The Story Lady's Story

Norma Robson, The Story Lady

The Story Lady Doll & Toy Museum's founder, Norma Robson, was a school librarian who
collected dolls for many years. As a librarian, she went to schools and read stories to children.
Norma illustrated her stories by bringing along a doll or two.
Soon she earned the title of “The Story Lady.”

After Norma retired, she entertained at many local functions by bringing her dolls and reading her stories.
Eventually, this wore on her (and her dolls) and she began to dream of a place where she could display
her dolls for the enjoyment of others.

Norma took her dreams and ideas of a museum to the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.
Along with support from the Bureau, Norma and her friends established a non-profit organization
to be run entirely by volunteers. They eventually rented and renovated a building in the historic downtown
district of Albert Lea and opened the museum in 1996. In 2011, the collection was moved to its current
location at the Freeborn County Historical Museum.

Although the original “Story Lady,” Norma Robson, has passed away, a doll display of Norma
telling stories to several children honors her memory.