Our Favorite Things

Collections of SDSU Library Staff and Faculty
August 11 through September 8, 2004

Trolls

Jossie Chavez
Special Collections
and University Archives

Trolls were immensely popular dolls, and there seems to be a troll or two in almost any household you come across. In fact, trolls were the second biggest-selling doll of the 1960s.

When I was in high school, my girlfriends and I had several of them. Trolls were believed to be good luck, so we would walk to class with our trolls and place them on our desks for good luck on exams. Unfortunately, I don't have these little trolls anymore. I purchased one for my daughter when she was young, but she wasn't too thrilled about it. Years later, after she left for college, I found the little troll in the back of her closet. I took it and gave it to my younger son, and he loved it and wanted more trolls.

Some favorites from Jossie's troll collection.

During the eighties, they were not easy to find, so now when I find one I buy it. My son kept the three that were his favorites: the rock star, the punk rocker, and the green batman. He lost interest after that. However, I have kept buying them ever since. Perhaps it's nostalgia from the 1960s or just that they are so charming with their huge ears and pot bellied, no forehead and their long strands of hair. According to old fairytales, trolls have magic powers. They love to make you smile and be happy. They sure do for me!