National Museum of Play Online Collections

Raggedy Ann and Andy Magic Slate

drawing board

1973

Comic strip artist and graphic illustrator Johnny B. Gruelle wrote and illustrated "Raggedy Ann Stories" for publisher P. F. Volland in 1918. According to tradition, Gruelle developed the stories from tales he made up to entertain Marcella, his young daughter. Two years after the Ann stories first appeared, Gruelle produced tales of Andy, Raggedy Ann's brother. Gruelle wrote and illustrated 25 books about his red-headed dolls along with other characters that included Beloved Belindy, the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees, Quacky Doodles, and Danny Doodles. The Raggedy Ann and Andy stories entertained successive generations of American children, and the cloth dolls of the characters have stayed in production since Volland issued the first dolls in 1918. After Volland, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls were produced by Molly'es, Georgene, Knickerbocker, Applause, Hasbro, and others. In addition to the dolls, thousands of other toys and products for children bear the likeness of the lovable duo.

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