March 9, 1959 is Barbie’s birthday. And our newest Meekins staff member Grayson Hawthorn has cause to celebrate. Not only does she collect Barbies, but she is also skilled at repairing and restoring them, giving each well-loved doll a new life. Grayson’s collection includes many Barbies that have evolved over time, reflecting the social and cultural changes of the last 65+ years. She keeps her collection on display at home and for August 2025 she has shared some of her dolls in the Library’s Cabinet of Curiosities.
Grayson tells us about her collecting experience: “As a lifelong collector of dolls, I’m very grateful to have a portion of my Barbie collection displayed. Of course, I played with my dolls when I was younger, but I also loved to clean and restore vintage toys and dolls that I found at flea markets and yard sales, often in large bins being sold for a dollar a piece. Some of the dolls in this display are ones that I repaired in various ways, such as scrubbing stains away or rerooting their hair.
Toys are things that we shape as children—we cradle them, cut their hair, accidentally break their limbs—but toys also shape our imaginations and who we become as we grow up. I hope that you enjoy viewing my dolls and think about toys that you loved and played with.”
Come to the Meekins to see Grayson’s Barbies. Sign the guest book and tell us if you had a favorite childhood doll or another special toy. Meekins is open Tuesday from 10-6; Wednesday from 1-7; Thursday from 3-6; and Saturday from 9-2. You can share your photos and stories in the comments too. Thanks to Grayson for this fun display. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 8/21/25
