Kaneohe woman maintains a massive collection of dolls

They call her the doll doctor.

Working in an enclosed carport that was converted years ago into a "doll hospital," Minnie Lou Long patiently cleans, dresses, patches, restrings, replaces limbs and resets the eyes of all types of dolls. She works on cloth, celluloid, composition, hard plastic and bisque dolls.

Most doll owners seeking repairs first learn about Long on the Internet. A simple restringing or hair makeover can cost as little as $10.

"I get them looking as good as I can," she said.

Many of her "patients" are part of Long’s own collection of more than 3,000 dolls, all neatly displayed in the Kaneohe home she shares with her husband, Jim. Some she purchased from flea markets and auctions, some were gifts and others were found in other people’s trash.

An entire wall holds dozens of classic Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. There’s a separate collection of Kewpie dolls, those Cupid-like characters based on an early 20th-century comic strip, and BabyFace dolls made by Galoob in the 1990s. Long’s collection also includes midcentury Betsy McCall Vogue dolls that first became popular as paper dolls, and Holly Hobbie rag dolls of the 1970s and ’80s.

The 71-year-old retired nurse has dolls from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa, and since moving to Hawaii in 2004, she has focused on collecting Hawaiian and Japanese dolls. There are several hundred of them already.

"I’ve got dolls from everywhere. … I love them all," she said.

Long has been surround­ed by dolls her entire life. Her mother placed a Raggedy Ann doll in her bassinet before she was brought home from the hospital as a newborn. Long still has that doll.

"She’s my favorite. She’s not very pretty but she’s special," she said.

Her collection continued to grow as her father sent her dolls from overseas during World War II.

"I grew up playing with dolls," Long explained. "That’s what we did. We didn’t have computers or TV."

Her interest in the playthings didn’t end with childhood. She continued pursing her passion as an adult, collecting more dolls as she traveled the globe with her husband during his 22-year Army career, including 10 years in Europe. One display case in her home is devoted to dozens of German dolls dating from the 1800s to the 1950s. Some of these are her most cherished items.

"The simple cloth German dolls sold in East Berlin were only made when the wall was in place," she said.

Every time the family moved — Long estimates about 37 times — the dolls moved with them. And while some might find the idea of living with so many dolls a little creepy, Jim Long said he doesn’t have a problem with it.

"It’s like living near the ocean — after a while you can’t hear it," he said. "Plus, these dolls come along with a really neat lady, so it’s worth the trade-off."

Hawaii’s climate is less than ideal for doll collecting, according to Long, as the humidity, salt air and other tropical conditions can degrade the materials and clothing. Her advice is to keep dolls in a case behind glass and out of sunlight.

Not content with just doll collecting and doctoring, Long began making her own.

"My first degree was in art. When I was 50 I graduated as a nurse," she said.

Her next project is carving a wooden Hitty doll, which was popularized in a 1920s children’s novel set during the Civil War.

"I’ve already got the blocks of wood," Long said.

Although she claims she doesn’t collect as many dolls as she used to, Long admits that sometimes she just can’t resist adding to her collection.

"Anything that has character catches my eye. Something that someone has spent time on is special to me," she said.

Long is a member of the Doll Doctors Association and participates in Hawaii All-Collectors Shows at the Blaisdell Center. She can be found in the Raggedylou’s Dolls booth, where she dispenses advice on doll repairs and upkeep.

To contact Minnie Lou Long, visit her website at www.raggedylousdolls.com, call 239-4995 or email info@raggedylousdolls.com

Possessed is an occasional series featuring Hawaii residents and their unique or fascinating collections. Tell us about your collection by emailing features@staradvertiser.com or calling 529-4892.