Everyone has had a favourite toy at least once in their lives. A doll, a plushie, an action figure. Any number of these things have been beloved by children for generations. Among them, is the iconic Teddy Bear.
Whether you like it or not, you’ve probably seen one of these bears around. Most people in the modern-day have owned one, or twenty, throughout their lives. It’s a staple in children’s toys today. I can’t even imagine a time without them.
Well, as it turns out, these little bears aren’t the universal constant you expect them to be. Over 100 years ago, 1902, marked the beginnings of the teddy bear.
You may be thinking; Why a bear? What’s with the ‘teddy’ part? Turns out, the origins are… political?
(Of course. Always!)
Cuddly Plush or Mangled Corpse?
The kickstart of this ordeal was a vacation taken by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. After the stressful United Mine Worker strike of 1902 got resolved, Roosevelt decided to kick back and take a vacation. Being the hunting enthusiast that he was, he decided to spend his time off doing just that.
Originally planning a 10-day excursion, Roosevelt travelled down to the small community of Onward, Mississippi with many assistants and ample supplies. Their guide, Holt Collier, was proficient in bear hunting and familiar with the land. The president had gone into this excursion impatient, aiming to see a bear within the first day. But, unsurprisingly, things didn’t go according to his wishes.
The hounds eventually picked up the scent of a bear a couple of days in. Hoping to please the president, Collier did not immediately kill it when they caught up to it. He tried to wait for Roosevelt, but he was taking a while to catch up, and the bear was fatally injuring his dogs. Collier went ahead and smashed his rifle into the bear’s head, fracturing its skull. This way, the bear would be less of a threat, and the president would still have the kill.
Roosevelt caught up to the scene eventually and was confronted with a fat, black bear, tied to a tree. It was struggling, but all the people around him were cheering, encouraging him to shoot it. He wasn’t encouraged so easily, even though it had been untied and free to roam around. Being the noble man of culture he was, he refused to pull out his rifle, believing it to be unsportsmanlike to kill an animal with no chance of escape.
The bear was still murdered, just more slowly, and with a knife. What a peaceful way to go.
Oh, Teddy, How We Love You So!
When the public received word of this story, they ate it up. The president was praised for his act of compassion. It was spread around by different news outlets, spurring the creation of the cheeky “Drawing the Line in Mississippi” political cartoon by Clifford Berryman. This cartoon depicted the bear much more fragile and cub-like, making the scene feel even more dramatic. Some believe that Berryman’s interpretation of the bear was what inspired the actual teddy bear design. That, however, is not confirmed
The plush was the creation of Morris and Rose Michtom. These humble candy store owners were touched by the story. To honour Theodore Roosevelt, they sewed together the plush velvet bear, affectionately calling it ‘Teddy’s Bear’. It was displayed in the window of their shop the following day. People adored the design and wanted to buy it right off the bat. But, production only began after the couple received confirmation from Roosevelt that it was okay to use his name.
Who knew that such a harmless stuffie would turn into an empire?
Now, every time you look at one of these adorable little bears, I hope you pay your respects to that black bear. You have it to thank for your favourite childhood teddies. Rest in peace, black bear. Your story is now permanently part of the legacy of consumerism.
Works Cited:
Harris, K. The Real Story Behind the Invention of the Teddy Bear. Historydaily.org. Retrieved 17 November 2021, from https://historydaily.org/the-real-story-behind-the-invention-of-the-teddy-bear.
King, G. (2012). The History of the Teddy Bear: From Wet and Angry to Soft and Cuddly. Smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-history-of-the-teddy-bear-from-wet-and-angry-to-soft-and-cuddly-170275899/.
Nix, E. (2020). Who Invented the Teddy Bear?. history.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021, from https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-the-teddy-bear.
Images Retrieved From:
https://www.yours.co.uk/leisure/nostalgia/teddy-bears/
https://www.biography.com/us-president/theodore-roosevelt
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3a34770/
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_491375
https://izzesmile.blogspot.com/2021/04/teddy-bear-1080p-hd-photos.html