Curious coincidences catch the eye, and one unusual historical pattern got my attention while editing labels for the 2025 inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame. I learned that Scott Abbott was the co-creator of Trivial Pursuit, and it struck me as interesting because it seems that people named Abbott have been surprisingly important as creators of card and board games.
Anne Abbott
I first began thinking about Abbotts and game making many years ago when I learned that Anne Abbott […]
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It’s a Hit! Battleship Cruises into the National Toy Hall of Fame
We used to play a lot of Battleship when I’d babysit my little cousin after school. In the game, two players hide ships of various sizes on a grid then take turns announcing coordinates to attack. Since the players begin with no knowledge of their opponent’s formation, most early shots are launched into the open sea. But players mark each missed shot with a white peg, slowly deducing the positions of their targets. It’s only a matter of time until […]
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Nothing Trivial about It
Many of us feel that we have a particular superpower in our everyday lives. For some, it might be detecting the gas station with best price without using an app. For others, it’s finding the prime clothing item on a markdown rack that’s just your size. Back in the 1980s, my special skill was my ability to retain and retrieve all sorts of factual flotsam and jetsam—perfect for excelling at Trivial Pursuit. For a time, Trivial Pursuit became a standard […]
Slime Oozes into the National Toy Hall of Fame
I experience many emotions when my young kids ask to make slime. I usually greet their requests with enthusiasm before quickly dissolving into panic as I watch the glue, shaving cream, glitter, and bingsu beads stick to various surfaces around the room. Slime is an extension of an established chemical process. When sodium tetraborate (borax) combines with guar gum or polymers, it turns into a gelatinous substance that can be stretched, squeezed, broken apart, and molded back together. When the […]
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Piled-up Poufs, Backcombing, and Crimping: Barbie’s Hair
With thanks to a generous museum donor, Robin H. Wyatt, I was able to join more than 850 collectors who came together at the 2025 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky. The theme for the event was ICON Barbie: A Fashion Original. While at the convention, I presented on The Strong’s Barbie collection. My presentation highlighted Barbie dolls from the 1960s through the 1990s who reflect the criteria of National Toy Hall of Fame inductees: icon-status, longevity, […]
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Dollhouses Unveiled: An Exhibit Celebrating Dollhouses and Miniatures
Once adult playthings, dollhouses originally showcased finely crafted furnishings made of exotic materials and served as symbols of wealth. But miniatures fascinated children as much as adults, and toymakers began producing variations of these houses for kids to enjoy. And dollhouses remain a favorite plaything today, as well as an inductee to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Margaret Woodbury Strong, the museum’s founder, was an avid collector of dollhouses. A ticket from 1958 invited guests to the “First Public Showing […]
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A Puzzling Tradition
Do you have traditions that you associate with the holidays? For some folks, that tradition involves seasonal baked goods with flavors and aromas that create a special aura. For others, it’s a beverage, perhaps a glass of eggnog or a mug of hot chocolate. In my family, there’s the annual Christmas jigsaw puzzle.
From my perspective, there are a couple great things about associating jigsaw puzzles with the holidays. For one, it gives me an automatic gift idea for my sister […]
My Little Pony Prances into the National Toy Hall of Fame
My Little Pony invites children in the age-old play of hair grooming, brushing, and braiding. The ponies encourage fantasy, narrative, and storytelling. The variety of figures promotes collecting as a pastime. And, at the heart of it all, the ponies acknowledge many children’s fascination with horses. The continued popularity of the line proves that this brand—pardon the pun—has legs and has earned its place as a 2024 inductee to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Hasbro based My Little Pony on […]
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The Next Phase: Welcoming Phase 10 to the National Toy Hall of Fame
I don’t bring a stack of board games to family Thanksgiving anymore. Although my very kind mother will occasionally humor me and play one of my games, I’ve never seen her have more fun at the table than when we played the traditional card game Hearts this last summer. My aunt, too, has been more than happy to teach me how to play (and how to lose) gin rummy. Years after getting into board games, both personally and professionally, I’ve […]
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