The Raggedy Ann Story...
Who remembers Raggedy Ann? Anybody know how she came about? Here's an interesting story...Raggedy Ann is a fictional character who has been entertaining and charming young children for almost ninety years. This mischievous rag doll and her enchanting toy friends were introduced to young readers in 1918 by author Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938). Raggedy Ann always has a warm and optimistic outlook and a calm approach to difficulties. Gruelle based his main character on a real rag doll that belonged to his mother. The doll was found in an attic trunk by Gruelle’s daughter, Marcella. It is said that the doll had no face, so, it was her Dad who put the famous black eyes, red triangle nose, and separated mouth on the original doll and, Grandma made a new dress.To entertain his sick daughter, Gruelle created stories about Raggedy Ann; when she died he wrote and illustrated Raggedy Ann Stories (1918) in her memory. At her death, Gruelle immersed himself in his work and began putting in written form the many stories he invented for Marcella while she was ill. To aid in the selling of books, the Gruelle Family created a blue and white clad rag doll with red yarn for hair that was sold along with it. Although the Raggedy Ann books were successful, the dolls became more popular. The earliest dolls are marked with the patent date of September 7, 1915, on their back torso. A sequel to the first book, Raggedy Andy Stories (1920), introduced the character of her brother, Raggedy Andy, dressed in sailor suit and hat. Gruelle wrote and illustrated a series of books until his death in 1938; many more books were released and credited to Johnny Gruelle after his death, regardless of who actually wrote and illustrated them. Typically at the end of the story, after an exciting adventure or wonderful journey, Raggedy Ann and her friends learned a small but valuable lesson on life. From the days of her discovery by the real Marcella, the little rag doll with the red-yarn hair has inspired timeless tales and colorful pictures and has stirred the imaginations of millions of young readers all over the world.
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