Name/Title
Pinkie PuppetsEntry/Object ID
2019.18.6Description
Acc No. 19.18.6 (A-B)
Subject Category: Hospital, Alameda
Date or Period: ca. 1950-1970
Object: Hand puppets
Description: Two hand puppets: (A) "Pinkie", with light colored celluloid face, body and hat from pink cotton cloth. Machine sewn. In original tan box (cardboard) with child's doodles and a "Pinkie' poem. (B) "Doctor", with similar physical features (and tan box) to "A”, except the body and hat are made of a surgical green cloth, with a white surgical mask.
Size: Length of puppet ca 15 inches.
History of Object: These puppets were handed out to young patients after their tonsil removal. Between 1956 to 1970 auxiliary hospital organizations all over the US started creating these puppets from kits. The pink color of the original doll's body was based on the pink uniform that the auxiliary hospital staff wore in many hospitals. The green doctor's uniform is relatively rare. At the Alameda Hospital the organization creating these puppets was the Alameda Hospital Auxiliary, formed in 1954.
Acquired From:
Jean Wolslegel
Date: 03/16/19
"PINKIE" POEM (This poem was glued to the upper lid of the box):
Do you know who I am?
Come now, can’t you guess?
A puppet pal like the
Girl in the pink dress.
I’m yours while you’re here,
And home with you I’ll go,
Like a new sort of playmate
And friend, you know.
I may be quite small to
Call me a gal,
So just call me ‘Pinkie’,
Your hospital pal!