Lee Middleton Dolls: Lee Middleton and Reva Schick

Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc., located in Belpre, Ohio, was founded by the late Lee Middleton in 1983. This company grew at a rapid rate for the next twenty years with Lee Middleton overseeing the company. Lee introduced First Moments, the company’s first vinyl doll in 1983, and this truly established the vinyl doll as a collectible medium in the doll world. Lee Middleton baby dolls have made a transformation throughout the years by the creation and introduction of innovative weighed and jointed bodies, and lifelike heads, hands and feet. Because of their realistic attributes, these adorable baby dolls are often mistaken for real human babies - they are truly all bundles of joy. Lee Middleton dolls are recognized by doll enthusiasts around the world as the industry leader of vinyl collectible baby dolls.

In 1998, Lee Middleton passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack. It was fortunate for the company that they found Reva Schick, a Canadian-born doll artist who was a wonderful replacement for Lee. Reva’s baby dolls did, and still do, fit in perfectly, and continue the Lee Middleton doll tradition. Reva’s creations have certainly surpassed the expectations of collectors, and she has won 37 coveted doll awards for her dolls, and this number continues to grow every year. Schick’s spectacular attention to detail makes her one of the most popular doll artists in the country. From the beginning of both Reva’s and Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc.’s successful business relationship, the magic of Reva’s sculpting has been continually recognized by the industry and collectors alike.

Two very popular lines that Lee Middleton Dolls carries are the Breath of Life Collection and Artist Studio Collection. The Breath of Life Collection features life-like newborn baby dolls with “New Baby Skin,” that is soft and supple like real newborn baby skin, and “Baby Fine” hand-rooted hair.

Lee Middleton Dolls, Inc. has gone on in the spirit of Lee--many of her original designs are still in production, and the artists that now sculpt the new designs--Reva Schick, Linda Henry, Eva Helland and Mavis Snyder. Each of these wonderful doll artists sculpt life-like baby dolls which are truly "the babies that love you back." The company is the largest producer of baby dolls in the United States, and still continue with Lee's famous tradition of including a "Babys Bible" tucked inside each and every doll box.