THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL MISSION
United States Friendship Dolls
In 1926, Dr. Sidney Gulick assisted with sending over 200 friendship dolls to Japanese children, from American children. It served as a token of friendship between the countries.
Japanese Friendship Dolls
Japanese children cherished the dolls they received, so in 1927 decided to pool their money to send 58 dolls to the US.
TIMELINE
1926 Dr. Sidney L Gulick assisted with sending 200 blue-eyed friendship dolls to Japanese children.
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1927 2,610,000 Japanese children each chipped in around a penny to purchase and send 58 friendship dolls to American children in return.
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1928 Nebraska received its doll, called Miss Mie. Miss Mie was given to the Nebraska state museum.
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1939-1945 World War 2 caused people in Japan to destroy the friendship dolls coming from the U.S., as ordered by the Japanese government. Out of the 200 dolls sent to Japan from the U.S., only 9 remain.
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1980s Miss Mie was taken off display, after it was revealed the real Miss Mie was in St. Joseph museum in Missouri. It is still unknown who the doll in Nebraska is, because the dolls themselves have no name markings, only steamship passes and passports. The doll is still called Miss Mie.
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2009 Miss Mie visited Japan for some conservation.
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2017 Miss Mie returned to Japan again, for more conservation, and was taken off display for a while, and then went back on display.
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October 26th, 2022 Miss Mie's 95th birthday is on it's way in October!
Learn more from an
Expert
Hear from Morrill Hall's archeologist, Katelyn Trammell, about what all went into the Miss Mei exhibit and the impact the doll has had on the community and the world.
Address
Morrill Hall
645 North 14th Street
Lincoln, NE 68588-0338
Phone
402-472-2637