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George and Nan Pollard
Artist Bio:
George Pollard (1922–2008) and Nancy Ellen “Nan” Distelhorst Pollard (1925–2012) were a husband-and-wife artist team whose work included paper dolls, children’s books, coloring books, activity books, and greeting cards. They met as students at Milwaukee’s Layton School of Art in 1946 and married in April 1947. After serving with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II, George continued his training at Layton, while Nan began a long career in children’s publishing.
Born Nancy Ellen Distelhorst in Burlington, Iowa, Nan studied for four years at Milwaukee's Layton School of Art. While still a student, she received her first professional illustration work and went on to a 55-year career in children's publishing. Nan became a staff artist for the Samuel Lowe Publishing Company and later worked from the Pollards’ home studio. She illustrated for Lowe until the company ceased publishing in the late 1970s. During her career, she also worked for Saalfield, Standard, Rand McNally, Resource Publishers, Checkerboard Press, Macmillan, Northwestern Lutheran, Western Publishing, and Disney. Marilyn Henry reported that Nan created approximately 2,000 color illustrations and a comparable number of black-and-white drawings.
When Lowe produced celebrity paper doll books, George and Nan collaborated. They developed the layouts together. Then Nan typically made the initial sketch, George painted the portrait face and sometimes the hands, and Nan completed the figure, clothing, dolls, backgrounds, interior folder art, back cover, and often the lettering. George also made sketches during visits with some celebrities, including Jackie Gleason, Janet Leigh, and Patti Page, which helped inform the finished likenesses. In the Rosemary Clooney book, for example, George painted Clooney’s face on the cover, while Nan created the figure, garden setting, dog, dolls, folder art, costumes, lettering, and other details.
George later concentrated on portrait painting and sports illustration. His subjects included Supreme Court justices, senators, governors, military leaders and Pentagon figures, entertainers, athletes, and Pope John Paul II. His portrait of Mother Teresa led to a Vatican commission to paint Pope John Paul II, for which he received the Papal Medal.
Nan continued to create paper dolls and other children’s materials under her own name, producing more than a hundred books for Lowe alone. Her work ranged from baby and child dolls to teen fashions, television and celebrity subjects, bridal sets, activity books, coloring books, storybooks, and novelty paper-doll formats. The Pollards also operated a greeting-card company beginning in the 1960s. For more than twenty years, patients in Veterans Administration hospitals hand-colored or color-lined the cards in a paid work program. In 1991, the Pollards sold the business to U.S. Allegiance, Inc., intending for the veterans’ work program to continue.
The Pollards’ artistic accomplishments were honored in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the Pollard Gallery was named for them in 2004. In 2006, they received the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Georgia O’Keeffe Award for Distinction in the Visual Arts. George died in April 2008, and Nan continued to live in their Kenosha home overlooking Lake Michigan until her death on April 16, 2012, at age 87.
Sources: Paper Dolls and Their Artists, Revised Edition by Mary Young (1993); Paperdoll Review issue 48 (2010).
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Selected Titles:
Lowe paper dolls by George and Nan Pollard:
Airline Stewardess, #4913 (1957; also #1880 and #2739)
Baby Doll, #2403 (1957; also #1262, #1801, #2761, and #4220-C)
Bride and Groom, #2493 (1959; also #2755)
Rosemary Clooney, #2569 (1956; also #2774)
Rosemary Clooney, #2480 (1958; folder art only)
Rosemary Clooney, #1806 (1958; front-cover art only)
Bob Cummings, #2407 (1957; also #1810 and #2732)
Fritzi Ritz, #1259 (covers/dolls only; also #1335, color book with dolls only)
The Honeymooners, #2560 (1956)
Janet Leigh, #2405 (1957; also #1805, #2481, #2733, and #2757)
Patti Page, #2406 (1957; also #1804, #2734, #2739, #2758, #2919 [pd/cb], and #5801)
Patti Page, #2488 (1958)
Patience and Prudence, #2411 (1957; also #1807 and #2532)
Reprints with different titles:
Baby Doll: Baby Sue, #2786 and #2886; Dimples, #2767 and #2930-4; I'm a Big Cry Baby, #2719; Sweetest Baby, #2492
Bride and Groom: Bride Doll Book, #1814 and #1044; Hair-Dos, #2766; Here Comes the Bride, #2737, #2793, and #2930-1; Honeymoon, #1013 and #1834; Three Models and Hair-Dos, #2783
Patti Page (#2488): Fashion Models, #1517; Society Dolls, #1864; Royal Princess, #2750 (uses dolls from both Patti Page sets #2406 and #2488)
Janet Leigh: Fifth Avenue, #2759; Hollywood Glamour, #2771; Celebrity Autograph, #1589 (paper doll/coloring book)
The Honeymooners: Mr. & Mrs., #1515 (uses dolls of Ed Norton and Trixie); Dress-Up Dolls, #2745 (uses dolls of Trixie and Alice)
Airline Stewardess: Jet Airline Stewardess, #1516; Doll Packet, #1031; Nurse Cut-Out Doll, #1861 and #1870
Bob Cummings: Brenda Lee, #2785; Boy Meets Girl, #2775; Boy and Girl, #1810; Cover Girls, #1843; Doll Book, #1863; Doll Packet, #1032 and #1035; Fabulous High Fashion Models, #2776; Fashion Models, #1009 and #1837; Girl and Boy, #1040; Glamorous High Fashion, #2735; Hollywood Glamour, #1042 and #1812; Million Dollar Dolls, #2486; Sister Dolls, #1868; Vacation Album, #2484; Young Couple, #1016 and #1833; Dr. Kildare and Nurse Susan, #2740 and #2768 (use redrawn dolls of Bob Cummings for Dr. Kildare; the dolls of Nurse Susan, also redrawn, are from Airline Stewardess #4913)
Saalfield paper dolls by George and Nan Pollard:
Polly Bergen, #4434 (1958; also #4419, #4442, #4484, and #4492)
Gisele MacKenzie, #4421 (1957; also #4471)
Gisele MacKenzie, #4428 (1958; also #4425, #4475, and #4478)
Pretty as a Picture, #2775 (dolls only; also #1744, #1794, and #2675)
The Queen of Dance, #2719 (dolls only; same dolls as #2775; also #2619 and #2744)
Robin Hood and Maid Marian, #2784 (dolls only; also #856, #1056, and #2684)
Lowe paper dolls by Nan Pollard only:
Annie the Action Doll, #2528 (1954; dolls only; also #2582)
Baby Buggy, #1062 (dolls only; also #1078 and #1327)
Betty Plays Lady, #4266 (1953; turned pages give attached doll new outfits)
Billy Boy, #4265 (1953; turned pages give attached doll new outfits)
The Bobbsey Twins, #1254 (1952; date/Lowe records; also #1257 and #2754)
Doll Friends, #2721 (1972)
Dolltime, #2783 (1969)
Dolly Goes Round the World, #4264 (1955; turned pages/new outfits for face)
Dotty Doll Book, #2760-G (1968)
Dress Annabelle, #2720 (1972)
Fairy Princess, #2709 (1957; dolls/covers only; also #1255 and #6901)
The Happy Family, #2725 (1973; also #3725 and #4532)
Here Comes the Bride, #2718 (1971; also #3723 and #4531)
His and Hers—The Guest Towel Dolls, #2563 (1955; also #2736)
House Full of Dolls and Clothes, #2723 (1972; also #3724 and #4507)
Jeannie and Gene, #3727 (1975; also #4510)
Junior Misses, #2483 (1958)
Lace and Dress Puppy, #8902 (1975)
Lace and Dress Kitty, #8903 (1975)
Little Dolls, #2722 (1972; also #3711)
Little Girls, #2784 (1969; also #3722, #4536, and #6736)
Lots of Dolls, #1832 (1961; date in Lowe records; dolls only)
Masquerade Party, #4299 (1955; turned pages give outfits for four faces)
Now and Then, #2724 (1973; also #3715 and #4509)
Sally, Sue and Sherry, #2785 (1969)
Sally's Dress a Doll Storybook, #2610 (1952)
The Three Cheers, #2408 (1958; also #1808; covers and dolls of Ruth and Vivian only)
Toni Hair-Do Cut-Out Dolls, #1284 (1950; also #960)
Two Teens, #2743 (1963; also #2712 and #3721)
Reprints with different titles:
Annie the Action Doll: Annie the Statuette Doll, #2701; Annie the Sweetheart Doll, #1260; Betty Buttercup, #2568, #2754, and #2796; Cutie Doll, #1041 and #1811; I'm Trudy/I'm Katie, #4504; Little Miss Sew and Sew, #2438-B and #2438-C; Little Miss Muffet, #2787; Mary Jane, #1014 and #1836; Me and Mimi, #1379; Punchout and Dress (Betsy and Bitsy), #1826
The Bobbsey Twins: Little Neighbor, #949 and #1377; Little Boy Meets Little Girl, #4701; My Favorite Doll Book, #965, #1370, and #1384; Play Pals, #1382
Doll Friends: Doll Push Outs, #3713; Doris, #1846; Sue, #1848
Dolltime: Doll House Dollies, #3922
Dotty Doll Book: Dotty Dolly Lace-On, #733; I'm Amy/I'm Jill, #4501; Lace-On Clothes Dolly, #5909-H; Stand-Up Doll—Sew On, #3909-A
Dress Annabelle: Hello Dollies, #8045; I'm Mimi/I'm Judy, #4502; Stand-Up Doll—Sew On, #3909-D, E, and F; Stand-Up Dolly, #4909-D, E, and F; Sturdy Stand-Up Dolly, #4509-D, E, and F
Fairy Princess: Cinderella, #2734; Fairy Tale Princess, #2787
His and Hers: Betty Doll, #2777; Brother and Sister, #2490; 11" Doll with Button-On Clothes, #2903; Going Places with Mary and Bill, #1045 and #1815; Her Peek-a-Book, #2361 and #3380; His Peek-a-Book, #2360 and #3379; I'm Ginny/I'm Lolly, #4503; Lace-On Clothes Dolly, #5909-I and J; Paper Playmates (Jan and Jimmy), #2522; Stand-Up Doll—Sew On, #3909-B and C; Storybook Dolls, #2794; Twinkles, #2742 and #2774
House Full of Dolls: Jenny and Nancy, #1850; Peggy and Trudy, #1851
Junior Misses: After School Party–Bandstand, #2735 and #2772; Busy Teens, #2797; Cheerleaders, #2741; Holiday Cruise, #2770; Teen-Age Dolls, #1011 and #1838; Teens, #2740; another reprint is #2764 Archie's Girls with dolls redrawn by another artist
Little Dolls: Sherry and Terry, #1847; Four Push-Out Dolls to Dress, #3711
Little Girls: Jane, #1842; Jane & Jill, #731; Jill, #1841; Playhouse Dolly-Jo, #1831; Playhouse Dolly-Jill, #1832; Playhouse Dolly-Jane, #1833
#8902 and #8903 Lace and Dress Puppy & Kitty: Kitty & Puppy, #731
Lots of Dolls: Brother and Sister Dolls, #1837; Doll House Dollies, #613; Dolls, Molly & Nina, #1836; Girls and Boys, #2781; Masquerade Party, #1862; Paper Doll Playmates, #1838; School Children, #2742, #3726, and #4505; School Days, #3923; School Time, #2752; Six Cut-Outs and Lovely Clothes, #2420
Patience and Prudence: Doll Packet, #1034 and #1036; Dress Up Dolls, #2728 and #2778; Duet Dolls, #2736 and #2873; Girl Friends, #2792 and #2930-3; Hair-Do Dolls, #2784; Mother and Daughter, #1860 and #2719; Sister Dolls, #1012, #1879, and #2761; Sisters, #1839, #1847, #2494, and #3924; Teenage Sister Dolls, #1845
Sally, Sue and Sherry: Doll Push-Outs, #3714; Dress-Up Doll Book, Sherry, #1839; Sally, #1849; Sally and Sue, #1835
Sally's Dress a Doll Storybook: Sally Storybook, #9111; Sally's Sew On Clothes, #2990; Sew On Doll, #1915
Toni Hair-Do: Big 'n Little Sister, #1372; Big Sister, #1376; Doll Time, #1844; Dolls and Their Dollies, #2749; Dolly and Me, #959 and #2706; Dress A Like, #1381; Look-Alike, #988 and #1384; Pam and Her Pram, #2508
Two Teens: Hair-Do Doll, #1878; Jackie, #1890; Sally and Jane, #2755 and #4506; Schoolmates, #1867 and #2773; Susan, #1875 and #1889
Standard Publishing Co. paper dolls by Nan Pollard:
Bible Children Paper Dolls, #2590
Children of God's World, #2591
Saalfield paper dolls by Nan Pollard:
Adams Family, #3731 (activity book/paper dolls)
Ballet Paper Doll, #4233 (1972; also #5233)
Blondie, #4434 (1968; also #1334 and #6053)
Curiosity Shop, #4343 (1971; also #6049)
Dodie, #5115 (1971; also #6044)
Fave Teens, #4262 (1973)
For Miss America, Henrietta Hippo, #N4042 (1974; also #D4111)
The Happiest Millionaire, #4487 (1967; also #1387)
Hee Haw, #5139 (1971)
Laugh-In Party, #6045 (1969; also #1325)
Mini Mods, #4441 (1969; also #1321)
Nanny & the Professor, #4213 (1970; also #1213, #1283, #4238, #1728, #4283, and #5114)
Marie Osmond, #5225 (1973)
Terri and Tonya, #4241 (1966/70; dolls only; also #1247 and #4247)
Tina, #4476 (doll only; also #1324, #1345, #1376, and #4250)
Wiggie, the Mod Model, #4486 (1967; also #1356 and #1386)
Reprints with different titles:
Fave Teens: Teen Set, #P4043
Wiggie, the Mod Model: Suzanne's Wow Wardrobe, #4237 and #523 |
