Johnny Gruelle

Rapunzel, from an edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Johnny Gruelle

Johnny Gruelle (December 25, 1880 - January 8, 1938) was an American artist, political cartoonist, and writer of children's books. He is best known as the creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. He also provided colour illustrations for a 1914 edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales.

He was born John Barton Gruelle in Arcola, Illinois. His father, Richard Gruelle was a noted artist affiliated with Hoosier Group of Indiana artists. His first well known cartooning work was Mr. Twee Deedle which Gruelle created after he beat out 1,500 other entrants in a cartooning contest sponsored in 1911 by The New York Herald. Mr. Twee Deedle was in print from 1911 to 1914.

One day, Johnny gave his daughter Marcella a dusty, faceless rag doll found in the attic. Johnny drew a face on the doll and named her Raggedy Ann. Marcella played with the doll so much, Raggedy Ann became like a sister to her. Gruelle figured other children would like the doll as much too. Gruelle's Raggedy Ann doll U.S. patent D47789 was dated September 7, 1915. In 1918, the PF Volland Company published Raggedy Ann Stories. Gruelle then created a following series of popular Raggedy Ann books and dolls.

Marcella, after being vaccinated at her school for Measles, was given an unidentified second shot without the consent of either parent. She soon contracted diphtheria and died. After this bitter blow, family friends described him as "possessed, with a heavy countenance, and ... with the only thing he would bear to have near him as a reminder of Marcella a rag doll."

Gruelle lived in the Silvermine section of New Canaan, Connecticut, where the dolls were first mass produced, and later moved his home and company to neighboring Wilton, Connecticut. Gruelle spent a year in Ashland, Oregon from 1923-1924. He died in Miami Beach, Florida on January 8, 1938, of a sudden heart attack.

External links

• The Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum in Arcola, IL
• Works by Johnny Gruelle at Project Gutenberg
• Raggedy History from publishers Simon & Schuster
• Johnny Gruelle, Inspired Illustrator by Patricia Hall
• Toonopedia entry on Mr Twee Deedle
• A View It Print It Book from Hedgehog Studio, All About The Little Small Red Hen
• Johnny Gruelle at Find a Grave