Interesting Histories: Teddy Bear
The Teddy Bear is an icon, a huggable friend, a childhood memory, a protector of innocent dreams, a night time monster slayer and the best toy a child could wish for. But where did this little soft buddy come from? And why such a strange name? Teddy Bear? Who is Teddy? Why is he a bear?
Strange thing is that it all started in Mississippi on November 1902. None other than former United States President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was invited by Governor Andrew H. Longino for a little hunting trip. Roosevelt loved hunting, and so he joyfully agreed. The trip was pleasant and relaxing, except for one problem, while everybody else already got themselves a trophy, Roosevelt could not score a hit. He huffed and he puffed, but was fruitless.
Of course, the host could not allow for former President of United States to go home without a kill. That was where Holt Collier came in. As former cavalryman, he knew the land and knew the hunt. He tracked down a big and fat black bear, clubbed it into submission, surrounded it by angry hounds and tied it to a large tree. Then came Roosevelt, his future kill presented to him on a golden platter. “Shoot the bear”, they shouted. But Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was not that type of man, he was a hunter, not a scavenger. He refused to kill the helpless bear, claiming that it was unsportsmanlike. Instead, he instructed for it to be put out of its misery and went on his merry way.
This story of compassion quickly spread around the town. A well-known cartoonist Clifford Berryman picked it up and cheerfully lampooned the famous presidential bear hunt. The cartoon appeared in the Washington Post on November 16, and Morris Michtom, a simple candy maker from Brooklyn, decided to a created a stuffed toy in its honour. He called his creation “Teddy’s Bear”, of course with the permission from Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt himself. Back in the good old days presidents seemed to have a good sense of humour.
The toy was a runaway success and sold well all over the country. Morris Michtom quickly founded the “Ideal Novelty and Toy Co”, renamed his creation to simply “Teddy Bear”, and went to mass production. From that point on the Teddy Bear became a household name. While the original bears resembled a real life animal, they slowly changed their appearances to be more cute and cuddly, with big eyes and cute button noses. These days there are Teddy Bears of every shape and size. You can even buy it in a form of a DIY kit, or get one custom made to suit your personal taste. There is even a market for collectable Teddy Bears and people pay big money for the original “Teddy’s bear”.
Did you have your own Teddy Bear when you were young?
