Bluestocking Redneck: Raggedy Ann Centennial 1915-2015

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Raggedy Ann Centennial 1915-2015

Guess who turns

100 years old this year?

She's one of my

all time favorite dolls!

In the beginning
of the 20th century,
a very special rag doll
began to captivate the
hearts and imaginations
of both children and
children at heart
across war-weary
America.

As the story goes,
a man named
Johnny Gruelle,
created her
after finding a
faceless rag doll
in his mother's attic.

Author/Illustrator

Johnny Gruelle
1880-1938

Mr. Gruelle painted the
doll's face and later found
a unique name for her
by combining two of
James Whitcomb Riley's
popular poems,
"Little Orphant Annie" and
"The Raggedy Man".

Thus "Raggedy Ann"
the sweet iconic doll
of American childhood

was born.

She soon became
the favorite playmate of
Mr. Gruelle's daughter,
Marcella.

Other familiar and
delightful characters
of the rag doll series are
Raggedy Andy,
Raggedy Ann's
"long lost brother"
and Beloved Belindy,
a black doll created
by the mother of
Johnny Gruelle
in 1918.
Both were later
reproduced by
the Volland Company
in the 1920's.

Beloved Belindy

And who could ever forget...

The Camel With The

Wrinkled Knees

Made By Knickerbocker

(1976)

Marcella And Her Dolls
By Johnny Gruelle

Marcella Delight Gruelle
1902-1915
was the first born child
and daughter of
Johnny and Myrtle Gruelle.
She became ill after being incorrectly
inoculated with a vaccine for smallpox.
After being confined to bed for
many months, Marcella caught
an infection and died.
She was just thirteen years old.

After her untimely

and tragic death,

Mr. Gruelle

re-wrote the
amusing tales
of Raggedy Ann

he use to tell Marcella,

and to honor her memory

decided to include her

in the stories.