Raggedy Ann: In Memory of Marcella There really was a Marcella and Raggedy Ann really was her doll. If you've ever read the old stories of Raggedy Ann you may remember Marcella. John Gruelle, professional illustrator and writer, was her Father and the author of the Raggedy Ann stories. I first heard the story of Marcella when I was a kid. The sadness that goes along with Raggedy Ann, the doll with the candy heart, has stuck with me all these years. Maybe that is why I have kept the Raggedy Ann doll my Mother made me all these years.

The rag doll that became Raggedy Ann was originally made by Marcella's Grandmother (for her daughter) and later the old doll was found by Marcella in the attic. John Gruelle painted a new face over the old faded one and added fresh yarn for hair. They named her Raggedy Ann after poems by James Whitcomb Riley (The Raggedy Man and Orphan Annie). In 1915, when she was 13, Marcella became sick from a contaminated smallpox vaccine. She died in November of that year. The Raggedy Ann stories shared by Marcella and her Father were published in her memory.

Afterwards the Gruelle family handmade Raggedy Ann dolls in order to promote the books. Raggedy Ann was patented in 1915, the Raggedy Andy doll was patented in 1920. All the dolls had the traditional face, round black eyes (tin or wooden buttons), red triangle nose and the mouth separated in the middle. The dolls were 15 to 16 inches long with brown or auburn yarn hair. They had large hands, red & white stripped legs and black shoes with the feet turned sideways. Each doll had a candy heart saying "I love you" embroidered or painted on her chest. If you buy a sewing pattern for Raggedy Ann today you will find the candy heart still included on the left side of the doll's chest.

From what I have found on the web, original dolls made by the Gruelle family are worth $1,500 to $3,000. These original dolls are marked on their back with a patent date - September 7, 1915. I expect any which remain are carefully preserved and no longer taken out for playing. Traditionally the dolls were made with leftover fabric and yarn. They were machine washable and could be dressed in any baby hand-me-downs that would fit. Collectible dolls which are manufactured with licenses rather than love are much different from the home-made dolls. Mine may be the only Raggedy Ann in existence with grey hair. My Mother no longer remembers why she gave her grey hair, likely there was some reason at the time.

If you were here you could see her, wearing a pink cotton dress and denim jacket with a lace collar, very fashionable, from the local Goodwill store. She has weathered the past 30+ years well. I have a pattern to make Raggedy Ann for my nieces if I can get them done in time for Christmas. It was so nice to embroider that cheery rag doll face and think of my Mother doing the same thing for me so long ago.

There is a Raggedy Ann museum in Arcola, Illinois which is the home of the annual (mid May) Raggedy Ann and Andy Festival.