Past Matters: (Site Spotlight) Corn Husk Dolls at the San Jacinto Battleground
We are thrilled to introduce a new segment in Past Matters called Site Spotlight. In this feature, we’ll take a behind-the-scenes look at the exciting work taking place at Texas Historical Commission state historic sites. We’re kicking off the series with Bailey Brantley, Educator/Interpreter at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. Join Bailey as she demonstrates how to make festive fall corn husk dolls and follow along with her video tutorial to create your own.
Have you ever made a corn husk doll? These simple figures are part of a much longer history of creativity, resourcefulness, and play. Made from the dried leaves surrounding an ear of corn, corn husk dolls transform a material that might otherwise be discarded into something children can play with and families can make together.
Maize, or corn, was first domesticated in the Americas around 9,000 years ago and became an essential crop for Indigenous communities throughout North America. Because corn was such an important part of daily life, its husks could be put to many uses. Indigenous communities, particularly in the Northeast, made corn husk dolls for children’s play and, in some traditions, for spiritual or ceremonial purposes. Among the Haudenosaunee, for example, a traditional story explains why some corn husk dolls are made without faces.
Corn husk doll-making also became part of the material culture of other communities. As people from different cultures encountered one another in the Texas region, each shared their respective traditions and customs with each other. This included making dolls and other toys from materials readily available around the farm or household. Corn husks, along with scraps of cloth, twine, and other inexpensive materials, served as a perfect form of entertainment for children out on the frontier.
In Mexico, working with corn husks developed into a continuing folk-art tradition known as totomoxtle. Artisans transform the husks into dolls, flowers, figures, and other decorative objects. This holiday season, we are taking inspiration from this long tradition of transforming corn husks into something new. Instead of making a doll, we’ll use corn husks to create holiday angels. The finished angels become seasonal decoration while connecting us to the long history of corn husk art!
Before You Begin
To make your own corn husk angel, gather:
- Several dried corn husks
- A large bowl
- Water for soaking the husks
- Optional: corn silk, yarn, or thread for hair and additional materials for clothing or decoration
- Optional: Scissors to cut the yarn
Once your materials are ready, follow along with the video below to learn how to transform an ordinary corn husk into an angel of your own.
Follow along with the video tutorial here!
