Raggedy Ann

Yeah! My first week! I managed to talk for seven days,so today is devoted to something close to my heart.

It was inevitable I do a post on the most recognizable doll ever, Raggedy Ann. She exudes kindness, generosity, cooperation, friendship and love. Whether Ann is letting birds grow in her hair or doing a good deed, she is the most beloved doll.

Few people realize the true story behind Raggedy Ann. She became who she is almost by mishap, another doll born out of need. It is not about Raggedy Ann, it's about her little girl companion, Marcella.

Marcella was the real life daughter of the inventor of Ann, Johnny Barton Gruelle , born Christmas Eve 1880 and died at a early age of 58 on January 8, 1938. Mr Gruelle was an accomplished artist. Early on in his career, he was a cartoonist for magazines and newspapers, he is the developer of Mr. Twee Deedle working very hard to get the character published. Sound familiar? Once Mr. T.D. was accepted and published routinely in the newspapers, Johnny Gruelle assumed the ambitious project of illustrating volumes of the Grimm Fairytales and holds the honor of the first volume published. His illustrations are romantic almost dreamlike capturing the smallest detail on every troll and borrowing from his father's ability of using golds and violets for the main palette.The elder Gruelle, Richard Buckner, was a successful portrait and landscape painter. The family was, and still is, close.

As I reach this point in the post I find the Internet, although offering a lot of information on Ann and her family, describes everything else in very brief phrases. Ten years ago NO information was to be had on Johnny Gruelle, he was a very private person preferring to speak with children and relating to them remarkably well.... I have a collectors book from the 1980 in which a page is devoted to the company of Raggedy Ann.... Johnny Gruelle. It describes that at the age of two, Marcella, Johnny 's daughter and main character of the Raggedy Ann Stories, became ill with a terminal sickness. Johnny Gruelle lost everything to fight the decease the was ravishing Marcellas tiny body.

Upon a visit to Marcellas grandmother, Johnny found a dusty stuffed doll in the attic, she was without a face or hair. Mr Guelle drew the button black eyes, triangular nose and separated mouth, his mother made the clothes. Raggedy Ann having red yarn hair was all Johnny could find for materials.

The collectors book explains that until then Marcella was giving up, she wasn't allowed outside because she would become dirty and her illness would worsen, Ann wore a apron and adventured outside in every story. Johnny Gruelle sat at Marcella bedside every night and recited stories of Ann to his daughter, soon Marcella regained the sparkle in her eyes and the zest for life. Marcella died at the age of 13 or 14 in the year of 1915. It devastated the family, she lost her battle with an infection from the small pox vaccine.

What became of sorrow and grief was a patent for Ann, number 47789, awarded later that year on September 7, 1915. The family produced enough handmade dolls in the following weeks, the trademark logo Raggedy Ann was granted. It excelled Ann to a commercial entity. Johnny Gruelle continued with his illustrations but also began documenting stories of Ann, adding Andy, uncle Clem, Fido, beloved Belinda and more. The series of books were picked up and published by PF Volland Co. After Johnny Gruelle died in 1938 his brother Justin and his son, Worth carried on his legacy. In 1938 Myrtle Gruelle, the widow of Johnny, authorized the selling of Ann w to Georgene Averill who changed Ann making her with orange hair, 15'' version, and googly eyes. She was a predominant doll maker that was in business for over twenty five years. Georgine sold Ann to Knickerbocker who placed a V space in the eyes of the dolls. Raggedy Ann is 85 years old.

To date, Raggedy Ann remains the doll that will never be out of fashion. Children love and admire the sweet red haired hope with the candy heart.

Free unpublished e-books by Johnny Gruelle can be downloaded from Project Gutenbury at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/18190. Hope it works.

My first endearing couple. C&G Design.