Saving the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum by Jennifer Craft-Hurst

2013 should have been an exciting year for the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. The museum celebrated its 25th Anniversary in the historic Heritage Square, a quaint enclave of cottages in Downtown Phoenix, dwarfed by their Grand Victorian Cousin, the Rosson House. In 1988, a group of doll collectors, led by Inez McCrary, opened what would become a beloved mainstay of Heritage Square, the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum. Instead of celebrating, however, the curators of the museum were forced to search for a new location. The City of Phoenix made some zoning changes in the area, and due to unforeseen circumstances, the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum could no longer stay in the same capacity. Unfortunately, the museum had to fi nd a new home.

A search was on to fi nd a new location, but unfortunately, high-traffi c area buildings with low rent, a necessary requirement due to the museum’s non-profi t status, were hard to come across. Curator Kathy Lanford realized that the museum might have to close. The task of contacting donors and planning an auction became a very real possibility. In the eleventh hour, however, an Angel came to the rescue in the form of Sandy Kralovitz. Sandy had been a longtime resident of Arizona, and an original donor to the museum. Most readers know her as the owner of Sandy’s Dream Dolls. Though now living in Texas, Sandy kept many friends and connections in Arizona. Sandy still owned a building in Glendale in the Historic Caitlin Court area. This building, also historic in nature, was within walking distance of the popular antique district of Old Town Glendale. With only a love of dolls as her motivation, Sandy donated the use of her building for the museum. To the relief of every doll club in Arizona and its many followers, the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum was saved.

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With only a short closure needed to move the collection, which was made possible through the help of many local volunteers, the museum reopened in September 2014. Back to greet their devoted fans are the Size 11 Portrait Jumeau in stunning original bridal couture, the Alexander Dionne Quints with Dr. Dafoe, the 24” Hilda in her pram, being watched over by the lifesize Bru Mannequin, and, of course, the most popular exhibit in the collection, the turn-of-the-century class room full of German Dolly Face Dolls, with their oversized China Head teacher, keeping a strict eye over their shenanigans.

Along with the regular collection, this new facility allows for the addition of more traditional “boys’ toys,” including GI Joe, Star Wars, model plane, and train collections. The size of the building has also allowed for an expanded gift shop and library/research/meeting space. The possibilities for the museum are now endless. Ideas for the future may include Doll Club meeting space, lectures, and even Birthday Tea Parties.

A visit to the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum should be on every collector’s list when they visit The Valley of the Sun. Glendale should be a rather popular tourist destination in 2015, as it is also the home of the Super Bowl! The Arizona Doll and Toy Museum is truly a labor of love and devotion, and a museum that will hopefully be around for many years to come.

Arizona Doll and Toy Museum: 5847 West Myrtle Ave, Glendale, AZ Phone: 623-939-6186

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