National Teddy Bear Day

For most people, a substantial momentum from their childhood is their Teddy Bear. They come in all sorts of varying sizes, textures, and colors, and they can act as a source of comfort, protection, and loyal friend when we need them the most. Many children have a difficult time letting go, or at least becoming less attached, to their furry friend. In fact, it is common to still hold on to their beloved bear just as a keepsake. So where did these adorable companions come from?

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26^th president of the United States, is the inspiration behind the first Teddy Bear that was ever created.  In November of 1902, Roosevelt was on an unsuccessful hunting trip in Mississippi with a few other men. When they were finally able to spot a bear, the group quickly gathered around it and even tied it to a tree so that they wouldn’t miss their shot. Seeing the bear in such a vulnerable and helpless state didn’t seem right to Roosevelt, and he actually refused to fire the gun. In his eyes, it would not display proper sportsmanship to shoot an animal in those conditions. The story of what happened on the hunting trip spread all over the country rapidly through newspapers and word of mouth. Clifford Berryman, a political cartoonist, thought that this tale would translate into a good cartoon. On November 16, 1902, only two days after the hunting trip, Berryman’s cartoon was published in the Washington Post. After seeing the cartoon, candy shop owner and stuffed animal maker Morris Michtom came up with the idea to dedicate a new stuffed bear to President Roosevelt. He first needed permission from the president to use his name, and then he called his new product “Teddy’s Bear,” which would later become known as simply a Teddy Bear.

Citations: http://www.nps.gov/thrb/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm "The Story of The Teddy Bear"

Check out the political cartoon and  the chart of some famous bears from over the years that I made below, although not all of them are actually stuffed animals!  

Berryman's Cartoon





My Chart!