Caddie Woodlawn Paper Doll

It looks like Caddie picked daisies for her hair as well as berries! Her cotton dress dates back to the 1860s. The white cotton pinafore that covers her dress and serves as a basket for the berries dates from 1868. Both are in the textile collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Illustration courtesy Sue Shanahan.

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in Wisconsin 83 years ago? What about 143 years?

Two books, "Rascal" and "Caddie Woodlawn", can give you a good idea. Although not actually worn by them, the outfits featured in these paper dolls are the kind of clothing Caddie Woodlawn and Sterling North might have worn while growing up in Wisconsin.

Click on the links below to open a full-size version of Caddie Woodlawn or Sterling North that you can print and cut out yourself!

About Caddie Woodlawn

In 1935, Carol Ryrie Brink wrote the Newberry Award-winning book, "Caddie Woodlawn."

Caddie's adventures are based on the stories that Carol Brink's grandmother (the real Caddie) told her about growing up in frontier western Wisconsin in the 1860s.

For more information on Caddie Woodlawn, visit the Dunn County Historical Society's Caddie Woodlawn page.

Sterling North Paper Doll

A tailor aboard the U.S.S. Minnesota made this child-sized sailor suit for Mortimer M. Lawrence of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Born in 1890, Mort Lawrence was probably in fourth grade in 1900 when the suit was made. It is a copy of those worn by sailors in the late 1800s and is now a part of the textile collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Illustration courtesy Sue Shanahan.

About Sterling North

Thomas Sterling North was born in 1906 and grew up in Edgerton, Wisconsin.

When Sterling was 11 years old, in 1918, he raised a baby raccoon named "Rascal." Later in 1963 he wrote a book named "Rascal" based on his childhood memories.

In the book Sterling renamed his hometown "Brailsford Junction." The mischievous raccoon and Sterling become best friends for a perfect year of adventure. They swim, fish and explore the countryside together.

For more information on Sterling North, visit the Sterling North Society website.

Learn More

• View More Children's Clothing in the Society's Collections

  Browse more than 2,000 articles of children's clothing in the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Museum.