Recently, I was contacted by Bill Fifer, the Hitty carver and miniature artisan. He had saved photos and other information about Hitty over the years and wanted to pass it along to someone who would appreciate it. Bill had heard of my article in Doll News magazine about Hitty’s wardrobe and wondered if I would be interested in his treasure trove. You can imagine how surprised and honored I was to hear from him. I promised him that I would preserve his archive and share it with others on my website. Below is a brief biography and history of how Bill and his wife, Pat Fifer, became so involved in the world of Hitty.
Bill Fifer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in June 1953, and as an ROTC student. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in Army Infantry, spending 25 years on active duty and retiring in 1978 as a full Colonel. He then worked another 16 years for Northrop (now Northrop Grumman). In 1992, Bill’s wife, Patricia, got interested in miniatures and persuaded him to go to Castine, Maine, where they attended summer school at the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA). Bill and Pat both joined the Guild and became very active, participating in the summer school for 14 years until Pat’s health declined. Both became Artisan members of the Guild, Pat for her exquisite costuming and Bill for making miniature furniture.
Pat had been the one who sparked the couple’s interest in Hitty. Pat read the Hitty book as a girl and wanted to see the real doll who inspired the story. In June 1996, on their way up to Castine, they stopped at the public library in Sturbridge, MA to see the original Hitty, only to be told she was in the library in Stockbridge, MA. Their disappointment didn’t last long, because they stopped in Stockbridge on the way home from Castine. Pauline Pierce, then curator of the historic room at the Stockbridge Library, allowed the couple to hold Hitty and take some photos of the doll. At the time, no measurements were taken.
When Bill returned home, he hand carved his very first Hitty replica out of rock hard white ash (used to make tool handles). His No. 1 Hitty was only 5 3/4” tall.
Pat knew of a woman in California who silk screened fabrics in miniature patterns for doll costuming, and she made Pat several pieces like the “Library Dress” Hitty was wearing. Pat then made Hitty a replica dress from the fabric.
A second visit in September 1996 allowed Bill and Pat to take detailed measurements and additional photos of Hitty and her clothing. Pat used notes about the clothing to write an article for the Friends of Hitty Newsletter called, “Hitty Clothes,” (Volume III, Issue 1, Spring 1997).
Meanwhile, Bill developed a detailed plan of Hitty’s measurements and continued to carve replica dolls. Over the years he carved 82 Hitty dolls, giving many to friends and family, selling some, and swapping with other Hitty carvers like Judy Brown and Jean Lotz. A friend named Barbra-Jean Male asked Bill to help her neighbor, Hanna Kahl-Hyland, get started carving Hittys. Hanna’s dolls looked so natural and beautiful, as if Hitty had come to life as a real little girl. Bill thinks that one of Hanna’s Hittys sold for a record high price of $4,345.00 on ebay. Hanna died earlier this year, but you can still see pictures of her Hittys on Hanna’s website.
Bill also made replicas of Hitty’s furniture, including many copies of her settle bench, desk, and four poster bed. Pat made an accurate replica of Hitty’s hexagon quilt for the bed.
Sadly, Pat passed away in 2021 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. At the age of 92 1/2, Bill no longer carves Hitty, but he does still carve a few toy animals for his three great grandsons. One of his Hitty dolls sold on ebay for $1,028.00. Another is on display with storybook dolls in the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in Kansas City, Missouri.
I would like to thank Bill for his service as a veteran, and also for his dedication and contributions to the world of Hitty. I will be adding Bill’s materials to this website over the coming weeks, beginning with scans of his photos of the real Hitty in the Stockbridge Library, taken in 1996. Enjoy!
Bill’s Photos of Hitty in the Stockbridge Library
Click here to download the 5 pages of Hitty photos!
When Bill Fifer and his wife, Pat, visited Hitty in 1996, Hitty was located in the Historical Room of the library. While there, the couple took many photos of Hitty. Recently, Bill sent me those photos and gave me permission to share them. Having pictures from multiple angles is a valuable resource. I have taken the best examples of each view and arranged them so they can be easily printed for reference. You can use these photos as an aid for carving your own wooden doll.
Note: I have done minor editing such as cropping and color adjustment to make the photos consistent.
