Whimmy Diddles n’ Flipper Dingers: Toys of Appalachia

Image Credit: Willard Watson. Horse and Wagon, circa early 1970s. Courtesy of Charlotte Ross.

October 10, 2014 – February 1, 2015

Many toys that are considered today to be “traditional” Appalachian toys are of unknown origin, though they most certainly reflect the diversity of the people living in the mountains. Like other elements of culture in the region, mountain toys exhibit Cherokee, European and African influences, as well as influences from other parts of the United States. The toys have playful, whimsical names and range from objects as simple as carved animals to complicated puzzles and ingenious mechanical toys.

Before factory-made toys became available in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and then even more widely available and affordable in the mid-20th century, parents and children alike found themselves creating their own toys using everyday objects, from cloth and wood to cornhusks and rocks. Handmade toys such as gee haw whimmy diddles, rag dolls, slingshots, fly killers, applehead dolls, wood-carved animals, and bullroarers often reflected the rural, agricultural context in which they were created, and provided hours of entertainment. A child’s imagination and creativity were strong components of play.

While some toys are notable simply for their entertainment value, many mountain toys are quite beautiful and can also be considered valuable as folk art created by highly skilled artisans. Though mass-produced toys are now widely available and are advertised everywhere with eye-catching magazine spreads and television ads, there are still toy makers who continue to practice tradition by crafting toys from local materials. Technology has allowed us the opportunity to create and construct with ease, but despite how far we’ve advanced, people still find beauty and meaning in making things by hand.