We are writing to honor the memory and celebrate the life of our colleague, fellow collector, and friend, Jonathan Green, whom we lost in December 2022.
As with many doll scholars and passionate collectors, Jonathan Green was an educator. Jonathan was a teacher at High Mowing School, where he taught needlework, felting, and sewing. He shared his knowledge freely but never made anyone feel small. Instead, he was kind and humble, and it can be said of him, as it was of Chaucer's Oxford Clerk, that "gladly would he learn, and gladly teach."
Jonathan Green at Mason Public Library, December 2022
He loved playing Santa for the Mason Public Library, Mason New Hampshire, each year. He took his role very seriously and grew out his beard each December to play Santa for all the children. He made a wonderful Santa.
He was no doll snob and championed lesser-known and less popular dolls, priding himself on "collecting collections." Since he, too, was an artist, it is no wonder that he loved dolls created by other artists. Jonathan was well known for educating collectors on Käthe Kruse dolls, Raggedy Ann, and Edith Flack Ackley. Yet, he knew about all types of dolls, literally something about everything. He called himself an "encyclopedic collector."
Often, our collections are autobiographies, and his collection's depth, breadth, and character reflect his own personality. In fact, Jonathan embraced variety in assembling in his own collection, believing that "all dolls go together", so that every doll he collected stood in equal pride with the other dolls.
He was that rare combination of a passionate collector, doll aficionado, historian, and scholar.
This beautiful tribute graphic was made by Diana Vining
He used his many artistic talents to create accessories for dolls and artifacts for collectors. His enthusiasm was contagious; by talking about dolls like Raggedy Ann, he inspired others to study and collect them. Jonathan was a friend to many, generous of spirit, and consummately professional. The doll community, his fellow teachers, and his many friends will miss him.
May his memory be eternal.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Text HOME to 741741, or chat online at 988lifeline.org
In Loving Memory of our Dear Friend, Jonathan Green. Written by Ellen Tsagaris and Rachel Hoffman
Leave a Memory on Legacy.com
December 2022, At the Gaithersburg Doll Show, Photo by Brigid Jones for Antique Doll Collector Magazine
If you want to contribute to the school that Jonathan Loved to teach, use this link and click “Tribute Gift” HIGH MOWING SCHOOL - GIVING TRIBUTE
Jonathan was an avid participant in the Virtual Doll Convention; he presented a tour of his doll collection in August. We have created a playlist of Jonathan Green videos on the VDC YouTube Channel.
Do you have a great photo of our friend? Please send your photos of Jonathan Green to add to this slide show to info@virtualdollconvention.com
