Pleasant Thiele Rowland

ABOUT PLEASANT THIELE ROWLAND

American entrepreneur known for creating the American Girl doll company. She started the company when she was unable to find dolls for her nieces.

After graduating from Wells College in 1962, she worked as a teacher, a news reporter, an anchor and a children's textbook author.

She funded the American Girl doll company with $1.2 million she earned from royalties as a textbook author.

She married philanthropist Jerome Frautschi in 1977.

She is one of many famous toy entrepreneurs, including Charles Lazarus .