The Baby Dolls by Kim Marie Vaz explores the history of one of the first women’s organizations to mask in a Mardi Gras parade. From their origins in Storyville brothels and dance halls to their re-emergence in post-Katrina New Orleans, this book traces the cultural impact of the Million Dollar Baby Dolls and their lasting influence on carnival traditions, jazz, and Black women’s history in New Orleans.

• Explores the origins of the Baby Dolls in early 20th-century New Orleans
• Examines how masking traditions created community and identity during Mardi Gras
• Highlights the Baby Dolls’ influence on dance, jazz, and local culture
• Features stories of groups such as the Golden Slipper Club, Gold Diggers, Rosebud Social and Pleasure Club, and Satin Sinners
• Includes photographs, articles, and interviews spanning more than one hundred years
• Connects the historic tradition to contemporary Baby Doll groups in New Orleans
• Written by Kim Marie Vaz