Jennie H. Graves, founder of the Vogue Doll Company, was a true early entrepreneur. As a young woman, she had enjoyed sewing fine doll clothing for members of her family and for charity. While shopping in a large Boston department store, she was surprised to find her donated items for sale. So, in 1922, she opened her own Vogue Doll Shoppe in Somerville, MA and dressed imported German bisque dolls in wonderful little outfits. This was the beginning of a very long and profitable business. The shop was so successful that she had to move to larger quarters in Medford, MA. Her daughter, Virginia began designing for the company in 1942 and created the slogan "Fashion Leader in Doll Society". They worked long hours to fill their increasing orders. In 1949 the company moved to Ship Ave., Medford where they had approximately fifty employees and over one hundred home sewers. By 1951 there were two shops, one in Medford and the other in Malden, MA. This cottage industry continued to grow, producing their own little hard plastic doll which was named "Ginny" after Jennie's daughter, Virginia Graves. This little doll would become one of the finest dolls manufactured in the 1950's, the true Golden Age of Dolls. The early Ginny Dolls are now highly collectible. At this time, the company created several other play dolls (Ginnette, Jimmy, Jill, Jeff, and Baby Dear to name just a few) that are also very collectible today. Jennie retired in the 1960's to Falmouth, MA where she passed away in 1971 at the age of 81. She was a woman who followed her dream and created the wonderful Ginny Doll that is still being manufactured today.
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Jennie H. Graves, founder of the Vogue Doll Company, was a true early entrepreneur. As a young woman, she had enjoyed sewing fine doll clothing for members of her family and for charity. While shopping in a large Boston department store, she was surprised to find her donated items for sale. So, in 1922, she opened her own Vogue Doll Shoppe in Somerville, MA and dressed imported German bisque dolls in wonderful little outfits. This was the beginning of a very long and profitable business. The shop was so successful that she had to move to larger quarters in Medford, MA. Her daughter, Virginia began designing for the company in 1942 and created the slogan "Fashion Leader in Doll Society". They worked long hours to fill their increasing orders. In 1949 the company moved to Ship Ave., Medford where they had approximately fifty employees and over one hundred home sewers. By 1951 there were two shops, one in Medford and the other in Malden, MA. This cottage industry continued to grow, producing their own little hard plastic doll which was named "Ginny" after Jennie's daughter, Virginia Graves. This little doll would become one of the finest dolls manufactured in the 1950's, the true Golden Age of Dolls. The early Ginny Dolls are now highly collectible. At this time, the company created several other play dolls (Ginnette, Jimmy, Jill, Jeff, and Baby Dear to name just a few) that are also very collectible today. Jennie retired in the 1960's to Falmouth, MA where she passed away in 1971 at the age of 81. She was a woman who followed her dream and created the wonderful Ginny Doll that is still being manufactured today.