INDIAN SOUVENIR MARKED "TOLULA"

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

This is what I call a ... "What Does It Mean?"

I collect southwest souvenirs and have several hundred items. I purchased this item recently and was hoping someone can tell me what "Tolula" means? Or is it just someone's name? I already did my internet homework on it, but came up empty handed. The only thing I found for "Tolula" was the name of a female British model.

I describe the item as a circa early 1900s Papoose Trading Post souvenir, like those that tourist might purchase along old Route 66 while on vacation. But it could be from almost any part of the United States or Canada. I'm really not sure. The main portion measures six inches long by three inches wide. Inside is oldtime cardboard, encased in very soft and very fragile leather. The baby is made of either bakalite or some early form of plastic.

But mainly I would like to know if "Tolula" is an American Indian word, or possibly just someone's name. Has anyone here ever heard of this word in their region? Is it possibly the name of a town? It might be the name of the person who made it. If so, I'm hoping someone will recognize the name so I can narrow down what part of the country it originated in.

Thanks.

SODABOTTLEBOB

[ I would take it apart and examine it closer, but the leather is too fragile for that ]

[creskol]

Is it a spin-off of the name Tallulah?

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Is it a spin-off of the name Tallulah?

I thought the same thing. As in the oldtime actress "Tallulah Bankhead." But of the hundreds of items I have, I've never seen someone's (customer's) name added to anything "after" the item was made.

Thanks.

SBB

[nova treasure]

Possible tolula is another variant to tallulah?

Talula \t(a)-lu-
la\ as a girl's name is a variant of Tallulah (Native American Indian), and the meaning of Talula is "leaping water".

Tallulah \t(a)-llu-lah\ as a girl's name is of Native American Indian origin, and the meaning of Tallulah is "leaping water". Related to the Choctaw word for water, "oka". The Choctaws lived near the Tallulah waterfall, which derives its name from the Hitchiti (Creek) Indian word for "town". The name also possibly derives from a Gaelic name meaning "fruitful woman". Actress Tallulah Bankhead (20th century), was raised in the American South not far from Georgia's Tallulah Falls. The name had been in her family for a while, and she was named after her paternal grandmother.

Bill

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Nova ~

Fantastic! I'm surprised I didn't come across that during my research. I'm hoping the name is of some famous Indian artist who made it. If so, it could quadtriple it's value. Of course, it could just be a generic name, too. But at least I have a lead now, thanks to you, which is more than I had a little while ago.

SBB

[Bramblefind]

That Tallulah/Tolula name idea is good. I was looking at the pre-Columbian city state and also the city in Mexico Cholula. Found some references that it is also known as "Tolula"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholula...erican_site%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholula,_Puebla

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Bramble ~

I am totally open minded here and realize the item could have been made in Mexico. But it just has a "feel" about it as being Native American.

I especially like this ...

Tallulah is the name of a princess in Cherokee legend. According to the legend, a white man was lost on the Cherokee trail near what is now known as Tallulah Falls. The Indian maiden Tallulah found him. She was the only daughter of the Cherokee Chief, Grey Eagle and she led the white man to her father's camp, where he was allowed to spend the night.

It was bad luck for a white man to be in an Indian camp and the other young men were jealous of Tallulah's affection for him, so they demanded his immediate trial and execution. The sentence given by Grey Eagle was death: the white man was to be bound and thrown off the cliff into the gorge. Tallulah begged her father for his life, but the chief would not change his judgment lest he be considered weak. Tallulah threatened to jump off the cliff if this sentence were carried out. Her threats were ignored and the man was thrown from the cliff. Tallulah followed him into the gorge, running from the back of the camp to leap with the falling body. Her act gained the cliff the nickname of "Lover's Leap."

(Although I'm not sure what, if anything, the story has to do with a baby/papoose).

SBB

[Mackaydon]

Maybe it's Totula, Vera Cruz, Mexico

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Mackaydon ~

It's possible the third letter is a 'T' ... I considered that earlier, and even looked at it with a magnifying glass. And although I concluded it is most likely an 'L', I'm not 100% sure. There are scratches and marks in the leather that make it almost impossible to say for certain. I will say that most State Park items are marked as such ... but I have also discovered that some of the early-early stuff is not. The word is "burned" into the leather and not inked, which is what leads me to believe it's an 'L' and not a 'T'

Thanks.

SBB

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Mack ~

I found a "Totutla," located in the state of "Veracruz." But it is spelled totally different!

Wikipedia Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totutla

SBB

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I think I better call it quits for the day. My imagination is running wild! Surely there is no connection between the two pictures below! Or is there?

Link: http://fly.hiwaay.net/~oliver/tbbiography.htm

SBB

Native American babies rarely if ever have blue eyes!!!

[daroofa]

Probably not related, but here is a book published in 1904 called "Tolula the Indian Maiden"

http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=0jiCHAAACAAJ

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

daroofa ~

I think you may have stumbled onto something. I have to believe it is more than just coincidence that your book ...

1. Has the same exact spelling.
2. Is Indian related.
3. Right time period (1904).
4. California legend (State where souvenir was purchased).

So for the time being I am going to focus my research on your find and see what develops.

Thanks a million.

SBB

[Bigcypresshunter]

Native American babies rarely if ever have blue eyes!!!

...or curly hair. I would imagine an Indian doll may have been hard to find although the skin looks dark. . Because its plastic may help date the item.. http://inventors.about.com/od/pstart...a/plastics.htm
Is it an entire doll or just the head?

[Bigcypresshunter]

Probably not related, but here is a book published in 1904 called "Tolula the Indian Maiden"

http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=0jiCHAAACAAJ

Sounds good to me.

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Cy ~

It is the entire doll all bundled tightly under the leather with the hands and feet sticking out. I believe the leather itself is buckskin. I forgot about celluloind, and believe that is what it is made of. I have a confirmed 1930s "Olive Oyl" celluloid pin that I compared the Indian doll to, and they seem almost identical in composition. Both are extremely hard plastic, and not the more pliable type from the 1950s.

I've looked around a little, but so far have not been able to find another reference to that Indian maiden book. But I truly believe there is a connection.

SBB

[ Although the hairline is more boyish, that may not be significant ]

[daroofa]

I found a couple references to Geurnsey S. Brown owning a Music House in Santa Barbara. I wonder if "Tolula the Indian Maiden" was a song? Although 15 pages seems a bit wordy for a song so...

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

daroofa ~

I'm thinking it's some kind of kids story book ... maybe even with some color illustrations. I'm still searching, but nothing yet!

Thanks again.

Bob

[traderoftreasures]

I own land in Tallula illinois.

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im sure yours is obviously older Bob but I found some Indian dolls here from California made me think of this thread. http://buttonworks.blogspot.com/search/label/SKOOKUM