OOAK NIADA Roberta Bell Mary McLeod Bethune Doll and Book

NIADA Roberta Bell was the first African-American to be elected into the organization. She handmade many of her dolls in the 1970s. This doll portrays Mary McLeod Bethune and includes a book about Ms. Bethune and her history/political platform, plus a few other fact sheets.

The doll has a strong resemblance to the pictures shown in the literature and is dressed in a gray flannel suit which has a side zipper in the skirt (fashion of the time). She also wore rings on each finger, and a stone is present on each hand to represent same.

The head/hands are a ceramic material, but the rest of the body and limbs are fabric. The shoes are appropriate to the costume, but made of vinyl. Overall a great characterization by Ms.

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