PONAS DOLL MUSEUM

Movene L. Ponas, RN, and John Ponas, parents of Marcia Ponas, started collecting dolls long before their daughter was born.  Movene had an extensive doll collection including some of her mother’s dolls as well as some of her very first dolls.  Some of the dolls date back to 1920. Mr. & Mrs. Ponas donated their doll collection to the Community Arts Center of Cambria County in 1987, in memory of their daughter Marcia.  They also donated funds to build the museum and cabinetry where the dolls are housed.

Marcia Ponas (1946-1985) was very active in the Johnstown public schools in the area. She graduated from Westmont Hilltop High School in 1964, where she was a cheerleader, National Honor Society Student, student council, Y-teen, pep club,  and on the high school yearbook. Marcia was a Girl Scout  for six years and earned thirteen merit badges. For three years she attended University of Pittsburgh of Johnstown before transferring to University of Pittsburgh in 1968, graduating with a BA in Liberal Arts. After 7 years working as a social worker in Oregon, she returned to Johnstown, developed an interest in interior design and attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Fine Arts. Marcia was married to Richard Warrick, an attorney for the Department of Defense. They moved to Washington, DC, Oklahoma City, OK, and Dallas, Texas. Marcia, on occasion, would purchase dolls for her mother, which became part of her mother’s doll collection. Among other interests, Marcia had a fondness for animals and was a regular volunteer at the Oklahoma Zoo. She died in 1985 in Dallas, Texas.  Her mother’s extensive doll collection was donated in Marcia’s memory to the Community Arts Center in 1987.

The Marcia Ponas Doll Museum exhibits and features over 877 dolls on permanent display. The main categories are listed below:

• Antique Handcrafted
• Barbie
• Bridal
• Hummel
• International
• Norman Rockwell
• Porcelain
• Precious Moments
• Reproduction

 All are welcome to visit the Ponas Doll Museum, free of charge, anytime during the Community Arts Center's normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 10 AM - 5 PM, Saturdays 10 AM - 3 PM).