Omaha Museum Honors Black History Through Thousands of Dolls

Mama's Attic features over 3,000 dolls that tell the story of Black history in America.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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In Omaha, Nebraska, the Mama's Attic museum honors Black history all year round by displaying a collection of over 3,000 dolls that span centuries. Executive Director and Founder LaVon Stennis-Williams says the museum aims to pay homage to her mother's legacy of collecting artifacts of Black history, including controversial figures like Aunt Jemima. The museum features dolls from the 1800s with little to no facial features all the way to modern Barbie dolls, showcasing the evolution of representation.

Why it matters

The Mama's Attic museum provides an important lens through which to view and understand Black history in America. By displaying dolls and other artifacts that range from dehumanizing caricatures to positive representations, the museum encourages visitors to confront the complex and sometimes painful past while also celebrating the progress that has been made.

The details

Mama's Attic is located off 42nd and Center streets in Omaha, Nebraska and features three rooms filled with over 3,000 dolls. The museum was founded by LaVon Stennis-Williams, who says it started as a way to pay homage to her mother's legacy of collecting Black history artifacts. One of the first sections visitors see is a display of Aunt Jemima and Mammy figurines, which Stennis-Williams says her mother felt should not be "ashamed of" as they represented an enslaved woman who was instrumental in the Underground Railroad. The museum also features dolls from the 1800s with little to no facial features, showing the evolution of representation over time. There is an entire annex dedicated to Mattel's Barbie dolls, including the first Black Barbie created in 1980.

  • Mama's Attic museum opened in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • The first Black Barbie doll was created in 1980.

The players

LaVon Stennis-Williams

The Executive Director and Founder of Mama's Attic museum in Omaha, Nebraska.

Aunt Jemima

A controversial caricature figure that was once used to dehumanize Black Americans, but is now recognized as representing an enslaved woman who was instrumental in the Underground Railroad.

Mattel

The toy company that created the famous Barbie doll line, including the first Black Barbie doll in 1980.

Jackie Ormes

A cartoonist who created a doll called Patty-Jo with the Terri Lee Doll Company to honor her main character in her comic strip Torchy Brown.

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What they’re saying

“Mama's attic started as me trying to pay homage to my mother's legacy.”

— LaVon Stennis-Williams, Executive Director and Founder of Mama's Attic (wbal.com)

“She felt we should not be ashamed of this lady, which we refer to as Aunt Jemima or the Mammy figure.”

— LaVon Stennis-Williams, Executive Director and Founder of Mama's Attic (wbal.com)

“Working together, we can evolve into a more wholesome America.”

— LaVon Stennis-Williams, Executive Director and Founder of Mama's Attic (wbal.com)

What’s next

Mama's Attic is open by appointment only, and visitors can learn more about the museum and plan their visit on the Mama's Attic website.

The takeaway

The Mama's Attic museum provides a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of Black history in America through the lens of thousands of dolls, from dehumanizing caricatures to positive representations. By confronting the past and celebrating progress, the museum encourages visitors to reflect on how far we've come and how much further we have to go in creating a more equitable and just society.