The Museum of the Confederacy located in Richmond, Virginia, is the home of two Civil War era dolls thought to have been used to smuggle medicine past Union blockades.  Nina and Lucy Ann, two American baby dolls, were x-rayed at VCU Medical Center, disclosing hollowed papier-mache heads that once could have contained quinine or morphine for wounded or malaria-stricken Confederate troops.  Medicines were smuggled from Europe to a Southern port. Once the dolls reached a port, the powdered quinine was pressed into pills for Southern troops.

Wright, the museum collections manager, said “The idea behind the smuggling dolls is that even if a ship was boarded and searched, it was unlikely that they were going to do such a thorough search that they would find this medication hidden inside of dolls.”

Nina was donated to the museum in 1923 by the children of Gen. James Patton Anderson, who commanded the Tennessee Army of the Confederacy.  She has red boots.  Lucy Ann, attired in a salmon-colored cape and dress, was given to the museum on 1976 by an anonymous donor.  She is adorned with a coral necklace.

Wouldn’t it be fun to stop by the Richmond museum to see these American baby dolls!