1951 - Betsy McCall™ was introduced in McCall's Magazine as a new paper doll friend to children everywhere.

1952 - Mr. & Mrs. Martin Tonner introduce their new twin sons, David & Robert.

1957 - American Character introduces the Tiny Betsy McCall™ doll.

1957 - Robert encounters the "Miss Revlon Christmas" by receiving his first fashion doll, an elegantly dressed Horsman Cindy doll; younger sister Mary received the 'Miss Revlon' doll Robert had hoped to receive.

1973 - Robert Tonner changes his life forever by enrolling in Parsons School of Design.

1978 - Robert begins work at world-famous atelier, Bill Blass; and eventually is chosen to head the esteemed division, Blassport.

1979 - A collection begins with Robert's first serious doll purchases.

1981 - A sculptor is born; Robert attempts his first doll sculpt.

1982 - Robert says after dipping an early sculpt in peach wall paint (the doll's head), "...looked more human to me."

1983 - Robert gets his own fashion label - Robert Tonner for Tudor Square.

1985 - Robert enters his first doll in the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA); his sculpt is judged by Doll Industry greats, Helen Kish, R. John Wright, & Martha Armstrong-Hand.

1986 - Robert moves to Kripplebush, NY; a hamlet in the Hudson Valley.

1988 - NIADA membership application is made by Robert; he is accepted into the prestigious organization.

1991 - Robert is elected to Standards Chairman of NIADA; he serves for 4 years.

1991 - The Robert Tonner Doll Design (RTDD) is born as a fledgling company.

1992 - RTDD exhibits its first offerings at Toy Fair, New York City.

1992 - Robert Tonner's 'The Little Girl in the Duffle Coat' is chosen for the collection at the Museum of Decorative Arts, The Louvre, Paris; later in 1997, his porcelain Superman would also receive this international honor.

1992 - Robert Tonner becomes an industry trendsetter by redefining the modern fashion doll with his 16½" porcelain, thirteen leather-lined jointed, porcelain fashion models in extraordinary couture.  This sculpt would later serve as inspiration for Tonner's 1994 19" vinyl American Models (1994 - 2000); and subsequently, the 16" vinyl/hard plastic fashion doll revolution in 1995.

1993 - 14" vinyl Kaylie is introduced.

1993 - Robert is invited by Disneyland Teddy Bear and Doll Convention as a featured artist.  Kaylie is made in a limited edition of twenty-five pieces; the first in a series of fifteen special dolls of varying sculpt/design for Disney through 2001.

1994 - RTDD becomes the "Robert Tonner Doll Company".

1994 - 19" vinyl American Model Series is introduced.

1994 - Issey Miyake selects Tonner American Models to wear his fashions in his Tokyo shop...and again in New York at Bergdorf Goodman's Fifth Avenue Store.

1994 - Doll Reader Magazine features the first Robert Tonner doll on the cover of its magazine, Goldilocks (Click to see doll image)

1994 -  Goldilocks wins the first award for Robert by capturing Dolls Magazine's Award of Excellence.

1995 - Robert is elected as President of NIADA; he serves for two years.

1995 - The Tonner Doll Collector's Club is formed.  14" Child Jane in vinyl wouldn't be introduced until years later!

1995 - Robert Tonner's sculpts and designs for The Magic Attic Club by the Georgetown Collection debuts.

1995 - Robert partners with AMFAR and Dolls Magazine to hold the first of a series of successful charity raisers using the American Models dressed by NYC Fashion Designers; Bill Blass' American Model makes the cover of Dolls Magazine1995 October Issue); over $25,000 is raised for AMFAR.

1996 -  Tonner's new sculpt for the 14" vinyl Betsy McCall™ is introduced.

1996 - The Robert Tonner Collectors Club is established.

1996 - Again partnering with AMFAR, Robert Tonner joins forces with Demi Moore, Greg Louganis and Sheryl Crow to hold the 'Dolls Have Heart' auction featuring Tonner American Models; Bruce Willis buys a Dolce & Gabbana dressed American Model (also worn by Demi Moore) for $50,000; the auction raises over $280,000 for AMFAR.

1998 - Robert partners with internationally famous fashion design greats Ralph Lauren, Donatella Versace (shown left), John Galliano, Oscar de la Renta...and many others to host 'Dolls Against Addiction' at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.  Designers dress Tonner American Models in the highest of haute couture...all are photographed by rocker, Bryan Adams.  The event is again repeated in 1999...both raise thousands and thousands of pounds, sweetie!

1998 - Robert works with James Cameron's 'Titanic' and Kate Winslet to produce an exclusive porcelain trunk set for FAO Schwarz.

1999 - Tyler Wentworth® makes her debut at Toy Fair.

1999 - Robert works with Lucasfilm to create a 'Star Wars - Episode One' exclusive porcelain Queen Amidala trunk set for FAO Schwarz.

1999 - Mary Engelbreit's® Ann Estelle debuts.

2000 - Portfolio Press publishes its book, The Robert Tonner Story - Dreams & Dolls.

2000 - Robert Tonner wows the Doll Industry by opening his 2000 Tyler Wentworth® Collection with a full-scale runway fashion show at his alma mater, Parsons School of Design.

2000 - Esmé debuts in the Tyler Wentworth Collection.

2000 - 18" Kitty Collier debuts.

2000 - Robert re-issues 8" Betsy McCall from the American Character 8" doll as an exclusive debut edition for UFDC.  The regular line would debut later in the fall of 2000.

2000 - Robert partners with NIADA Artists to create 'Transformed Tonners' using the American Models; over $25,000 is raised in support of the non-profit NIADA organization.

2000 - Tyler Wentworth® makes her television debut appearing on NBC's Today Show.

2001 - The "Robert Tonner Doll Company" celebrates its 10th Anniversary by transforming into "Tonner Doll Company, Inc.", hosting a sold-out, 'all-stops-pulled' celebratory convention in Chicago, and issuing the Tonner Doll Collectors Club 10th Anniversary Jane doll.

2001 - Betsy McCall™ turns 50!

2001 - The television show, 'The Incurable Collector' with John Larroquette interviews noted doll industry expert, Rosalie Whyel (of the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, Bellevue, Washington); one of her best collectible investments:  Robert Tonner's Tyler Wentworth®.

2001 - The International Doll Scene goes 'Tonner Doll' crazy with features in magazines, exclusive doll events.  Hamley's of London chooses Tonner Dolls for its store; Famous Parisian Department Store Galeries Lafayette receives the first international exclusive Tyler Wentworth® - 'Ensemble d'Or' doll.

2001 - Robert creates three special sets featuring Tyler Wentworth®, Kitty Collier™ and Tiny Betsy McCall® to auction in support of eBay's Auction For America; $3,500 is raised in support of the 911 Children's Fund.

2001 - To open its extravagant Times Square flagship store, Toys R Us selects Tonner Dolls to feature in its new 'Collectible Dolls' section.

2001 Tonner Doll Company obtains the exclusive license to make dolls inspired by the Théâtre de la Mode Collection...see the collection by clicking here!

2001 - Robert Tonner appears on NBC's Today Show.

2001 - Sydney Chase debuts in the Tyler Wentworth Collection - the collecting world will never be the same!

2002 - Tonner Doll Company celebrates 50 years of Robert Tonner!

2002 - Robert Tonner shows EMME; it is the first time that a collectible fashion doll with separately available outfits is shown as a symbol of high fashion and beauty.

2002 - Robert Tonner acquires Effanbee Doll Company and gives new life to its 94-year history as America's oldest, continuously running doll company.

2002 - Tiny Kitty makes her debut at Modern Doll Collectors Convention as a special gift set...the regular line would debut later in 2003.

2002 - The Robert Tonner Story book is updated in a separately available paperback supplement to includes events and dolls from 2000-2002.

2002 - Robert creates 'Ava Gardner' as a one-time special porcelain doll for a UFDC luncheon event...possibly one of the most rare manufactureed porcelain Tonner dolls.

2003 - The Tonner Doll Collector Club gets it's first 16" Fashion doll - appropriately named JANE!

2004 - Tonner Doll Company celebrates 5 years of Tyler Wentworth! The Tyler Fifth Anniversary Album is released.  And...Robert pulls out all stops again for a spectacular anniversary convention  - 'Fashion by Design'.

2004 - FAO Schwarz re-opens and invites Tonner Doll Company to be a part of its exclusive display of the world's best dolls.

2005 - Tonner Doll Company marks many special occasions:

5 years with 18" Kitty Collier

10 years of Robert Tonner's 14" Betsy

10 years of the Tonner Doll Collector's Club!

2005 - Tonner Doll Company joins the American Specialty Toy Retailer's Association.

2006 - Tonner doll Company will celebrate it's 15th Anniversary with another incredible year and special Convention.

2008 - Effanbee Doll Company turns 100 years old!