Dolls with non-painted eyes should be stored face-down, particularly
bisques and porcelain dolls.  Most commonly, the eyes are held in with
plaster, and over time, the weight of the plaster can cause hairline
fractures to develop in the bisque. In plastic or vinyl dolls, the faces
may become distorted.

If the dolls are stored dressed, use acid-free tissue or 100% cotton fabric
(well washed and rinsed) to separate the textiles and keep the clothes from
being rumpled.  Also, some of the fabrics (particularly in modern dolls)
can discolor the dolls.  It's best to separate the dolls from their
clothes, even if they are stored in the same (acid free) box.

Also, loosely wrap or otherwise protect the heads to protect the wig or
attached hair from becoming compressed or flattened.  Human or mohair wigs
generally can be "fluffed" out, but once the rooted plastic hair is
distorted, it's very difficult to restore to it's original shape.

Carole Spencer (former "Doll Doctor")
Bowling Green State University
American Culture Studies and Sociology
Bowling Green, OH 43402

Date:    Sat, 11 Apr 1998 17:54:11 -0500
From:    Collection Care Management <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: DOLL STORAGE

Currently, the following dolls "reside" in a cardboard moving
box: an Effanbee, a Bisque jointed, an Ideal and a Sunbabe Babee Bee.
I realize that this type of storage is an incorrect preservation technique
but do not know whether seperate cardboard boxes or seperate plastic boxes
would be better. Also, because of space limitations they now "sleep" on
their clothes and blankets as a cushion and some sort of new protection is
necessary. Any insights or suggestions into this storage concern would be
appreciated.