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Deewes Cochran
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; National Archives Records Administration
Deewes Cochran
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; National Archives Records Administration

Deewes Cochran

1892 - 1991
Ella Dewees Cochran (1892-1991) began making portrait dolls of real children ca. 1934, which were popular with wealthy clients. She created six basic dolls in 1936, each with a different face shape and by changing the hair or eyes, could produce a portrait doll of most children. These were her Look- A-like dolls. Dewees also designed dolls for the Effanbee Doll Company in 1936, which are called American Children dolls.


She formed the Dewees Cochran Doll, Inc. company. She contracted with the Molded Latex Company and produced the Cindy doll in 1947-1948. The final series of dolls were the Grow-Up dolls and small Baby dolls sized 5-9" tall in the 1950s. Ms. Dewees retired in the 1960s and the company ceased doll production by the 1970s.