Teddy Bears

November 14, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt was on a bear hunting trip with Mississippi Governor Andrew H. Longino. While the other hunters were successful, Roosevelt had not located a bear. In order to help the president out, some of the guides found an old black bear and tied it to a tree and presented it to Roosevelt to shoot. Roosevelt refused, seeing the act as unsportsmanlike. 

Photo: whitehouse.gov

The news of this incident spread around the country and was published as cartoon by political cartoonists Cliffordd Berryman. The cartoon was published on November 16th and inspired Brooklyn businessman Morris Michtom. 

Photo: smithsonianmag.com


Michtom owned a candy store but he also made stuffed animals. Inspired by the cartoon, Michtom designed a stuffed bear and named it "Teddy's Bear" in honor of the President. He sent one to Roosevelt asking permission to use his name with the product. Roosevelt was often called Teddy but actually disliked the nickname. However, he granted Michtom the ability to use it for his stuffed bear. 

Photo: frontierbrigadeband.com
The Teddy Bear became so popular, that Michtom founded his own toy company. In addition, Roosevelt himself used a Teddy Bear on his reelection campaign. Even today, Teddy Bears are still popular, but how many of you knew the origin story?

Photo: nps.gov