Miss Ehime

Original Name:
Unknown
Personal Name:
Unknown
Artist:
Unknown
Location:
Gulfport Public Library (Missing)
City:
Gulfport
State:
Mississippi

The Friendship Doll known as Miss Ehime was originally placed in the Carnegie Library in Gulfport, Mississippi where she was readily embraced by the community. In 1966 she was moved to the newly built Gulfport Public Library and prominently placed on display near the circulation desk. 

On August 17, 1969 Hurricane Camille swept ashore, eviscerating the newly built library, and, sadly, carrying Miss Ehime out to sea.

Due to a lack of archival imagery, it is impossible to determine exactly which doll was originally placed in Gulfport, Mississippi. But through research and the use of archival photographs from Japan, it has been determined that the doll now known as Miss Fukushima is actually the original Miss Ehime by the artist Takizawa Kōryūsai II.

A replacement doll created by Abe Futoshi was sent by Ehime Prefecture to Gulfport, Mississippi in 1988. However, tragically, this doll, too, was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.

Today the memory of both of these dolls is commemorated in a painting donated by Ehime Prefecture in the new west branch Gulfport Public Library.

Kimono crest:
Unknown
Dogu (furnishing) crest:
Unknown
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