408F Summer 2026 More Than a Toy: An American Girl in a Politically Divisive Era

The American Girl Doll, a historical fiction company, created by Pleasant T. Rowland, defined a generation of young readers and enticed them to enjoy learning history. In this course, we'll study how that happened with the Felicity Merriman series. Author Valerie Tripp explores life in Williamsburg during 1774-1776, including themes of political conflict and divisiveness, friendships challenged by opposing political loyalties, independence, and gender norms. We’ll discuss how Tripp connects children to Felicity and her Patriot family and how Felicity navigates her relationship with a friend whose family is staunchly Loyalist. We'll examine, from a child’s point of view, the impact of the Tea Tax, Stamp Act, protests, merchant-class life, and women’s roles in the buildup to the War for Independence. Tips on introducing grandchildren and children to historical fiction, personal independence, political divisiveness, and how to get the most from the series will be included.

Marilyn Harriman is an avid collector of American Girl dolls and historical fiction. She taught HS Advanced Placement Language and Composition in Fairfax County prior to her 2017 retirement, and holds M.Ed and BA degrees in English and Journalism. She has taught classes at OLLI Mason since 2018.