Mar 26, 2000 / FW/ --- In my rainy run near the Marienplatz, I spotted a group of ethnically diverse mannequin children.

They reminded me of the ads by the Italian clothing group, United Colors of Benetton. There was a little Asian girl with straight, chin length, black hair, a light skinned, little black boy with a unique mop of a hairdo, and a little Caucasian boy and girl with short blonde hair.

Diversity among mannequins, politically correct.

The history of various ethnic mannequins is still sparse.

In the Mannequin Museum archives, there is a photo of a black male mannequin from the mid 1920’s standing on a back street in Paris France. He is plump, very dark skinned, rigid in posture more of a caricature.

The earliest black female mannequin in the archives is standing in a store window in Detroit, Michigan. A hand painted sign in the window touts her as being the first colored manikin. She is light skinned with a slightly broad nose.

Edward Maedar, fashion curator and historian guessed her to be from circa 1935, by the style of her dress.

Gene Moore, known for his exquisite displays at Tiffany’s told me he believed there had once been a manufacturer of black mannequins in Harlem New York. Documentation of this has not been yet found.

The Mannequin Museum continuously seeks new information regarding the history and development of all nationalities of mannequins.

Maybe now, that United Colors of Benetton has reached agreement to sell Formula One racing team to French Auto group Ranault, they will want to fund research of the various ethnic mannequin.

Then again, maybe Michael J. Sayler, founder and CEO of Micro Strategy will make the Mannequin Museum archive part of his Online College.