Alice Doherty at 6 Years Old. 
WASSON Cabinet Card. Circa 1880's.

Is this Alice Doherty? WENDT Photo. Circa 1890.

 

Alice E. Doherty

"The Minnesota Woolly Baby"

Alice Doherty at 17-18(?) Years Old. WENDT Cabinet Card. Photo courtesy Richard Hampton.

 

AliceDohertyBaby

Alice as baby with Mother

AliceDoherty72

Alice at 6 years.

AliceDoherty7yrs72

Alice at 7 years.

AliceDohwMom72

Alice with her mother.

Alice-Doherty-maybe

Is this Alice?

AliceDoherty_sig

Alice's signature at 6 years.

AliceDoh_sig7yrs72

Alice's signature at 7 years.

  
 

[Hairy Folk, Hypertrichosis]

 

 

 

 
Biography:

Little is known about Alice E. Doherty, except that she was originally billed as "The Minnesota Woolly Baby," and was— according to one source— born March 14, 1887-- which seems too late given what has surfaced recently.

Earlier it was believed that photographs of Alice past about age 10-12 years did not exist, however some have recently appeared (see above), leading one to the conclusion that Alice continued to exhibit into the early 1900's. Nonetheless, Alice represents a remarkable example of the very rare genetic mutation known as Hypertrichosis.

According to some medical texts, less than 60 individuals with congenital Hypertrichosis have been identified since the Middle Ages.

(additional information and photos provided by Elizabeth Anderson)

(Some update information provided by Neil Davis.)

 

 
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Last update: 8/31/05