Collection of four of Caroline Kennedy’s personally-owned and -used baby dolls. Dolls are made from both hard and soft plastic, each with articulating arms and legs and eyes that open and close; and range in size from 14.5″ to 19.″ Each doll comes with a partial outfit, with three missing footwear. Accompanied by a detailed 1982 letter of authenticity, on White House letterhead, from Viola ‘Big Momma’ Wise, which reads, in part: “This collection of dolls was owned and used by Caroline Kennedy…Caroline loved to play with dolls…These that I have are what I call the ‘real’ dolls, and the ones she loved to play with…After some were overly used, they were discarded and several were given to me at the White House…Some of these dolls were given to my by Mrs. Kennedy, as she and the children prepared to vacate the White House after the tragic assassination of the beloved President.” Also accompanied by an unsigned matte-finish 5 x 7 portrait of President and Mrs. Kennedy posing with Caroline. In very good overall condition, with expected wear and soiling. Although the Kennedy children already had a nurse named Maude Shaw, Viola Wise often stood in as back up, dressing, feeding, and caring for the children in addition to serving the first lady’s needs.
