Rose Percy - a charitable doll does lunch.

Received from Jean Radke:

Doll Scholars of Southeast Wisconsin, a UFDC Member Club, will host the Remarkable Rose Percy Luncheon on Saturday, May 19, 2012, from 9A – 3P, at the Pfister Hotel Imperial Ballroom, to benefit the Milwaukee VA Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Center.

            The event will feature VIP Miss Rose Percy, “Duty’s Most Faithful Child,” a Civil War era doll, whose mission has been to assist charitable causes throughout her life. Miss Rose Percy began her mission at the 1864 Metropolitan Sanitary Fair in New York City where she was auctioned to raise funds for the aid of Civil War soldiers.  She continued her mission at the Red Cross National headquarters in Washington DC for several decades and was eventually sold to benefit victims of natural disasters.  Once again she is serving US veterans of all wars through her appearances.

  Special guests include Michael Canadas and David Robinson, directors of the Rose Percy Foundation; Louise Hedrick, Elm Grove, WI, author of “A French Fashion Doll’s Wardrobe”, National Antique Doll Dealers Association (NADDA) representatives from across the US, and Miss Rose Percy herself.

            Registered guests will be treated to a full day of festivities including a wonderful luncheon, a special presentation, a display of Rose Percy with her extensive wardrobe and accessories, and the opportunity to purchase fine quality antiques.  A limited edition illustrated book about Rose’s life story and other surprise souvenirs will go home with each guest. 

            The Doll Scholars will host auctions including antique dolls and clothing to raise funds to honor veterans and benefit the Milwaukee VA Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Center and The Historic National Soldiers Home, established in 1865.  Funds will be used primarily for veterans’ medical care and restoration of the national historic site.  The gift to the “Old Soldiers Home” pays homage to Milwaukee’s West Side Soldiers Aid Society who organized a 10-day Sanitary Fair in June 1865 to raise money for a permanent Wisconsin Soldiers Home, and continues Miss Rose Percy’s legacy.

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The Doll Scholars are also seeking donations for the Soldiers Home:

Contributions can be sent to:

            UFDC - Doll Scholars of Southeast Wisconsin

            6707 Maple Terrace

            Wauwatosa, WI 53213

I'm quite fascinated with this Rose Percy doll. One thing it shows me is just how long people have been creating personas and stories for the dolls they design. It's not just the child with a doll making up wonderful imaginative play stories for her, which is no small thing. It's that dolls are art and people love storytelling through art.