Quck answer
The Teddy Bear got its name from a hunting incident involving President Theodore Roosevelt. During a hunting trip in 1902, Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that had been captured and tied to a tree. This act of compassion was widely publicized in newspapers, and a political cartoonist depicted the incident. A toymaker saw the cartoon and created a stuffed bear, which he named “Teddy’s bear” after the President. The toy became popular and eventually became known as the Teddy Bear. Today, the Teddy Bear is a beloved and iconic children’s toy worldwide.
The teddy bear was given its name in honor of U.S. President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.
In 1902, President Roosevelt went on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi. During the hunt, Roosevelt criticized the other hunters for their “unsportsmanlike” behavior when he refused to kill a bear they had caught.
The news of this hunting trip quickly spread, and many newspapers across the country featured political cartoons starring “Teddy” and “the bear.”
Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, New York, a shop owner named Morris Michtom came across one of these cartoons and got an idea. Michtom and his wife decided to create plush, stuffed bears and put them in the front window of their shop.
With Roosevelt’s permission, Michtom named these bears “Teddy bears.” They became an instant hit, with women and children carrying them around in public. President Roosevelt even used the teddy bear as his mascot during his re-election campaign.
Until 2006, The Teddy Bear Museum in England held the world’s largest collection of teddy bears, with over 2,000 bears. Sadly, the museum was put up for auction in 2006.
Today, one family claims to own over 5,000 teddy bears, although they haven’t officially counted them all. The Volpps’ collection includes a teddy bear that they bought at an auction for $88,000.
Why would someone pay such a high price for a teddy bear? It’s all for love: Mr. Volpps gave it to his wife on their 42nd wedding anniversary.
Give it a Try
What can you do with a teddy bear? Come up with your own ideas or get inspired by the suggestions below!
- Do you think your teddy bear is a superhero friend? This video will show you how to make a superhero cape for your bear.
- If you have teddy bears or can create puppets, you can follow willowday’s Fairly Leaf Puppets tutorial. Write a play and perform it for a friend or family member.
- Build a toy sailboat and learn about buoyancy and wind power with Science Buddies’ Make a Toy Sailboat activity on the Scientific American website. Can you find any small toys that can float on the boat? What other materials can you use to make a boat that your teddy bear (or other toy) can float on?
Sources of Wonder
- http://www.buycostumes.com/m/history-teddy-bear
FAQ
1. How did the teddy bear get its name?
The teddy bear got its name from an incident involving the former US President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1902, President Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in Mississippi. During the hunt, his companions captured a bear cub and tied it to a tree, expecting the President to shoot it. However, President Roosevelt refused to shoot the defenseless animal, as it went against his principles. This act of compassion was widely publicized, and a political cartoonist named Clifford Berryman depicted the incident in a cartoon. Toymaker Morris Michtom saw the cartoon and was inspired to create a stuffed bear in honor of President Roosevelt, which he called “Teddy’s Bear.” The name stuck, and the teddy bear became an iconic toy.
2. Who invented the teddy bear?
The teddy bear was invented by Morris Michtom, a Russian immigrant to the United States. After seeing Clifford Berryman’s cartoon depicting President Theodore Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a bear cub, Michtom was inspired to create a stuffed bear. He made a bear-shaped toy and displayed it in his shop window with a sign that read “Teddy’s Bear,” in reference to President Roosevelt. The toy gained popularity quickly, and Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company to produce and sell teddy bears. Michtom’s invention of the teddy bear revolutionized the toy industry and became a beloved and iconic toy worldwide.
3. When was the teddy bear invented?
The teddy bear was invented in 1902. The specific date of its invention is not known, but it was during this year that President Theodore Roosevelt’s hunting trip and the subsequent incident with the bear cub occurred. Morris Michtom, the inventor of the teddy bear, saw the cartoon depicting the incident and was inspired to create a stuffed bear in honor of President Roosevelt. He quickly produced the toy and displayed it in his shop window, where it gained immense popularity. The teddy bear became a sensation and has remained a cherished toy for over a century.
4. How did the popularity of the teddy bear spread?
The popularity of the teddy bear spread rapidly through various means. Initially, the teddy bear gained popularity through word-of-mouth and its presence in Morris Michtom’s shop window. As more people saw and heard about the adorable stuffed bear inspired by President Roosevelt, demand for it increased. Michtom’s Ideal Novelty and Toy Company began mass-producing teddy bears to meet the rising demand, and the teddy bear soon became a must-have toy for children across the United States. The popularity of the teddy bear also spread through advertisements, catalogs, and department stores. As the toy industry grew, teddy bears were exported to other countries, further expanding their popularity worldwide. Today, teddy bears remain one of the most beloved and iconic toys in the world.
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