Where the Teddy Bear Got His Name

The Teddy Bear

1902-2002

A hundred years ago all toy bears came to be known as Teddy Bears

The year was 1902 and President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid outdoorsman, was visiting Mississippi. During this visit several members of his presidential party captured a bear cub and tied it to a nearby tree. Upon seeing this, he ordered the bear set free.

Hearing of this noble act, a New York store owner wanted to name the toy bears in his store after the president. Thus he wrote a letter to the president asking permission to name the toy bears “Teddy”. The president gave his consent and from that day on all toy bears were called Teddy Bears.

Thank you, Mrs. Howe, for sharing your special bear with our class and for joining us for our Teddy Bear Picnic!