Sunday, Nov. 07, 2010
Raggedy Ann and Andy
It all started in Arcola, Ill., with an old, faceless handmade doll. In 1915, writer and artist John Barton Gruelle's daughter Marcella brought him said doll. Like any good father would do, Gruelle drew her a face and named the red-yarn-haired doll Raggedy Ann — combining the names of two James Whitcomb Riley poems, "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphan Annie." Raggedy Ann was introduced to the public with the 1918 book Raggedy Ann Stories. Her brother, Raggedy Andy, came onto the scene with his sailor suit and hat in the 1920 book sequel Raggedy Andy Stories. Since then the redheaded duo have starred in books, movies and animated shorts, and have been loved as toys by millions of children.