Who was Madame Alexander and why are her dolls so popular?
Madame Alexander dolls were the creation of Beatrice Alexander Behrman, the daughter of Russian immigrants. Mrs. Behrman, whose father operated New York’s first doll “hospital,” started making dolls in 1923. Her creations soon became famous for their molded heads and limbs, lifelike eyes, rooted hair, and elaborate costumes. Mrs. Behrman sold the company to several New York investors in 1988, two years before she died at age 95. But America’s first doll manufacturer has not compromised her high standard of quality and unique craftsmanship. Today, most of the company’s manufacturing is still done in Harlem, New York, and more than 500,000 dolls a year are sold.
