1774
Felicity Merriman was the first doll added to the American Girls Collection following the initial introduction of Kirsten, Samantha and Molly in 1986. Felicity is a colonial girl living in Williamsburg, Virginia who is stuck between Patriot and Loyalist viewpoints at the beginning of the American Revolution. In 2002, American Girl started to take steps that pointed to the removal of Felicity from the American Girl catalogs. Felicity was taken out of new print catalogs. The last catalog to feature her included the note: "Attention Felicity fans! This is the last time you'll see Felicity in our catalog--from now on, she'll be featured exclusively at americangirl.com." In addition, about half of her existing product line was discontinued, including many accessories and outfits.

However, Felicity was re-launched in October 2005 with the release of her movie; many discontinued items were reintroduced, while other items were replaced with redesigned accessories. One such change is her so-called 'Meet dress.' Originally a rose print, it has been replaced with her former 'Traveling Gown'. The original Meet dress is now available separately while the Traveling Gown is now only available with the doll. Felicity's hair was originally a carrot-red, but has been changed to a more auburn shade. In connection to these changes, Felicity's books have been reillustrated.
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure was the second TV movie and aired on the WB on November 29, 2005.

Elizabeth Cole 1775
Elizabeth is Felicity's best friend, the daughter of a Loyalist family during the American Revolution. Her doll was introduced in Summer 2005. Her character is featured in the Felicity film. Elizabeth had brown hair and brown eyes in the original illustrations. However, due to concerns that the dolls would resemble each other too much (also that the young actresses in the movie would look too much alike), she was created with blonde hair and blue eyes. The books have been reillustrated for the change.
She uses Josefina's face mold and is the only doll to have removable earrings. She has her own line of clothing and accessories that complement Felicity's line. Elizabeth has only one book called "Very Funny, Elizabeth" set in 1775; her Looking Back Section is about marriage. In contrast to Felicity, she is very shy.
1824
Josefina Montoya lives in the New Mexico area during Spanish control. She and her sisters must face a new way of life after the death of their mother, which happens before the events in the stories. Josefina's family speaks Spanish, and so there are many Spanish words and phrases in her books and a glossary in the back to define the words used in the story; the beginning of each of her books tells the reader how to pronounce her name. Her books have also been translated into Spanish.
Josefina was the last doll introduced before the Mattel takeover. Josefina was the second of three dolls to have a cultural panel to assist her creation, the first being Addy and the third being Kaya. The Josefina doll was the first to use her face mold; Nellie, Elizabeth, and Marisol have shared her face mold.

1854
Kirsten Larson is a Swedish immigrant who lives in the Minnesota Territory and faces the hardships of adjusting to life as a pioneer in a new and unfamiliar country.
Kirsten is one of the first three dolls produced by American Girl. Unlike many of the dolls, Kirsten's books have maintained their original illustrations (with the exception of the covers).

1864
Addy Walker is a fugitive slave who escapes with her mother from North Carolina to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the American Civil War, after her master split up her family by selling her older brother and father to another plantation owner.
Currently the historical line's only African-American, Addy was the fifth doll to be added to the collection. She was the first non-white doll to be added to the historical line and was the first doll to have earrings. A new mold was created for this doll to give Addy more ethnically appropriate features, but a few Addy dolls have the original mold and tend to fetch high prices on the secondary market.
The Addy Walker books were written by Connie Porter and originally illustrated by Melodye Rosales and Bradford Brown, but were redrawn by Dahl Taylor.


1904
Samantha Parkington is a wealthy orphan being raised by her grandmother in 1904 Mount Bedford, New York. Samantha learns the realities of her Edwardian world - from her life of luxury to the prejudices and difficulties faced by women and the lower classes.

One of the original three dolls, Samantha is one of the more popular dolls. Her books were written by three different authors, most notably Valerie Tripp, and were the first of the books to be published.

The first American Girl TV movie was produced about Samantha. It was called Samantha: An American Girl Holiday and it debuted November 23, 2004 on the WB.


1904
Nellie is Samantha's best friend, and also a poor Irish-American girl who has worked in factories and as a servant. After losing her parents to a flu epidemic, Nellie and her two sisters Bridget and Jenny are adopted by Samantha's aunt and uncle. Although this is a spoiler for the books and was originally treated as such, the release of her doll had the catalog proudly proclaim that she and Samantha become sisters.

Nellie's character was introduced in Samantha's original books, and was the first of the 'Best Friends' dolls to be introduced.

Nellie starred in "Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" on Thanksgiving 2004 by Kelsey Lewis.

Nellie has her own line of clothing and accessories. Like the other Best Friends dolls, Nellie has only one book. Entitled "Nellie's Promise," it is set in 1906; her looking back section is about adoption.


1934
Kit Kittredge (fully named Margaret Kittredge) is growing up in the early years of the Great Depression in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her family struggles to adjust to the realities of the economy after Kit's father loses his job. Although referred to as 'Kit' in almost all books and promotional material, Kit's full name is Margaret Mildred Kittredge. It should be noted that although the year 1934 appears on the cover of the book, 'Meet Kit' is actually set in 1932.

Kit was the first doll to have short hair and freckles. She debuted in 2000 as the seventh American Girl historical doll. Her favorite Baseball team are the Cincinnati Reds.

She will be in an up coming Movie in 2008 in theaters. Kit will be played by Abigail Breslin.

1944
Molly's story is set during World War II. Her father is off caring for wounded soldiers in England. Molly is left with her mother and three siblings in Jefferson, Illinois, where she helps her family and loved ones to stay cheery during the war.

Molly was one of the original three dolls offered. While the company sells eyeglasses separately that fit any 18" American Girl doll, Molly is the only doll to be sold with them. Molly's hair is dark brown and comes in two braids, and her eyes are gray.

Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front is the third TV movie in the series, the first to air on the Disney Channel on November 26, 2006. Throughout most of the books, Molly has two equal best friends, named Linda and Susan, but she gains a third in her birthday story, Emily.

Emily Bennett 1944
Emily Bennett is an English girl who is sent America and unexpectely sent to to stay with the McIntires for two weeks in the story "Happy Birthday, Molly!". She is sent off with the promise to be a brave soldier for England. At first Molly thinks of Emily as snobby and prim, but slowly their bond begins to strengthen as they share their love for the English princesses and other girlish pursuits. Technically, she is not a "best friend" (Molly's best friends are Susan and Linda) and is advertised by American Girl as Molly's English friend instead.

She is the third doll in the "Best Friends" collection and was released September 5, 2006 along with her collection. Emily and Molly are the stars of the third movie, which premiered Fall 2006.

Her book, Brave Emily, is set during Molly's series in 1944. The "Looking Back" section covers children of the war, who were sent outside of Europe.