Vigo County Historical Society

Pioneers used leftover corn husks to make dolls

Have you ever imagined what pioneer families did for relaxation and entertainment during long winter evenings out on the snow covered prairie?

There was no television or radio. There were no movie theaters. There were no automobiles to take them over concrete highways to the shopping mall and the toy store.

Did the children have toys?

Yes, the children had toys, toys they made themselves from items found around the house or in the fields and forests.

Pioneer families were original recyclers. The reused and recycled everything. Well-worn clothes were torn into strips to make quilts and braided rugs. Buttons were cut off all garments and saved. A child could make a "whirligig" out of a button and some string. As long as you kept it moving it would hum and sing for you.

Little pieces of wood and some cord could be made into a Jacob’s Ladder, which could entertain children for hours.

One of the most popular pioneer treasures was the corn husk doll. Corn had many uses in pioneer times. It was eaten by the people and fed to the livestock. The husks were braided into rugs, baskets and chair seats. But there were plenty left over for corn husk dolls.

The husks needed to be dried for several days, then soaked in warm water and patted dry until just damp. This made them easier to work with.

I have a small doll collection and the corn husk doll is one of my favorites.

For anyone who might be interested in making a corn husk doll, there is an excellent little book in the children’s department in the basement of the Vigo County Public Library. It is called "Pioneer Treasures" and it gives instructions for making the dolls.

Also, there are corn husk dolls on display in the Native American Museum in Dobbs Park.

The corn husk doll pictured is on display in the museum.