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When illustrator and cartoonist Johnny Gruelle’s terminally ill daughter, Marcella, found a faded rag doll in her grandmother’s attic, he painted a new, smiling face on the toy. Naming it Raggedy Ann after two poems by his friend James Whitcomb Riley, “The Raggedy Man” and “Orphan Annie,” he made up a series of stories around this character to entertain his only child, who loved to spend hours playing dolls.
After her death in 1916, Gruelle wrote and illustrated 25 storybooks based on those tales. Responding to the series’ popularity, in 1918, Gruelle and his family made several dozen dolls to sell with the books, and later that year, Gruelle licensed the publisher, the P.F. Volland Company, to manufacture the dolls based on his 1915 patent for an all-cloth doll with shoe-button eyes, a painted face, brown yarn hair, a dress, pantaloons, a pinafore, stripped legs, and black cloth shoes.
Soon after the dolls were sold, Gruelle received a package from a childhood playmate of his mother, who explained that their mothers had made a pair of boy-and-girl companion dol...
It is rumored that the original P.F. Volland dolls had a real candy heart, but after parents complained the candy was switched out with a cardboard heart. Mollye Goldman was the first, in 1935, to produce the dolls with an “I Love You” heart imprinted on the chest.
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Georgene 1938-40 Raggedy Ann Andy Black Outline Nose Ex Cond Original Tags
Vintage Knickerbocker Raggedy Ann Pal Beloved Belindy 
8" Madame Alexander Doll 95th Anniversary Wooden Raggedy Ann Articulated Nrfb
Wendy Lawton Marcella And Raggedy Ann Ltd Ed. 265/2500
Marcella And Raggedy Ann By Haut Melton, Felt Art Doll
Marcella Takes A Trip With Raggedy Ann & Andy 8'' Madame Alexander
Primitive Folk Art*shabby Rose Garden Tea*sweet Raggedy Ann Doll W/ Teddy Bear
Vintage Knickerbocker Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls, Mint!!!, Set Of 2 W/ Tags, 15in
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Primitive Gathering Of Handmade Dolls, W/ 3 Ft Raggedy Ann
Patriotic*americana*primitive 4th Of July Sweet Raggedy Ann Doll W/teddy Bear
Primitive~folk Art~raggedy Ann~**~bloom Where You Are Planted~**~
.20" Handmade Cloth Raggedy Ann Doll Made By Eva
Collectible Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls-bisque Porcelain Faces, Cloth Bodies-13"
(8) Red Raven Movie Records, 78 Rpm, Children,the Teddy Bears,raggedy Ann,etc
Raggedy Ann + Andy (dell)14, 17, 23, & 29- Gruelle, W Kelly, Noonan, Jupo-a
Raggedy Ann And The Golden Butterfly 1940
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Handmade Raggedy Ann Doll, Blue And Red Print Dress
Primitive Folkart Raggedy Ann ~ Sunflower Annie ~ Blossom Seed Tag
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Raggedy Ann & Andy Daisy Kingdom Fabric 4th Of July Parade 4 Yards
Primitive Patriotic Collectible Raggedy Ann Doll One Of A Kind
Raggedy Ann & Andy Hand Crafted Hand Painted Wooden Lamp 18-1/2"
Rare Raggedy Andy 1974 Pencil Sharpener & 1975 Raggedy Ann Stapler By Janex Corp
Raggedy Ann & Andy 2009 Precious Moments Vinyl Christmas Dolls 12 Inch Mint Cond
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Primitive Folk Art Raggedy Ann Doll
Daisy Kingdom 4 Quilters Only Raggedy Ann Andy Quilt Fabric Kit 6 Yd
Primitive Raggedy Ann *dolly-n-me* Flower Annie
Antique ~ Johnny Gruell's Own Raggedy Andy Doll ~ Georgene Novelties ~ 1918-1920
Johnny Gruelles Own Raggedy Andy 1940's Doll Georgene Novelties Marked Tagged
Antique Old 3 Foot Tall Raggedy Ann Doll
Vintage ~ Johnny Gruell's Own Raggedy Ann Doll ~ Georgene Novelties ~ 1945-1947
Vintage Knickerbocker Raggedy Ann And Andy Dolls
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Raggedy Ann Primitive Quilted Wall Hanging By Honey & Me 
20 In.3 P. Hearts And Flowers Outfit For Raggedy Ann Doll Made By Eva
Collector's World Of Raggedy Ann & Andy Books Vol. 1 & 2
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Handmade 4 Pc Raggedy Ann Dress For 20'' Doll Made By Jodi Lynn
Handmade 4 Pc Raggedy Ann Dress For A 20'' Doll Made By Jodi Lynn
20 In.3 P. Floral Outfit For Raggedy Ann Doll Made By Eva
Cute 8" Annie Bear With Raggedy Ann Doll By Jody Battaglia
Cute 8" Andy Bear With Raggedy Andy Doll By Jody Battaglia
Dress For 18-20" Raggedy Ann Doll New Hand Made, Cats In Feisty Hot Pink
Daisy Kingdom Fabric #4514 Raggedy Ann & Andy Sampler 44" X About 3 1/2 Yards
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Black Americana Raggedy Ann & Andy Doll Toy Applause Pair Country Decor Chic Nwt
Vintage Lot 4 Raggedy Ann Andy Dolls Knickerbocker Georgene Johnny Gruelle Label
Raggedy Ann's Magical Wishes By Johnny Gruelle - 1928
Primitive Raggedy Ann Doll ~ Prim Annie And Dolly
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Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble By Johnny Gruelle, 1925 Donohue, Vg Condition
Raggedy Ann And Andy Visit The Farm 1974 Vintage Bath Book Squeaky Vinyl
Recent News: Raggedy Ann and Andy Dolls
Source: Google News
San Marcos preschool program accepting applications
U-T San Diego, June 18thSAN MARCOS — The San Marcos Community Services department has space available in its Raggedy Ann & Andy Preschoolers Program for children ages 3 to 5. The recreation enrichment program focuses on social skills, with an introduction to academic ...Read more
'I have lived a very blessed life'
Saukvalley, June 16thDoretta also dressed up as Raggedy Ann on several occasions, spreading cheer to children at the hospital and local schools. Some sent her thank-you letters. “One of them said I really like your sinning,” she recalled with a smile. “I think that must be...Read more
Grease at 35 years old: We look at where the film's stars are now
NEWS.com.au, June 15thThe beauty school dropout's distinctive, childlike voice is one of her trademarks - Conn was the voice of Raggedy Ann in the 1977 animated feature, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure. The Brooklyn native lives outside New York City with her second ...Read more
Rembert Explains America: A Terrifying, Beautiful Day at the National Toy Hall ...
Grantland (blog), June 14thI was really beginning to lose interest in Easy Bake Ovens (inducted 2006) and Raggedy Ann and Andy (2002). Then this "Arcade" sign and I stared each other down for a few seconds. I have a video-game problem. After PlayStation, I went on a 12-year ...Read more
Bonnie Watters celebrates 45 years of doll making
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, June 14thWatters' first doll was Raggedy Ann made from a commercial pattern. From there, she made her first original doll, “Eliza,” which was “a big-eyed, long-legged girl” made of gingham fabric. Watters quit her day jobs to raise her family and focus her...Read more
Jean Kelsey
Jamestown Post Journal, June 12thShe was a parade favorite for more than 25 years handing out candy as Raggedy Ann. She is survived by two daughters: Jane K. (Mark) Peterson of Fredericksburg, Va., and Robin L. (Daniel) Traub of Raleigh, N.C.; and one son, Charles L. (Yvonne) Kelsey ...Read more
Fairytale in a garden: Jackson resident showcases quickly expanding fairy garden
MLive.com, June 12thShe said each night before she would go to sleep her mother would read stories about Raggedy Ann to her, and at night her mother would place toys out in her room as if Raggedy Ann had been playing to encourage a sense of bewilderment. “It developed ...Read more
You know it's your birthday: Celebrations to remember
Shoreline Times, June 11thmaking it much easier to prepare. With a love of celebrating and two young daughters, I've done my share of birthday themes: Hawaiian luaus, Hollywood stars, winter garden parties, Raggedy Ann, princess and pirate parties, high school musical and more!...Read more