Hi-Line Living: Clack Museum doll collection

On the wall at the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum is a new display of collectible dolls from all over the world.

These are expensive dolls of Native Americans, African-Americans, working people, Betsy Ross sewing an American flag and dozens of others.

They are mostly fine, handmade dolls, representing a bygone era.

The dolls were originally collected by Margaret Turner Clack, wife of the early 20th century businessman H. Earl Clack for whom the museum was named.

The dolls were donated to the museum by Turner Askew of Whitefish, the Clacks' grandson.

About one-quarter of the dolls are on display near the front door of the museum in the Holiday Village Mall.

The entire collection will be put on display when the museum moves to its new headquarters in the Griggs Printing building in downtown Havre, said Judi Dritshulas, who chairs the museum board.

Margaret Clack's detailed notes explain when each of the dolls was purchased and from where, which include places as far away as India and Guatemala. The notes detail the names that she gave the dolls or the names they had when she purchased them, Dritshulas said.

A Hansel and Gretel doll-pair was purchased in 1956 in Holland, Clack's notes indicate.

She bought the handmade Betsy Ross doll in 1943 in Charleston, S.C.

Museum personnel haven't been able to match the names with the dolls in all cases, Dritshulas said.

"Some cold, winter afternoon, we are going to try to do that," she said, to give people the full information on each of the dolls.

In her notes, Clack wrote about her pride in being accepted as a member of the Kimport Club organization. The group put out a magazine and has several booklets on the art of collecting dolls.

The museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.