- Johnny Gruelle
Johnny Gruelle (
December 24 ,1880 -January 8 ,1938 ) was an artist, political cartoonist, and writer of children's books. He is best known as the creator ofRaggedy Ann . He also provided colour illustrations for a 1914 edition of "Grimm's Fairy Tales ".He was born John Barton Gruelle in Arcola,
Illinois . His father,Richard Gruelle was a noted artist affiliated withHoosier Group of Indiana artists. His first well known cartooning work was "Mr. Twee Deedle" which Gruelle created after he beat out 1,500 other entrants in a cartooning contest sponsored in 1911 by TheNew York Herald . "Mr. Twee Deedle" was in print from 1911 to 1914.One day, Johnny gave his daughter Marcella a dusty, faceless rag doll found in the attic. Johnny drew a face on the doll and named her Raggedy Ann. Marcella played with the doll so much, Raggedy Ann became like a sister to her. Gruelle wanted other little girls to have such dolls. Gruelle's Raggedy Ann doll Patent # 47789 was dated September 7, 1915. In 1918, the PF Volland Company published "Raggedy Ann Stories". Gruelle then created a following series of popular Raggedy Ann books and dolls.
Gruelle lived in the Silvermine section of
Norwalk, Connecticut , where the dolls were first mass produced, and later moved his home and company to neighboringWilton, Connecticut . Gruelle spent a year inAshland, Oregon from 1923-1924 [http://www.sohs.org/page.asp?navid=89] .External links
* [http://www.raggedyann-museum.org/ The Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum] in
Arcola, IL
*
* [http://www.simonsays.com/content/feature.cfm?sid=686&feature_id=463 Raggedy History] from publishersSimon & Schuster
* [http://www.raggedy-ann.com/jgill.html Johnny Gruelle, Inspired Illustrator by Patricia Hall]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/deedle.htm Toonopedia entry on "Mr Twee Deedle"]
* [http://hedgehogstudio.com/books.html A View It Print It Book from Hedgehog Studio, All About The Little Small Red Hen"]
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