Raggedy Ann
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Raggedy Ann is a fictional character created by writer Johnny Gruelle (1880–1938) in a series of books he wrote and illustrated for young children. Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair. The character was created in 1915 as a doll, and was introduced to the public in the 1918 book Raggedy Ann Stories. A doll was also marketed along with the book to great success. A sequel, Raggedy Andy Stories (1920) introduced the character of her brother, Raggedy Andy, dressed in sailor suit and hat.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins
Gruelle created Raggedy Ann for his daughter, Marcella, when she brought him an old hand-made rag doll and he drew a face on it. From his bookshelf, he pulled a book of poems by James Whitcomb Riley, and combined the names of two poems, "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphan Annie." He said, "Why don’t we call her Raggedy Ann?" [1]
Marcella died at age 13 after being vaccinated at school for smallpox without her parents' consent. Authorities blamed a heart defect, but her parents blamed the vaccination. Gruelle became an opponent of vaccination, and the Raggedy Ann doll was used as a symbol by the anti-vaccination movement. [2]
[edit] Toys and adaptations into other media
Many subsequent books were published and the characters made their way into other media, including:
- A series of animated Fleischer Studios/ Famous Studios shorts:
- Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy (1941)
- Suddenly It's Spring (1944)
- The Enchanted Square (1947)
- A comic book published by Dell Comics.
- A 1977 animated feature, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, directed by Richard Williams
- Raggedy Ann and Andy in: the Great Santa Claus Caper (1978) a Christmas television special directed by Chuck Jones
- Raggedy Ann and Andy in: The Pumpkin Who Couldn’t Smile (1979) a Halloween television special also directed by Chuck Jones
- A 1988–1992 animated television series, The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy
While Simon & Schuster and Hasbro claim to own trademarks to the Raggedy Ann and/or Raggedy Ann and Andy names, the original 1915 doll design and 1918 and 1920 books are in the public domain, their copyright having expired. Books and films published after 1950 are protected by copyright.
Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. Raggedy Andy joined her in 2007.
[edit] Books
It appears that many books were released and credited to Johnny Gruelle after his death, regardless of who actually wrote and illustrated them.
- Raggedy Ann Stories (1918) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Andy Stories (1920) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees (1924) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Andy's Number Book (1924) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble (1925) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann's Alphabet Book (1925) by Johnny Gruelle
- Beloved Belindy (1926) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- The Paper Dragon: A Raggedy Ann Adventure (1926) by Johnny Gruelle
- Wooden Willie (1927) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann's Fairy Stories (1928) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann's Magical Wishes (1928) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Marcella: A Raggedy Ann Story (1929) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann in the Deep Deep Woods (1930) written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann's Sunny Songs (1930) words and illustrations by Johnny Gruelle, music by Will Woodin
- Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land (1931) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann's Lucky Pennies (1932) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann in the Golden Meadow (1935) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and the Left-Handed Safety Pin (1935)
- Raggedy Ann's Joyful Songs (1937) words and illustrations by Johnny Gruelle, music by Chas. Miller
- Raggedy Ann in the Magic Book (1939) written by Johnny Gruelle, illustrated by Worth Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and the Laughing Brook (1940) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and the Golden Butterfly (1940) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and the Hoppy Toad (1940)
- Raggedy Ann Helps Grandpa Hoppergrass (1940) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann Goes Sailing (1941)
- Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Nice Fat Policeman (1942) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and Betsy Bonnet String (1943) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and Andy (1944)
- Raggedy Ann in the Snow White Castle (1946)
- Raggedy Ann's Adventures (1947)
- Raggedy Ann and the Slippery Slide (1947)
- Ragged Ann's Mystery (1947)
- Raggedy Ann and Marcella's First Day At School (1952)
- Raggedy Ann's Merriest Christmas (1952) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Andy's Surprise (1953)
- Raggedy Ann's Tea Party (1954)
- Raggedy Ann's Secret (1959)
- Raggedy Ann and the Golden Ring (1961)
- Raggedy Ann and the Hobby Horse (1961) by Johnny Gruelle
- Raggedy Ann and the Happy Meadow (1961)
- Raggedy Ann and the Wonderful Witch (1961)
- Raggedy Ann and the Tagalong Present (1971)
- Raggedy Andy's Treasure Hunt (1973)
- Raggedy Ann's Cooking School (1974)
- Raggedy Granny Stories (1977) by Doris Thorner Salzberg
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Official Raggedy Ann Website (Simon and Schuster books)
- Raggedy Ann Stories from Project Gutenberg
- Raggedy Andy Stories from Project Gutenberg
- Raggedy Ann and Andy: History and Legend by Patricia Hall
- The Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum in Arcola, Illinois
- RAGS Magazine - A publication for Raggedy collectors and enthusiasts
- Large Collection of Raggedy Ann Photos
