Opposition to coercive medical procedures was more popular then than it is now - in any case, it doesn't seem to have diminished the doll's popularity. Thereafter, Raggedy Ann became a spokestoon for a citizens' movement that opposed compulsory vaccination on grounds that forcing medication violates American freedom. Authorities tried to pin the blame on a congenital heart condition, but Gruelle blamed a smallpox vaccination that had been given to her without his permission. Volland Company of Chicago published his first Raggedy Ann book (and sixth children's book altogether), Raggedy Ann Stories. Starting in 1915, he marketed Raggedy Ann dolls, hand-made by members of his family. Twee Deedle) shared stories starring Ann (and her owner, named after Marcella), illustrated by himself, with newspaper readers.
Marcella got so much pleasure out of Raggedy Ann that Gruelle (already known for newspaper features such as The New York Herald's Mr. He got the name by combining two poem titles by James Whitcomb Riley, "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphant ( sic) Annie" ( tenuous relation). Cartoonist Johnny Gruelle ( Quacky Doodles) made the first Raggedy Ann, who closely resembled the numberless hordes of Raggedy Ann rag dolls made in the following decades, for his daughter, Marcella, in 1914. Unlike the more recent ones, the Raggedys weren'tĬonceived as a coordinated cross-media, cross-promoted product franchise - like Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, their origin lay in a toy loved by a real child. But one of the most successful was also among the earliest - Raggedy Ann and (later) her brother Andy. He-Man and Care Bears only outline their range. Over the years, plenty of toy lines have become toons. Please contribute to its necessary financial support. If this site is enjoyable or useful to you, RAGGEDY ANN AND ANDY Original Medium: Toys