In 1986, the first American Girl Doll Catalogue was published. This original American Girl doll catalogue offered the dolls, books, clothes, toys and accessories that have earned generations of fans throughout the years. The first line of American Girl Dolls were the Historical Character Dolls. The current Historical Character Dolls are Kaya®, Felicity®, Josefina®, Addy®, Rebecca™, Kit®, Molly®, and Julie®.
In 1992, American Girl published the first issue of American Girl Magazine. American Girl magazine is an age appropriate publication that is one of the top ten children's magazines in the United States.
The Just Like You dolls premiered in 1995 as a result of the popularity of American Girl Magazine. These American Girl dolls are available in multiple skin tones, hair color and length, and eye color so that your American Girl can get an American Girl that looks just like her.
The original founder of American Girl was Pleasant T. Rowland and was under the name of the Pleasant Company. In 1998 the company was acquired by Mattel, Inc.
Timeline:
1986 Founding of Pleasant Company with the Debut of Historical Characters; Kirsten Larsen, Samantha Parkington and Molly McIntire
1991 Debut of Historical Character Felicity Merriman
1992 Debut of American Girl Magazine and American Girl Fashion Show
1993 Debut of Historical Character Addy Walker
1995 Debut of Bitty Baby, Just Like You Dolls, advice and activity books
1997 Debut of Historical Character Doll Josephina Montoya
1998 Opening of American Girl Place Chicago and acquisition by Mattel, Inc.
1999 Americangirl.com launches
2000 Retirement of founder Pleasant T. Rowland and debut of Historical Character Kit Kittredge
2001 Debut of the first girl of the year doll, Lindsey
2001 Debut of the Bitty Twins
2002 Debut of Historical Character Kaya
2003 Opening of American Girl Place New York City, NY and debut of Girl of the Year Kailey
2004 Debut of Historical Character Nellie. Renaming of Pleasant Company to American Girl Inc., and release of the first American Girl Television Movie, Samantha: An American Girl Holiday.
2005 Debut of Marisol as the Girl of the Year, debut of Historical Character Elizabeth, release of second American Girl Television Movie, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure
2006 Release of the Third American Girl Television Movie, Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front. Opening of American Girl Place Los Angeles. Debut of Historical Character Emily. Debut of Girl of the year Jess.
2007 Debut of the Girl of the Year, Nicki. Opening of the American Girl Boutique and Bistro in Atlanta, GA and Dallas, TX. Debut of Historical Characters Julie and Ivy.
2008 Debut of Girl of the Year, Mia. Debut of Historical Character Ruthie. Release of American Girl's' first Major Motion Picture: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl starring Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin as Kit. Opening of American Girl Stores in Boston, Minneapolis, and Water Tower Place in Chicago.
2009 Debut of Historical Character Rebecca Rubin. Debut of Girl of the Year Chrissa and her DVD: An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong. Archiving of Historical Character Samantha.
2010 Debut of Girl of the Year, Lanie. Archiving of Historical Character Kirsten Larson.
For more on American Girl Dolls, see the following links:
