Inspired by a highly anticipated “possums and taters” banquet that the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce was hosting for incoming President William Howard Taft, the cartoon told the teddy bear to “beat it!” ...

People across the country were delighted by both the event and the cartoon, and this prompted several toy makers to begin manufacturing stuffed toy bears named for the president. The "teddy bear ...

The story of the teddy bear then turns to Rose and Morris Mitchtom who owned a candy store in New York City. Taking inspiration from the depiction of the black bear in Berryman’s cartoon ...