MORE THAN A DOLL: THE STORY BEHIND JOSEFINA MONTOYA

by Ella Madis

My name is Ella Madis, and I am a junior at Texas State University studying English and Art History. Dave Friant, a frequent contributor to Celebration Magazine (and my Papa), has helped me develop my writing and inspired me to share some of my archival research.

Through frequent visits to the Witliff Collection, an archive held on the top floor of the Texas State Library, I discovered the writings of Marc Simmons, a groundbreaking historian of the American Southwest and an important contributor to the stories behind the iconic American Girl doll Josefina Montoya.

American Girl dolls have been a part of many girls’ childhoods for decades. I remember my sister and I being fascinated by the dolls and their books, especially the idea that these stories told of girls living lives long before we existed. Each historical American Girl has a unique story shaped by her time period. Josefina Montoya is a doll that specifically reflects the rich history of the American Southwest. Josefina was the doll of 1997, and a brave Mexican American girl who shows strength in times of need for her family. Her story reflects life in New Mexico during a period of change on the Santa Fe Trail. While searching in the archives, I discovered that Josefina’s story is historically accurate to accounts of the Southwest. As a lover of history, this immediately caught my attention. I wanted to understand how the historical details within the book reflected life in New Mexico.

Josefina’s story takes place only three years after Mexico gained independence from Spain. This change allowed New Mexico greater access to goods from trade routes it had previously been unable to use. These historical connections can be found throughout Josefina’s books, including piñón nuts, which Josefina and her sisters collect to eat and trade. This inclusion of Spanish vocabulary not only reflects the region's history but also introduces young readers to another culture and language. One passage explains that acequias are “irrigation ditches… that made it possible to farm in the dry mountains of northern New Mexico.” The importance of natural resources is a passed-down tradition, as her Papa informs her, “El agua es la vida,” translating to “Water is life to this land.” Nothing can survive without it. These details give young readers a new understanding of a time before they existed. By inserting facts about historical New Mexico, Simmons has made history feel much closer to everyday life. Children can understand and see history through the eyes of a young girl just like themselves.

Rather than focusing solely on major historical events, the story centers on a Hispanic family navigating their new world. The result is a historically rich story of strength found in a young girl facing challenges. Maybe the most impactful way of teaching history to children is not by giving them dates and facts alone, but by showing them that their lives aren’t so different from those of kids long ago. One of the most fascinating discoveries of my research was the letters of two historians. Marc Simmons was a highly influential expert on the American Southwest. Valerie Tripp, author of the American Girl novels, would send manuscripts to Simmons before publication. The two developed a unique friendship through their shared passion for the daily lives of rancho families in New Mexico. When looking in the archives, I found this friendship between the two scholars fascinating and very endearing. Their letters back and forth created a story that focused on making history accessible to children. The two formed a unique bond over their shared passion for the lives of rancho families in New Mexico.

The story of Josefina Montoya serves as much more than a story of a doll, but it also acts as both an educational resource and a cultural representation of the Southwest. In a letter addressing comments on one of the books, Marc Simmons called upon an overarching theme throughout Josefina’s journey: “Cada uno extiende la pierna hasta donde alcanza la cobija.” (Everyone stretches his leg as far as the blanket reaches.) We will adapt ourselves to a given situation. By viewing the past through the eyes of a young girl like them, children can learn from and find a connection to a history that once felt far away.