First Lady Doll of Crissy Haslam Presented to State Museum
NASHVILLE — First Lady Crissy Haslam will attend a presentation by members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Tennessee (GFWCT) at the Tennessee State Museum on Friday, October 20, at 10 a.m. A doll wearing a recreation of the First Lady’s 2011 inaugural gown and a doll-sized replica of the 2015 inaugural gown will be donated to the museum’s collection.
More than 35 years ago, the GFWCT embarked on a project to create dolls of Tennessee’s First Ladies dressed in their inaugural gowns. Upon completion, each doll and gown became part of the permanent collection of the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. This is the 23rd outfitted doll in the series. The first 18 dressed dolls were made by Wilma Johnson of Manchester, TN, from 1982 to 1989. The project continued through the 1990s with multiple makers and into the next decade under the guidance of Lucy Hollis of Tullahoma, TN.
Under the presidency of Linda Hershey of Chattanooga, TN, the project continues with the assistance of her committee of volunteers from across the state. While the original dolls were handmade, the current doll is a Madame Alexander doll. The committee that created and styled the doll and inaugural gowns worn by Mrs. Haslam included Mattie Mullins and Charlene Cleveland (GFWC Monday Club of Johnson City); Anne Wonder (GFWC Centennial Woman’s Club of Tullahoma); and Darby Standefer (GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club, Chattanooga).
About the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Tennessee
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With 90,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding. GFWC of Tennessee was established in 1896 as the Tennessee Federation of Women’s Clubs. As of today, GFWC of TN has over 42 clubs across the state with 1400+ members. During the calendar year of 2016, the members have contributed 152,679 volunteer hours, contributed $1,042,630, and participated in 2,128 projects. More information can be found at GFWC.org and gfwctennessee.com.
About the Tennessee State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum was established by law in 1937 “to bring together the various collections of articles, specimens, and relics now owned by the State under one divisional head,” and “to provide for a transfer of exhibits wherever they may be.”
Today, the Tennessee State Museum is housed in the James K. Polk building in downtown Nashville, where it has been for nearly 35 years. Gov. Bill Haslam proposed and the Tennessee General Assembly approved $120 million in the FY-2015-16 budget to build a new home for the Tennessee State Museum on the Bicentennial Mall to maximize the state’s rich history by creating a state-of-the-art educational asset and tourist attraction for the state. The governor also announced that $40 million would be raised in private funds for the project.
A 140,000 square foot facility is being built on the northwest corner of the Bicentennial Mall at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street to tell Tennessee’s story by showcasing one-of-a-kind artifacts, art and historical documents in an interactive and engaging way. More information on the museum can be found at tnmuseum.org
Contact: Mary Skinner
Community & Media Relations Officer
Direct: 615-253-0103
Mary.Skinner@tn.gov