Authors

Don Jensen

Don Jensen and his wife Arlene began collecting dolls nearly 20 years ago when his mother gave them here treasured childhood antique bisque doll. They soon focused on American-made composition dolls from the first half of the twentieth century and found collecting them was a hobby they could truly enjoy together.

He is a retired newspaperman with 34 years experience as a daily newspaper writer and editor. A freelance writer as well, he has written for national magazines on various subjects since 1967. Don has been a frequent contributor to Doll Reader, Doll News, Contemporary Doll Collector, and other doll magazines. He has edited doll collectors' reference books, and for two years he and his wife served as associate editors for Doll News, for which they received the United Federation of Doll Clubs' 1998 Award of Merit for contributions to that magazine.

He is a local historian, winner of state awards, and national nominations for writings -books, magazine and newspaper articles -on local history subjects. He is an experienced doll history researcher and an expert on composition dolls and was selected as a member of the honorary International Doll Academy. Don has presented seminars and programs and has served as judge in UFDC national convention and regional conference competitions.

He and Arlene - and their many composition dolls -live in southern Wisconsin.

Ronald O John

Ronald John served six years in the U.S. Air Force and earning doctorate and post doctorate degrees in special education and clinical psychology. His passion for sports has been rechanneled since 1996 because of back fusion surgery and firm doctor's orders into studying the history of golf and golfing equipment and collecting post-WWI clubs.

LaRee Johnson-Bruton

It is a great pleasure for me to open my closets and trunks to share a passion that I have had for many years. It started innocently enough in an antique shop, just before Halloween as I rummaged through a trunk of old clothes. I found two old dresses, and asked, “How much?” “Five bucks each,” was the reply.

Since I had majored in home economics and loved sewing my own clothes, I knew that $5.00 each was a pretty good buy, considering how much it would cost to make a costume. Little did I know what was about to begin. With a little research I discovered one piece was a classic 1920s black lace flapper dress lined in peach with a large bertha collar. The second piece was a periwinkle blue silk georgette hobble dress from the early teens, very delicate and in perfect condition. I still have these first two pieces, and of course they were never used as Halloween costumes. A passion for fashion started with these two dresses 25 years ago!

My collection has grown to several thousand pieces, including a vast array of accessories, over the past 25 years. I keep thinking I should quit, but one more piece finds its way into the closet. It has always been a special pleasure for me to share my collection through Nostalgic Fashion Presentations for groups, event promotions, or exhibits, as well as teaching college enrichment classes. My collection has also been a source of inspiration for articles that have been published in Vintage Fashions magazine, and then later as a contributing editor for The Ladies’ Gallery magazine with my own regular column.

The Oregon coast has been my home for the past 23 years, raising one fabulous son, Rhett, who had a mother who was known to “play dress-up” at the drop of a hat! I have been active with our local museums and historical society, as well as a member of the Costume Society of America and the National Button Society. I probably should join Collectors Anonymous while I’m at it! Collectors are a strange lot!

Although preserving this beautiful art form is my main purpose for writing this book, it is also a special pleasure to pass on information through exhibits and presentation. I feel these authentic fashions and accessories weave a social legacy with a rich cultural heritage, reflecting the changing image and role of women. As collectors we can take on a stewardship role, preserving these priceless garments and accessories for future generations to enjoy.

Dana Johnson

Dana Johnson has enjoyed collecting and studying Matchbox toys since he was seven years old, in 1962. Originally from Skandia, Michigan, he lived in several other places in Michigan before moving to Bend, Oregon, in 1985. He has lived there ever since.

His interest in diecast toys has since expanded to many other brands besides Matchbox, including Majorette, Tomica, Siku, Hot Wheels, Bburago, Maisto, Yatming, and hundreds of other brands. He has discovered so many brands of automotive toys and models (over 800) that he has written a book on them entitled Toy Car Collector’s Guide, available from Collector Books, your favorite bookstore, or from the author for $19.95 retail plus shipping and handling.

While holding down a full-time job, Dana also finds time to produce Toy Car Collector Magazine for his club, the Toy Car Collectors Association. He also maintains a worldwide website, at www.toynutz.com, through his home-based business, Dana Johnson Enterprises.

In addition, he has written several self-published books, including Tomica — Japan’s Most Popular Diecast Toys, Siku Toys of Germany, Majorette Toys of France, and others. For a catalog of book titles and membership rates, send two first class stamps to:

Dana Johnson Enterprises
PO Box 1824
Bend OR 97709-1824

George Johnson

George W. Johnson has been collecting antique Christmas decorations for over 30 years, and is a member of the Golden Glow of Christmas Past, a club for enthusiasts of Christmas memorabilia. He is an elementary and middle school teacher who specializes in working with talented and gifted students in Southern Local Schools near Logan, Ohio.

Don Jones

Danny Cornelius and Don Jones both grew up in an area rich in this country’s glass history. Living less than 100 miles from the vast heritage of the glass houses in business in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, and seeing the work produced by companies such as those from Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Cambridge, Tiffin, it would have been hard not to develop an interest in glass – and they did.

However, career choices and other obligations by necessity took priority until a day in 2001 when an iridized orange Hazel Atlas Checkerboard covered butter caught their eye at a local garage sale and the glass bug bit hard. Several additional covered butters were added to the collection and soon an interest in the concept of early table sets expanded their collecting to focus these table sets – wonderful matching sets consisting of a covered butter, sugar, creamer, and spooner. This focus has stayed with them to this day – and gave rise to their first book “American Pattern Glass Table Sets”.

But a fascination with EAPG in general also developed and the intrigue of the many varied patterns, shapes, and forms as well as the rich history of the companies that produced them has lead them to become champions of EAPG and they have spent the last several years traveling the country as dealers, displayers and speakers helping to renew an interest in EAPG.

They continue to work on researching and gathering information for future books on this captivating subject of EAPG.

A Everette James Jr

Everette James is an honors graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke Medical School, and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He taught at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University College (London), and Vanderbilt. He has published over 500 articles and 20 books including: American Art: Thoughts of a Collector; Essays in Folk Art; Tales of the Dismal Swamp; and North Carolina Art Pottery 1900-1960. Dr. James and wife, Dr. Nancy Farmer, live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Robert C Runge Jr

Known to champion the cause of historic preservation, Rob Runge is fondly referred to as "Mr. Stangl." His collection of Fulper and Stangl pottery and dinnerware is quite extensive. He was born, raised, and educated in the Hunterdon County/Trenton, New Jersey area. He has been intensely involved with many civic activities aimed at advancing the interests of collectors today.