History of the Teddy Bear

The teddy bear was first made in 1902 when there was a wondrous comic in the newspaper. The comic showed how Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a defenseless bear. It also showed him telling his men to release the bear. They followed the President's orders, and set the bear free. This comic was designed by Clifford Berryman and was first introduced in the Washington Post.

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Clifford Berryman Collection.

Morris Michtom owned a candy store on Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Morris saw the comic and was inspired by it. Morris and his wife, Rose, got the idea to make a stuffed toy bear with jointed arms and legs. After making the bear, Morris wrote a letter to President Roosevelt. The letter asked if they could use Teddy's Bear as a name for the teddy bear. Along with the letter they sent the President one of these stuffed bears. The President responsed yes, and said he would be honored to have his name used for this toy. Then, the teddy bear was made.

Meanwhile in Germany, another bear was being created. The peson who was making the bear was Margarete Steiff. The ears of the bear were marked "Steiff" because the maker was (Margarete) Steiff. She was really known for making small elephants. She made here own company in 1880. The Steiff company was said to be the biggest toy manufactuer in the world.

The German bear and the American bear were said to be made around the same time, but no one really knows which bear came first.

Which do you think was made first?

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