Traditions

1891's and 2023's Class Dolls

Click here to view all the class dolls online, including descriptions of each.

Since 1936, the Meredith senior class has presented the Meredith College Alumnae Association with a doll on Class Day. That first year, a supply of “boudoir dolls” (originally a marketing tool for the French designer Paul Poirret, which then became popular as decorative items) were purchased from a Raleigh department store. The dolls were dressed by a class agent  to represent each class retroactively back to 1902 in costumes that mirrored their Class Day dresses. When the doll surplus was exhausted and the supplier unavailable due to World War II, “pattern dolls” from local department stores were used (1945-48.) 

Beginning in 1937, the class dolls were displayed in Johnson Hall during commencement weekend. Margaret Bright, '07, was their first caretaker, returning every year until her death in 1969 to prepare the dolls for display. Dorothy Loftin Goodwin, '47, then carried on Miss Bright's work with the dolls. In 1972, the College dedicated the Margaret Bright Gallery of Class Dolls, located on the third floor of Johnson Hall's Bryan Rotunda. Dolls for each year from 1902 to the present are permanently displayed in walnut and glass cases.

Since 1966, instead of Class Day dresses, the dolls have been dressed and their hair styled to reflect the fashion of the day - and now usually include accessories as well. In recent years, dolls are given names, often honoring a person special to the senior class or an historic event. 

In 1970, the first class doll to wear pants appeared on campus. The doll, named Petunia, reflects the changing social conditions, personal life expectations, and fashion tastes of students coming of age during the Women’s Movement.

In 1991, to commemorate the centennial of the College's charter, a doll in the style of 1891 was prepared to stand beside the 1991 class doll.