A Timeless Toy For All Ages

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip to Mississippi. His staff captured and tied up a black bear cub for him to shoot, but he declined. This inspired toy store owner Morris Michtom to create a teddy bear display. Michtom soon received permission from the president to use his name for the bears.

Many toys have come and gone in the toy market over the years, but few have the staying power and unique history of the Teddy Bear. Let's look into the fascinating history of this classic toy and piece of Americana.

It was November 1902, and our president, Theodore Roosevelt, was on a hunting trip to Mississippi. The trip was both business and pleasure: he was there to try to settle a boundary dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as to take the president hunting, who enjoyed the sport.

However, the hunt did not go as planned that day because President Roosevelt was unable to find a suitable target to his liking. However, in order to accommodate him, his staff managed to capture and tie a Louisiana black bear cub for him to shoot. The thought of shooting a baby bear tied to a tree did not seem sporting to the accomplished outdoorsman, so he declined, instead sparing the black bear cub's life and releasing it.

Mr. Clifford Berryman, a well-known political cartoonist for the Washington Star at the time, drew a cartoon titled "Drawing The Line In Mississippi," depicting the President allowing the bear to live and using the story as a metaphor for how the president handled the boundary dispute.

The cartoon also depicted the President holding his rifle with his back to the cute, cowering baby bear. This inspired Brooklyn toy store owner Morris Michtom to create a display for his store.

In the window of his store, he displayed a copy of the newspaper cartoon alongside a hand-sewn stuffed bear made by his wife. He was surprised to find himself inundated with customers eager to purchase his stuffed bear!

Michtom quickly requested and received permission from President Theodore Roosevelt to use his name for the stuffed bears he and his wife were now selling. Thus was born the "teddy bear," and Michtom was soon mass-producing them by the thousands. Michtom founded the Ideal Toy Company with the proceeds from the teddy bear sales.

Teddy bears remain best friends to children of all ages around the world. Their mass appeal will never fade, and they are a true classic, albeit with a little presidential assistance.