Hitty. The lumpy curls on the sides of the hair and the uneven hair line might lead one to make this assumption.

I have no clue why there is a hold drilled through her chest unless she was used as a "dancing doll on a stick" at one time.

She has no painted facial features. Did the carver give up on this doll before painting the features or was she quickly repainted? The lower left arm is missing but it can be replaced easily.

I find this doll very strange because she is so extraordinarily thin. This doll looks almost like a wafer from the side view.