the National Institute of American Doll Artists was officially founded in May 1963, at the Watts Barr Resort near Ozone, Tennessee by Helen Bullard, who gathered with her cofounders, Gertrude Florian, Magge Head and Fawn Zeller. These artists, working primarily in isolation had come to know each other through the annual conventions of the United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC), a national doll collectors organization, which they had been attending since the early 1950s.

fascinated by the work of the artists she was meeting, Helen had been writing their stories and publishing them in The Toy Trader, a small but widely read trade magazine edited by Elizabeth Andrews Fisher. The first monograph Bullard completed and published was on Dorothy Heizer. That was followed by others on Fawn Zeller, Ruth Ellery Thorpe, Avis Lee, Dewees Cochran, Gwen Flather and Martha Thompson. Five of these artists came to the UFDC Convention in Buffalo in 1962 and Bullard rented a nearby room in which their work was exhibited with great success. In September of that year Bullard and Dewees Cochran corresponded about organizing a formal group of creative doll makers. The May 1963 meeting was set up and the four artists mentioned above officially organized themselves into the National Institute of American Doll Artists, inviting Dewees Cochran, Dorothy Heizer, Ellery Thorpe, Martha Thompson, Hale Blakeley, Lewis Sorensen and Muriel Buryere to join them as charter members. The group's aim was to work together toward a common goal: the recognition of original handmade dolls as fine art. The first NIADA exhibit was held on August 13, 1963, at the Los Angeles UFDC Convention. The work of the eleven charter members, plus that of newly elected member Tamara Steinheil, was displayed.

the original group of founding artists had put in place by-laws, procedures and standards for acceptance of new members. Over the 1960s and early 1970s NIADA grew and further organized itself. Early artists who served as presidents, such as Astry Campbell, Wee Paulson and Magge Head incorporated the organization, established a Standards Committee and set up the group's own annual meetings, as the group grew too large to continue meeting at the annual UFDC Convention.

NIADA TODAY

charter members Halle Blakeley, Muriel Bruyere, Gertrude Florian, Magge Head, Martha Thompson and Fawn Zeller worked in "bisque and Parian." Dorothy Heizer, many of whose dolls reside in the Smithsonian, was a "cloth sculptor." Dewees Cochran, began in balsa wood, then moved to composition. Lewis Sorenson, the only man making dolls in the USA at the time, used wax. They reflected their era in medium, terminology and subject. Historical figures, children and portraits were a predominant theme. As are NIADA artists today, the pioneers were also teachers, sharing their knowledge with other artists.

Today some artists still work in traditional mediums and concepts. Others have moved to newer, modern mediums such as polymer clays and air-dried clays. NIADA dolls differ from many other dolls because the originators are known. It is not known who designed, or made, many of the antique dolls that have been so carefully preserved. Each NIADA doll is authenticated as a painting or a piece of sculpture. Dolls made by NIADA artists are in many great doll collections, art museums and numerous private collections. Today, in an era of staggering prices, an artist is often not rewarded monetarily. Sometimes over 100 hours of work goes into the creation of just one doll. It takes much time to produce one doll and an artist is often limited in the number of dolls which can be made.

nIADA dolls are not copies of an old doll (although an artist may choose to caricature, spoof or make a social commentary on such a doll). It is not a conglomeration of limbs made from molds made by other artists; it is not a beautiful head placed on a stump of a body. It is a complete entity. It conveys a message, usually some facet of culture, which mirrors life and can be a record for future generations. NIADA dolls also depict the past, capture the present and, in many instances, interprets the artist's own version of [other] influences. Each artist has an individual style. Art is a subjective matter and [one] can be objective in evaluating art forms to a limited degree.

Today one finds NIADA dolls well represented in the print media, on the Internet, value guides and in exhibitions and shows worldwide. NIADA flourishes as an international organization representing artists from France, England, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Russia, Japan Australia and Canada. Annual Conventions have been held separately and immediately before or after UFDC Conventions. The NIADA Annual Conferences always an exciting event sharing knowledge of the art of the doll through master classes, presenting programs, visiting artists critiques, The NIADA Gallery, and the Annual Show and Sale and much more.

nIADA is thrilled to see the work of artists who have exceptional merit. The Standards Committee is available to all aspiring artists who meet the established criteria (See Becoming A Member on the NIADA website). The committee evaluates the basic elements of form, movement and anatomy, the construction of the figure, handling of the media, the technique and craftsmanship of the finish and finally sees if the artist has conveyed a message through this art form. Every applicant should have something new and vital to contribute.

in 1999, NIADA initiated its website: www.niada.org. This website is an educational tool presenting a rotating series of NIADA Artist dolls, dollmaking tips, news of annual conferences, a list of resources and much more. For two years (1999-2001) NIADA published NIADA ArtForm, a quarterly publication devoted to the art of the doll. Artists and Patrons communicate through an online newsletter (printed for those who do not have computers).

To become an Artist or Patron Member go to Become a Member on the sidebar of the web site. If questions arise from perusal of the web site, email contact is available.

The only way to really experience the vibrant exciting world of the art of the doll is to attend a NIADA Conference. Conferences are an annual event welcoming members, friends and visiting artists.

Helen Bullard's remarkable vision, NIADA, has evolved into a vibrant International organization. Helen Bullard died in 1996. Her legacy moves forward.

NIADA Resources

NIADA web site: http://www.niada.org

The NIADA Archive: This archive, available only to members, is a compilation of over 2000 slides, prints and transparencies

UFDC (www.ufdc.org) has several slide programs about NIADA dolls

The Helen Bullard Archive: The Southern Highlands Craft Guild, Asheville, NC www.southernhighlandcraftguild.org The Southern Highland Craft Guild has also been the recipient of some early NIADA dolls

Books About NIADA Artists

NIADA Art Dolls: Rich Traditions, New Ideas - Published 2009 by the NIADA Foundation and The Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum & Library. This book presents the work of 160 artists who have been awarded NIADA membership since the group’s founding in 1963. A stunning array of more than 630 pieces portrays the changing scenery of the art-doll world, from traditional realistic styles to the cutting-edge figurative art of today. (This book is still available by clicking this link on this webpage)

The American Doll Artist, Volume I by Helen Bullard - First Printing: Charles T. Branford Company, Boston, MA 1965 - Second Printing: The Summit Press LTD. Falls Church, VA 1977 (out of print)

The American Doll Artist - Volume II by Helen Bullard - Athena Publishing Company, North Kansas City 1975 (out of print)

Autobiography of a Dollmaker by Helen Bullard - Hobby House Press, Cumberland, MD 1984 -Helen Bullard Story plus a chapter The NIADA Story (out of print)

Dorothy Heizer, The Artist and Her Dolls by Helen Bullard - NIADA and Helen Bullard Krechniak, 1972 (out of print)

Bullard, prolific author and energetic, doll artist, wood carver and nature gardener was born in Elgin, Illinois. She moved to Cumberland, County, TN, in the early 1930s with her author husband, Joseph Marshall Krechniak. The southeastern United States was an area already rich with fine art and craft tradition. In 1949, Bullard originated a type of hand-carved wood figure called "Holly Dolls" and hand-carved wooden tops known as "The Spinnin' Fools," both part of a revival of American craft and culture of the Appalachian Region.

When a book is out of print, it often may be found on a secondary market, the Internet or for sale at a doll show.

The Art of the Doll - Published by NIADA in 1992 - contains articles and photos of Active NIADA Members in 1992 plus a section at the back with short vignettes and black and white photos of earlier artists. (This book is still available by accessing the order form on this web site)

Many other NIADA artists have written wonderful books and produced excellent videos about their work. Use the Contact List and Videos and Books on this web site to find these sources.