Geo. B. Crapsey, formerly of Kikbush, is now located at Ashland, Ore.
"Merrill Matters," Merrill Star-Advocate, Merrill, Wisconsin, July 16, 1907, page 5


    George B. Crapsey was in town Friday showing a real live teddy bear which he captured on the Little Applegate after killing its mother. Teddy is only three weeks old and very shy before strangers, but fond of his captors. He is fed principally on milk, but eats rice, bread and table scraps. Already he has developed a sweet tooth and has a great capacity for sugar.
    Teddy stands about 15 inches high and wears a coat of brown fur. He is cuter than any fake teddy bear ever made. His mother, a large brown bear, was killed about a week ago.
    Mr. Crapsey in the past few weeks his killed four bears in the Little Applegate region, where he has a ranch. One of the bears was a cinnamon, two of them were black, and one brown. Six weeks ago he killed a mountain lion.
    Mr. and Mrs. Crapsey left Saturday for their former home in Kickbush, Wis., where they expect to stay for a year. They have extensive interests there, but expect to dispose of them and return to Oregon. They are taking Teddy with them.
Medford Daily Tribune, May 30, 1908, page 4


    G. B. Crapsey, who has been at Ashland, Oregon, for some time, arrived here this morning. He brought with him a small brown bear about four weeks old. The little cub was the cause of much curiosity, it being very different from the black bear seen around here. Mr. Crapsey stated that while he was out west he had killed four of the beasts.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, June 11, 1908, page 4


    Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Crapsey, George McBain, also Miss Alice Teddy arrived home this week Monday, for an indefinite length of time.
"Cotter," Merrill Star-Advocate, Merrill, Wisconsin, October 20, 1909, page 4


    The bear owned by Geo. B. Crapsey, of Schulz' Spur, has a wonderful reputation as a roller skater. He recently returned with it from Chicago, where he filled a long engagement at a roller rink at that place.
    On November 25, 26 and 27, it is billed to give exhibitions at the Coliseum roller rink at Wausau. The bear skates with remarkable grace and cleverness. The people of this city were bewildered when they witnessed the performances of Mr. Crapsey's bear at the Palace roller rink last spring. Since that time he has made great improvements and he now not only waltzes, two steps and cakewalks as gracefully as a human being, but it is capable of doing several difficult tricks on skates. While skating the bear wears shoes and moves along on its hind feet. Anyone makes a big mistake by not taking advantage of seeing the bear during one of its performances.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, November 2, 1909, page 2


    Geo. Crapsey and his wonderful skating bear left this morning for Tomahawk, where the latter is billed for a performance at the rink in that city. From there he will be taken to Wausau to perform at the Coliseum in that city and then he will begin an extended tour of the surrounding country, including the large cities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and possibly Minnesota.
    The bear has improved a great deal since her visit here last winter, and the many stunts which she performs so gracefully are really wonderful. The Palace roller rink was crowded each afternoon and evening that "Alice Teddy" performed in this city.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, November 22, 1909, page 1


    O. Belanger, manager of the Palace roller rink in this city, received word from the manager of the Coliseum rink at Wausau that last evening he opened the doors at 7:30 o'clock and at 8:20 he was compelled to lock them on account of the crowd that wished to see Alice Teddy, the skating bear belonging to Geo. Crapsey, perform.
    It was positively the largest number of people that ever attended that rink.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, November 26, 1909, page 1


    The roller skating bear which is exhibiting at the Roller Rink this week was captured in the Siskiyou Mtns. in Southern Oregon by her owner and trainer, Geo. B. Crapsey. At the time of her capture she would weigh only four lbs. She is now 20 mo. of age and weighs 170 lbs. She was brought back to Merrill, Wis., taught to walk upright and wear shoes and dance, etc. She showed so much intelligence that Mr. Crapsey concluded to teach her to skate on roller skates. She has now been on exhibition 9 mos. and is an expert skater. While in the city she will participate in a wrestling match, the best two falls in three, catch-as-catch-can style. She is also an expert boxer and will give boxing exhibitions--three rounds. She will skate with the crowd after the exhibition following. She will skate with a young lady.
Chippewa Herald Telegram, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, March 9, 1910, page 3


    Alice Teddy was in the Times office this morning.
    As the name might indicate, Alice Teddy is somewhat of a distinguished visitor. Didn't whirl into town in a big touring car. Hasn't yet made a study of sociological conditions in the Anthracite field. Hasn't married a congressman, yet, and there are no well-founded rumors that there is an engagement anywhere near in sight. Never bossed a political party pow-wow.
    But, Alice Teddy has beaten some of the good ones to a frazzle. Did it last night at Town Hall. Put on roller skates and wheeled off a few laps that caused some of them to take notice. To prove that there was no electric battery about Alice Teddy and that there is also no clockwork mechanism under the new fall coat she wears, Alice bounded into the office this morning and brought her skates along. Put them on and did a couple turns about the news room and everybody said "great." As a skater there is nothing in her class that can beat her.
    Alice Teddy is a two and a half year old big black bear. She is showing the skaters some new waltz steps and glides at Town Hall. Her owner is George Crapsey, and he has had Alice Teddy since she was a few weeks old. She was caught as a cub in the mountains of Oregon.
Times Tribune, Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1910, page 7


    At Hammerstein's Victoria Theater, New York City, is where Alice Teddy, Geo. B. Crapsey's famous roller skating bear, is at present nightly entertaining thousands. After her regular skating act Alice wrestles with Kid Williams, of Chicago, catch as catch can, two falls out of three. They are very evenly matched. The Kid weighs 140 pounds and Alice now tips the scale at 190 pounds.
    She has improved wonderfully in skating and has had match races with a number of lady speed skaters, winning in nearly all of them.
    Mr. Crapsey has been very successful financially with Alice Teddy, his only difficulty being not able to fill all dates.--Merrill Daily Herald.
Wood County Reporter, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 17, 1910, page 4


    Who ever heard of a real live bear that roller skates? Manager George Zindel of the Coliseum has, and moreover he has booked the skating bear as an attraction at the rink next week. The bear has been creating a sensation in the East, where it has been appearing both in rinks and in vaudeville theaters. Mr. Zindel jumped at the chance to secure it when an open week was offered.
    The bear is as much at ease on roller skates as is a man or woman. It does slow skating, fast skating, waltzes on rollers, climbs a stepladder, wrestles and performs other human imitation stunts. It will be at the Coliseum all of next week, beginning Monday night. After Monday it will give exhibitions both afternoon and evening. The engagement concludes a week from Sunday night.
    Alice Teddy, the skatorial bear, is a member of the cinnamon species and was captured in the Siskiyou Mountains in Southern Oregon nearly three years ago. At that time Alice Teddy was a tiny cub. George B. Crapsey took the bear home with him to Merrill, Wis., where she became a household pet.
    She showed such an inclination to imitate human ways that finally skates were fitted to her shoes and she was taught to skate upright in Mr. Crapsey's hall. Her first public exhibitions took place in the Palace rink at Merrill, Wis., in 1909, and since that time she has been exhibited in Chicago, Milwaukee and other large cities.
    Alice Teddy weighs 215 pounds and is said to present a unique picture as she skates around attired in skirts and bearing a parasol. She shakes hands with other skaters and skates with them if they so desire. She can hug, too. She also indulges in races, going at a rate said to be surprising.
    Manager Zindel is putting in extra seats in the gallery and preparing for crowds during the engagement of Alice Teddy.
Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 26, 1911, page 2


    Alice Teddy of this city is playing to packed houses on Orpheum circuit at a salary of $500 per week. The Great Falls Daily Leader of Great Falls, Mont., where Alice Teddy is showing during the present week, makes the following mention of Alice Teddy's popularity in that city:
    If you never take in another show this season, don't miss Alice Teddy this week, the great roller skating bear at the Orpheum, the only one in the world. Packed houses saw this show yesterday, and everyone pronounced it the most wonderful act in the history of Great Falls, or any other city. Alice Teddy goes on the Orpheum circuit at $500 a week, starting at Seattle in two weeks.--Merrill Daily Herald.
Wood County Reporter, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 2, 1911, page 1


    Alice Teddy, the famous roller skating bear, is undoubtedly the wonder of the age, as far as animal training is concerned. Alice Teddy will be exhibited at the Bijou Theater for the last three days of this week, commencing this afternoon at the matinee.
    Alice Teddy, the bear with human brain and intelligence, performs feats of skill on roller skates, which would do credit to a professional skater, yet is a cub of man's size and weight, and only three years of age.
    Alice, attired in a fluffy skirt, will be seen skating around the stage in the most ladylike manner, handling a parasol just as daintily as any one of our society girls. But that is by no means the extent of Alice's skill and wisdom. Anyone who has ever tried to ascend a stepladder with roller skates under his feet will know the difficulty of this trick, but Alice Teddy accomplishes it with ease and grace.
    Alice Teddy should prove one of the greatest attractions ever offered to Aberdeen theatergoers, as she has in all the principal cities of the country.
Aberdeen American, Aberdeen, South Dakota, November 16, 1911, page 3


    Alice Teddy was the hit of the Bijou last evening with her awkward and clumsy actions that nevertheless were perfection in the art of balancing. Alice can skate, all right, but her act was conducted in a perfect gale of laughter from the audience. And her climbing of the ladder quite excelled what heretofore has been considered the most comic of situations, the paterfamilias putting up the sitting room stovepipe for winter.
Aberdeen American, Aberdeen, South Dakota, November 17, 1911, page 3


    Alice Teddy surprised the crowd at the Coliseum last night. When it was first announced that a really, truly bear would join the merry skaters and show them a few new tricks in the roller gliding game the skeptics laughed aloud. "A bear skate! Huh, you'll have to show us," they said.
    And Alice Teddy did show them. Dressed in a short skirt, she ambled out on the floor with more or less grace and seated herself calmly while attendants fastened to her hind paws gilt shoes to which were attached regulation ball-bearing roller skates. Then Alice was given the word to go. She rose on her rollers and, keeping upright as a lady skater should, glided easily around the rink, cutting over at the corners with the nonchalance of the skilled skater. Around and around she went while the crowd gasped and then applauded.
    After she had skated forward and backward as naturally as though she had been born on rollers, and had carried a parasol and shopping bag to show that she was up to the ways of fashion, she raced against two young men. Then she climbed a stepladder, still on rollers, and waved an American flag.
    Alice Teddy's final stunt was to discard her roller skates and engage in a wrestling match with a young man who volunteered from the audience. Alice Teddy weighs 215 pounds and the young man weighs about 130, so Alice had the advantage of weight.
    The young man gained the first fall in about ten minutes, but only after a hard struggle, as Alice displayed both strength and many of the tricks of trained wrestlers. Alice gained the second fall. The third bout was stopped by an accident, Alice putting the young man over so hard that his head cracked against the hard floor. The match was thereupon declared a draw.
    Alice Teddy will be at the Coliseum all the week.
Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 31, 1911, page 9


    Alice Teddy, the bear skater, met her match last night at the Coliseum in a wrestling bout with Oscar A. Allen, who professes considerable ability in the art. There was a large crowd present, and it was somewhat surprised to see Alice lose the first fall in a few moments of wrestling.
    After a short rest the bout continued for a period of ten minutes and finally the bear's seconds threw up the sponge. Another exhibition will be given tonight.
Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 3, 1911, page 6


    Alice Teddy, the roller skating bear, is dead. Thousands of Great Falls people who saw this animal perform at the Orpheum Theater several weeks ago will regret to learn that she died in San Francisco last week.
    This bear was the only roller skating bear in the world, and she had been exhibited not only all over this country, but throughout the continent of Europe. She skated as handily as the average person who has become adept on rollers and was a delight to all, especially children.
    In the loss of Alice Teddy her owners have been deprived of a bonanza. Recently the combination has been drawing down $250 a week, but at the time of the animal's death her owner was about to go on the great Orpheum circuit at a salary of $500 a week.
The Great Falls Leader, November 27, 1911, page 8  Alice Teddy did not visit California in 1911.


    Alice Teddy, cinnamon bear, was captured in the Siskiyou Mountains in Southern Oregon by George B. Crapsey, its owner and trainer, in May, 1908. The cub at the time weighed but 40 pounds. It developed a large degree of intelligence, leading Mr. Crapsey to give it much time in training. He shod her and taught her many tricks. The animal was chained near the house and manifested a desire to help Mrs. Crapsey when she did her washing. Thereupon her trainer gave her latitude, and the bear took hold of the pump handle and did the work as well as Mrs. Crapsey.
    By observation the bear learned how to do the washing, and when furnished with a tub and rag it would work industriously in imitation of its mistress, concluding its work by dumping the tub of water.
    In the fall of 1908, when the bear was five months old, its owner taught it to skate upon rollers, shoes being fitted to its feet. The animal developed such aptitude that in a short time it was able to skate in an upright position. The first public exhibition took place at Merrill, Wis., last year, and since that time the animal has been on exhibition in most of the large cities in the country. She is good tempered and an even-mannered expert skater, and draws large crowds wherever an exhibition of her skill is announced.
    She is the only bear skater in the world, the paragon on rollers and a brilliant attraction that is appearing at the Auditorium, Third Avenue East and First Street, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings.
Duluth News-Tribune, Duluth, Minnesota, December 14, 1911


    Since the days when bruin was first taken into captivity and made to display her talents to American audiences, there has never been such a bear as Alice Teddy, the roller skating, racing, and wrestling bear, which is just now commencing a two weeks' engagement at the Royal, where she has delighted thousands with her unique and wonderful performance. Alice, without a doubt, leads the entire family, and the Altoona folks have packed the Royal twice daily to watch her glide around the stage with a grace human in the extreme, and with the dexterity that made the audience daily wonder whether Alice was a bear or only a clever imitation.
    Alice Teddy is just four years old and was captured by her trainer in the Siskiyou Mountains in Southern Oregon, where he had killed her mother. The cub at that time weighed forty pounds, and yesterday when placed on the scales she moved the beam at 235 pounds even.
    "How on earth did you teach that bear to skate on ball-bearing rollers?" her trainer was asked.
    "Well," he answered, "from the very first the bear exhibited much more than average intelligence, and so I determined to teach her something that I had never heard of a bear doing before. She learned quickly and liked the exercise. Later I taught her other tricks and how to wrestle."
    The Altoona public fell in love with Alice at the first performance. Alice is gentle and with a decided vein of humor underneath her woolly hide. She enjoys her "turn" from the moment she first has her little skating shoes strapped on, and when with her trainer she starts off around the stage, she seems to catch the time of the music and her steps and her swings are as careful and perfect as an accomplished skater. And then Alice loves to sit in a chair. She takes every opportunity to seat herself, and in that position is the most contented figure in the world.
    Her performance almost defies description. After skating around the stage several times with her trainer, with first a teddy bear in her front paws and then an umbrella, she bowed quite naturally to the applause that filled the audience.
    Then she mounted on a high five-step ladder, still with her treacherous skates strapped to her feet, and at a word from her trainer she stood erect and waved an American flag. The audience went wild. On the skates she can glide backwards, sideways and circle about in a manner that was nothing less than marvelous.
    And then she wrestled with one of the strong men of Altoona. Alice showed almost human skill in barring some of the professional holds that Mr. McGuigan tried to get. The bout was catch-as-catch-can, the best two out of three falls, and after a clever exhibition Alice was declared a winner. Between the bouts Alice would return to her chair and drink out of a bottle as naturally as a child. At the word "time" she would rush from her corner and grapple in true wrestling style.
    Following the performance Alice Teddy held an informal reception in the lobby of the Royal. Seated on a chair she greeted the audience as they filed out, shaking hands with the little folks as well as the grownups. The people were loath to leave the playhouse, and for over an hour after last night's performance Alice was obliged to yap her respects to the Altoona folks. And then, every once in a while Alice would reach up with her huge paws, take her trainer gently around the neck and imprint a loving kiss on his cheek. Alice is very affectionate--to her trainer.
    Alice has a trunk all her own, and the full trousseau of a lady of quality. Her skirts are pretty gaudy with lots of spangles and ribbons, and on the St. Patrick's Day performance she was dressed all in green, with gold trimmings. And Alice Teddy is very particular about her food. Everything must be cooked in the most appetizing style except fruit. She is a gourmand for apples and oranges and also has a failing for pie. A lump of sugar now and then makes her completely happy.
    The early part of the week Alice Teddy was taken on a joy ride by her trainer and the managers of the Royal. After spinning around the streets with Alice gazing intently out of the cab window the car stopped at the First National Bank, Eleventh Avenue and Thirteenth Street and Alice alighted with her shopping bag on her arm. He trainer explained, as Alice entered the bank to the amazement and delight of a crowd that gathered quickly, that she was depositing her first week's salary for her trainer. The bank officials were very much surprised and delighted, as VanZandt, the Eleventh Avenue photographer, snapped Teddy in the act of entering the door. The cut above this article shows Alice Teddy at the door of the bank.
    It is with regret that the Altoona people will say goodbye to Alice Teddy Saturday night after completing her two weeks' engagement at the Royal. Incidentally the general manager of the Royal took Alice Teddy for a joy ride in their automobile every afternoon before the performance, much to the delight of the pedestrians. Alice Teddy enjoys the movement of the auto as well as the ordinary woman.
Altoona Times, Altoona, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1912, page 9


    Not so long ago Crapsey punched cows t'other side of the mountains. He took a couple of days off once and went into the foothills hunting. He shot an old mother bear, and rode back to camp laughing and carrying a squealing cub in his arms. He named the cub "Alice Teddy."
    Crapsey was a good mother to Alice Teddy, bringing her up on the bottle. And when the bear got a little older Crapsey taught her many comical tricks. It was worth a dollar of any man's money just to see Crapsey and Alice Teddy wrestle.
    When Alice Teddy was full grown Crapsey rode into town one day to see the sights. One of them was a new roller skating rink. The rink was to have a grand opening on the following Saturday night. The town was plastered with posters announcing that prizes would be given to the couples showing the most originality and humor in their skating costumes.
    Crapsey galloped all the way back to camp as fast as his cayuse could carry him.
    First, he measured Alice Teddy fore and aft and round about with a tape line. Next, he took an impression in wet clay of her hind feet. Then he hitched up and chased back to town in a buckboard.
    He bought yards and yards of pale blue silk and took it to a dressmaker, who laughed fit to kill when Crapsey told her what he wanted. He bought a pair of skating shoes, and the dealer nearly split his sides over the joke. He bought two pairs of skates--one for himself and one for--
    Well, anyhow, Crapsey left camp early on the day of the grand opening. By his side in the buckboard sat a large lady in pale blue silk and wearing a muzzle.
    Arriving at the rink, Crapsey and his lady friend put on their skates before leaving the buckboard. They catapulted through the door. They slithered across the floor like a thousand of brick and brought up against the far wall. Turning, they slithered some more. They fell down a million times. They knocked everybody else down. The lady friend was Alice Teddy.
    Alice Teddy knew it was some sort of a game, and she liked it fine. It was better than wrestling. And all the other skaters and their lady friends hollered and yelled and guffawed and squealed and voted unanimously that Crapsey and his lady friend were entitled to first prize.
    After a few weeks of practice Alice Teddy got all over that wobbly feeling which beginners experience on rollers, and the way she'd swing round the floor was a caution. She became so expert that her fame went broadcast, and a vaudeville manager heard about her, and--Crapsey and Alice Teddy are on the Pantages bill this week.
    It sounds like one of those Seton-Thompson animal yarns, doesn't it? But it isn't, Alice Teddy is an enthusiastic and expert skater.
Tacoma Times, September 19, 1912, page 9


    All kinds of "joy riders" there are, including the species that are not to be denied their outing, even if it becomes necessary to purloin an auto some owner has left unguarded on the street, but it is safe to say no more interesting "joy rider" has been seen in San Diego in some time than Alice Teddy.
    Miss Teddy enjoyed her first trip over the streets of San Diego yesterday, and wherever she went she was the cynosure of all eyes, for be it known Alice Teddy is a huge black bear, though this fact does not prevent her securing all the pleasure of a "joy ride" commonly supposed to be the exclusive privilege of the "human brute."
    Miss Teddy, known as the "roller skating bear," is the headline attraction on the Pantages program at the Savoy Theater this week. That Miss Teddy might become thoroughly acquainted with the city in which she is to remain a week, she was started yesterday from the Savoy Theater for an automobile jaunt which included all the business streets and many of the principal residence streets of the city. Several stops were made during the outing, the first being at the U.S. Grant Hotel; then a brief visit to the Union building, where Miss Teddy posed for her photograph, and finally an inspection of the administration building at the Panama-California Exposition grounds.
    Wherever Miss Teddy went she was greeted by large crowds, and her interest in the humans appeared to be fully as great as that displayed by her audiences.
    That Miss Teddy enjoyed it all was quite evident from the manner in which she frequently grunted her delight, and when the return to the Savoy Theater was made it was an angry Miss Teddy that received the announcement that the ride had come to an end, until the promise had been made that the outing would be repeated several times during the coming week.
San Diego Union, October 30, 1912, page 6


    Crapsey's Alice Teddy, of Merrill, the world-famous roller-skating bear, has been playing the Pantages vaudeville circuit in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado and Missouri, also in the Dominion of Canada. Alice Teddy will close at St Joseph, Mo., December 8, having made a big hit in the West. The act has been rebooked to play over the circuit again at more money and will open at Spokane, Dec. 15.
    The following clipping from The Pueblo Chieftain, of Thursday, sent to the Merrill Daily Herald by the courtesy of Mgr. George B. Crapsey, will be of interest to Merrill readers:
    The scores of the little orphans making their homes at the McClelland and Sacred Heart orphanages in this city will be the guests of manager Joseph of the Pantages Theater at the matinee next Saturday afternoon and at a reception immediately following the performance, which will be given complimentary to Miss Alice Teddy.
    Miss Teddy is one of the most popular young ladies at Pantages this week, and her act is causing more comment than any other vaudeville bill ever presented in Pueblo. Oh yes, Alice Teddy is a bear, but then bears--that is some bears--are ladies. At least, Miss Teddy's trainer says they are.
    Alice is the only roller skating bear in the world and is known from one end of the country to the other. Not only this, but she is a personage of more than little note, having been entertained by a number of the crowned heads of Europe. And Europe went wild over her--just like America does over the latest comedy star.
    Alice also wrestles, although some have been heard to say that wrestling is not becoming to a lady. However, Alice guarantees to throw her wrestling party two out of three times and she even claims that she can throw him three straight, but that it would spoil the show.
    In addition to Alice, Pantages this week presents four other bills, all real headliners. The Mexican Zamora family has been delighting audience after audience with a wonderful aerial sensation; Joe McGee is keeping hundreds of Puebloans laughing in their sleep with his extremely witty blackface monologue; Eldredge and Barlow are doing about the same in their rural comedy sketch, "The Law," and little Miss Francis Archer is receiving much admiration through her novel quick change act.
    The traction company has donated the use of several street cars which will be run special before and after the performance to take the children to and from the theater.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, December 2, 1912, page 1


    Caught as a cub little more than five years ago in the Wisconsin woods, Alice Teddy, the black bear featured at Pantages this week, is declared to be the only bear with a record on roller skates and the only bear holding a wrestling championship. The claim is made through her owner and manager, George Crapsey, who took her under his care after killing her mother on a hunting expedition.
    Mr. Crapsey was in the lumber business until he caught Alice Teddy, which he trained as a pet. A friend, seeing the animal at work, suggested that Mr. Crapsey take the clever animal into vaudeville. A few days later he got a flattering offer for his protegee from the manager of a skating rink and he decided to put Alice Teddy before the public. She proved such a hit that Alexander Pantages booked her for two exclusive tours of the West on his circuit, and she has proved no disappointment.
    Alice Teddy will play hostess to the children of the city Saturday, January 27, when she will hold an informal reception on the stage at Pantages, following the regular performance. For the benefit of the children Alice Teddy will do some special tumbling and Mr. Crapsey will give a short lecture on how animals are trained for vaudeville.
Oregonian, Portland, January 21, 1913, page 9


    "Alice Teddy," the only roller skating bear in the world, performed at the Grand opera house last evening, and the performance was witnessed by a large-sized audience. Besides roller skating, "Alice Teddy" gave a wrestling exhibition, which proved very exciting.
    Merrill people should be proud to think that Merrill is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Crapsey, owners of "Alice Teddy," as they have positively the greatest act in vaudeville today.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, July 25, 1913, page 1


    The manager of the Broadway Theater announces that a reception will be given on the stage after the Saturday afternoon performance, when those who care to may meet "Alice Teddy," the roller skating bear. The reception is particularly for children, of whom Alice is very fond. The bear is said to have a remarkably kind disposition and never displays any indication of roughness when shaking hands with the little folks. Manager Crapsey, Alice Teddy's manager, will lecture at the reception, and give a brief outline of the haunts and habits of the bear. He promises that everyone who attends the reception will be given an opportunity to shake hands with Alice.
Muskogee Daily Phoenix, Muskogee, Oklahoma, January 24, 1914, page 8


    An opportunity to study animals at close range will be given the school children of New Orleans at the Lafayette Theater Saturday. Due to the presence of Alice Teddy, a huge roller-skating bear, on the bill, manager Fourton has announced a reception for all children after the matinee. The big black bear, thoroughly tamed and well versed in the mannerisms of the best society, will be seated on the stage, and all children in the audience will be invited to step up for a formal introduction and an informal visit. Alice Teddy is completely under the domination of her manager and is said to be as playful as a kitten, and equally as fond of children. She has been the sensation of the bill at the Lafayette this week and will close her engagement Sunday.
Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 7, 1914, page 11


    Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Plane were in Rockford on Friday and called upon Mr. and Mrs. George Crapsey, owners of "Alice Teddy," the famous roller skating bear, which was on the bill at the Orpheum Theater for last week.
    "Alice Teddy," now nearly six years of age, has had many experiences not usual to natives of the wild.
    Mr. and Mrs. Crapsey were well-to-do farmers in Wisconsin, when one day they decided to make a trip out into the vast Northwest country, partly for pleasure as well as for prospecting.
    They visited relatives, went sightseeing, enjoyed the climate, while the clear streams afforded excellent fishing, the flowers in their profusion were a source of delight, the grandeur of the mountains were ever a new avenue of exploiting. Finally for a change of recreation they established a tent under shelter of the huge granite columns and one sunny day while leisurely enjoying the scene they were suddenly surprised by the appearance of a wee cub bear, who had ventured out from a niche in the mountains to see the sights; now with stealthy caution they managed in an unwary moment to capture the unsuspecting little baby bear--taking it to their tent, where it was made safe till morning.
    It soon became the plaything of all the party. Like a little kitten, it was playful and full of pranks. It proved to be so teachable that a few tricks were suggested. One day when Mr. Crapsey was in a nearby town to purchase provisions, he strolled into a skating rink, thereby getting his first idea of a roller skating bear.
    With this new thought in mind he ventured to mention it to his companions, only to hear them laugh at what seemed to them like an impossibility. Nevertheless the ball-bearing skates were ordered made and the teaching process began, until at the end of several months of patient perseverance "Alice Teddy" had developed into a really and truly skating bear. It was not very long ere she was placed before the public, and almost immediately met with wonder and popular favor on account of the novelty. As time went on a broader field of entertainment demanded her services, until now it can be said that audiences in all the principal cities in the states have given delighted approval to these almost human exhibitions.
    During the first year or two the wardrobe consisted of broad sash ribbons, sometimes in the form of collars, on the points of which would be a small bell, and one day while changing cars some rascal stole the suitcase of wearing apparel and Alice Teddy was quite chagrined that evening to be obliged to appear without her finery. Since her trip to Europe and to Honolulu ordinary dress is not tolerated, for now Alice Teddy wears a real diamond bracelet, beside other expensive raiment, and is as appreciative of an acknowledgment of merit, telling in unspeakable terms the delight of such expressions from an audience, bowing again and again to prove it.
    From ocean to ocean and across the sea Mr. and Mrs. Crapsey have traveled, receiving for their exhibitions not less than three hundred dollars per week.
    Soon they are to sail from California shores for Australia and other foreign lands.
    In conclusion let it be said that this dumb animal is gentle, lovable, and extremely affectionate, manifesting at all times the most wonderful love for her teacher and owners, who have never used any method other than kindness as a source of instruction.
Belvidere Daily Republican, Belvidere, Illinois, March 31, 1914, page 6  A search of millions of pages of Australian and British newspapers online gives no indication that Alice Teddy toured Australia or Europe.


    Alice Teddy is said to be the most intelligent bear on the stage. She walks, bows, makes love to her trainer, does fancy stunts on roller skates, wrestles with a man for the best two falls out of three, and in fact, does everything but talk. What Alice Teddy would say if she did have the power of speech was discussed by Captain G. B. Crapsey, her owner who raised her from a little cub caught in the Rocky Mountains.
    "I really believe that Alice Teddy tries to talk at times," said Captain Crapsey. "She makes queer sounds in bear language, if there is such a thing, that I have accustomed myself to interpret. I can tell by her moans or growls whether she is angry, pleased, hungry and the like.
    "If Alice could talk, I think she would at once express her opinion of 'acting out' in front of an audience every day in the week. She would probably tell us that she likes her work, is interested in her art of making people laugh, and that she took up theatrical work because she felt it was her vocation. I believe she likes stage life because she is never so good natured and happy as the moment when I open her cage and lead her on the stage before the performance."
    Alice Teddy will be the feature attraction of the vaudeville show opening at the Bijou for three days starting tomorrow.
The Flint Journal, Flint, Michigan, September 23, 1914, page 5


    A false report was circulated through the medium of an evening paper last evening. This was a story about "Alice Teddy," a trained bear belonging to George Crapsey of Merrill. The fact of the matter is Alice Teddy and her owner, Geo. A. Crapsey were in Merrill yesterday, having just returned from a trip through the East.
    Alice Teddy has not been in Grand Rapids for several years.
    The bear seen on the streets yesterday was a young bear owned by M. Akey of Rudolph. The report was that the bear was steering an automobile--those on the inside know that while the bear rested its forepaws on the steering wheel Mr. Akey also had a hand underneath the wheel and did the actual work. What about that remark, "Unreliable As Usual?"
Wood County Reporter, Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 22, 1915, page 4


    George B. Crapsey and wife, now identified with the Pantages vaudeville circuit, are visiting relatives in the family of C. W. Banta, the latter being a sister of Mrs. Banta. They hail from Merrill, Wis. Several years ago Crapsey was a rancher in the Little Applegate section, and captured a brown bear cub. This is now a full-fledged bruin, and acts a prominent part in vaudeville stunts under the name of "Alice Teddy."
"Ashland and Vicinity," Medford Mail Tribune, December 29, 1915, page 5


    I would never have been satisfied with seeing Alice Teddy from the front at the New Grand Monday night, so I went behind the scenes to get an interview from the splendid creature.
    When her trainer introduced us, the big bear put out her paw. It was no artificial handshake. There seemed to be friendship behind it. When she put her shaggy arms around her master I tried to get her to hug me, too, but she is not fickle. Her loyalty belongs only to the man who raised her from her cub-hood days.
    The man killed Alice Teddy's mother before he knew there was a baby bear. He found the little cub when it weighed three pounds, and, in order to save its life, he walked 40 miles. The animal was raised on a bottle.
    Alice Teddy is muzzled only to humor the audience. There is nothing dangerous about her. She sat up in a chair as I talked to her and let me run my fingers through her shining brown hair--truly her crowning glory--and looked at me with sleepy eyes. Alice Teddy is a very lazy lady in winter, when bears usually lay off.
Evansville Press, Evansville, Indiana, October 31, 1916, page 3


    "She was just a tiny bundle of soft brown fur when I found her in the arms of her dead mother, whom I had shot from a long distance," said G. B. Crapsey, who is the owner of Alice Teddy, the famous skating bear who made so many friends at the Royal Theater last week.
    "When I had walked to where the bear was, a distance of a quarter of a mile down a mountainside, I didn't see the little bear; she was tucked away so securely and safely in the long hair of her mother. I heard a sound, a sort of grunt and young cry, and I looked very closely, and saw two beady eyes shining; then I realized what had happened; the mother had started on a journey perhaps and had hid her little cub close to her heart. I sure felt sorry and bad about that, and I decided it was up to me to do the best for that little bear that I could. When I picked her up she tried to get back to her mother and made such pitiful cries that I put her down, and right straight back to the mother bear she went and cuddled up and looked just like a ball of fur. She didn't weigh three pounds, must have been only two or three days old, and was the cutest thing you ever saw.
    "I took the cub and started off to the first house I could find to get some milk for my new charge. I walked 20 miles before I ever came to a town. You know towns in Arizona in some parts are pretty scarce. Well, I got the milk and the little cub was such a baby she didn't know how to drink out of a saucer. The lady that let me have the milk said: 'Come in and we'll fix up some way for the baby to get the milk.' She got some cotton and we dipped this in the milk and you ought to have seen that little rascal take hold of that cotton. She got rid of a pint of milk right there.
    "When I had walked the 20 miles back, and then two more to my shack, the bear and I were both worn out. I dropped her down on my bunk and she was asleep in two seconds; and she slept there all night and every other night until she was more than a year old. Then I got her an iron cage, as I know how bears like to crowd in a small place. She took right to her cage, and has been using one a size larger ever since.
    "She was the smartest little thing you ever saw, from the first week I had her. I knew she was no ordinary animal. At that time I was living out in the mountains of Arizona, and leading sort of a happy-go-lucky existence. I never dreamed of any life before the public eye until I saw my bear doing things that I never had heard of other bears doing. She walked on her hind feet most of the time and would try to imitate everything I did. I bought her some shoes, and she was the proudest thing you ever saw.
    "When I found out she could walk in shoes I decided to try to teach her to skate. I had never heard of any bear skating, and she learned to skate without a bit of trouble, and then I got the idea to put her on the vaudeville stage. She was two years old at that time and was the first bear that ever skated. She held this record for five years before any other bear ever took up skating.
    "We have been in every country in the world, and Alice Teddy is the best traveler you ever saw.
    "I named her Alice Teddy for Alice Roosevelt, and, as it was Roosevelt's last administration, have always been glad I called her Teddy, too.
    "It is a mistake that animals have to be tortured in order to train them. This bear has never had any unkind treatment. I always gave her sugar and she is crazy about syrup made from sugar. I always have syrup for her to drink at every performance, and she eats pounds of lump sugar every month.
    "When the weather gets too warm, I lay off on Alice Teddy's account, but she likes her work and gets so restless and wants to dress up in her glad rags and skate.
    "We treat her like a child and, of course, she is very spoiled, but she has a fine disposition. She is a little finicky about her eating; sometimes I have to sit with her plate of food and feed her when she is feeling particularly fastidious. But I figure it this way: Alice Teddy is no ordinary bear, and cannot be treated in the ordinary way."
    Alice Teddy delighted young and old last week by her expert skating and her clever work in her act. She almost makes you forget that she is just a woolly bear, she is so humanlike in her impulses and reasoning.
San Antonio Evening News, San Antonio, Texas, September 10, 1919, page 10


    Merrill has the reputation of being an incubator city for animal trainers of real genius. The city is famed far and wide for its George Crapsey of Alice Teddy fame, its John Akey, owner of Queen, the bear that drives and steers an auto alone, and its Lew Foss, owner of the world's most highly educated pony and mule. All have made an unusual hit with their novel animal acts, and while their acts continue to hold attention there is a new animal trainer in the Merrill horizon, a trainer who is just beginning but who is seeking for a novel stunt, one which will surprise folks everywhere and which will cause as many persons to come from far and wide "to see" as did "Alice Teddy, Merrill's famous roller-skating bear."
    Alice Teddy performed what was a natural stunt for a bruin to do, stand on her feet and attempt to shift ahead when asked to do so. Roller skates attached to her feet made the movement easy and Alice Teddy soon became a graceful skater, as no animal possesses more grace than the lovable bear. Continued effort in coaching soon caused the roller-skating humans to turn an envious eye on Alice Teddy, who seemed more natural on skates than without them, and who was able to parallel the feats of even the so-termed champions. And what was more, Alice Teddy, despite her world fame, remained entirely free of the false pride which marks many human stars who have made so sudden an ascent in stagedom and which causes their achievements to weigh so heavily of affectation.
    And so, realizing that the responsive intelligence of a bear is even superior in many respects to that of the human race, this new animal trainer referred to, Nic Wyland, of whom the world promises to hear more in time to come, recently purchased Buster J. Brown, seven-months-old cub formerly owned by John Akey and whom the latter would not have sold were it not that Buster suffered a fracture of the leg and only with difficulty would have stood the strain of traveling overland with Akey and his other bears. Akey sold Buster for $35 and Nick Wyland with a shrewd eye for business said to himself, "If Buster recovers and makes good, he will be worth a considerable lot of money and even if he fails to amount to anything or should not recover, his hide and meat will be worth what I have paid."
    That the new owner did not make a miscue is evident from the fact that Buster is already showing much improvement and furthermore his intelligence seems to match with that of the far-known Alice Teddy. Already he sits up and drinks a bottle of pop as is customary among the high school bruin class. He seems to have a natural bent to do something, but just what this may be is for trainer Wyland to discover. The latter suspects that Buster likes trapeze performing and will give him a tryout at this. Should he prove agile, he will add to his equipment rings, bars and the other flashing apparatus so necessary to rightfully display the aerial somersaults and other stunts belonging to this branch of acrobatics.
    But whatever natural bent Buster shows, Wyland promises to develop it and bring the bear to glory as Buster's reputation is already growing; and that he is not an ordinary individual is already evident as only recently a Boston show troupe came all the way to Merrill to locate Buster's new owner and with a bright $100 in American money tried to gain possession of the little one. But Wyland decided to keep Buster.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, October 11, 1921, page 3


    Mr. and Mrs. George B. Crapsey and Miss Alice Teddy will leave Merrill, Sept. 1, for Seattle, Wash., from which city they will proceed south along the Pacific Coast to San Diego, Cal. They will proceed from San Diego to Hawaii, which islands they toured in 1914. At that time, they did a big business in Hawaii. There are no bears in these islands. The wildlife consists principally of deer which resemble those in Wisconsin, but all of which are spotted like the Badger fawns. Domestic goats, sheep and cattle have been released on the islands and are now living in a semi-wild state.
    Alice Teddy was seventeen years old this spring and shimmies as well as any of the young flappers of Merrill. She also can walk like Charlie Chaplin and is quite a contortionist and tumbler. She turns cartwheels with perfect ease, and her skating act is unparalleled in all of beardom. There are many bears who can maneuver slightly on skates, but none are as graceful or as accomplished as Miss Alice Teddy. She has skated for 15 years, not only in America, but practically everywhere in the civilized world. Hers is known as the surefire bear act, and regardless of rain or shine, she is ever ready to present her act.
    Mr. Crapsey is very much interested in the bicycle-riding bear which Merrill people saw at the Ringling Brothers-Barnum Bailey circus. Mr. Crapsey says the Ringling bear is the only one that can ride a bicycle, but adds that had he attempted to train Alice Teddy early enough in her career to ride a bicycle, she would probably have equaled the Ringling bruin in her act. When the act occurred to Mr. Crapsey, Alice Teddy had become too heavy in weight and a trifle too old to readily pick up the art of bicycle ridership. But no one should infer from this that Alice Teddy is getting old. No more so, than any other damsel of the attractive age of seventeen. Mr. Crapsey expects to see Alice Teddy live at least to be 35 years, and if she is able to conceal her years as successfully as most other young women of the city of Merrill, she will remain young and handsome for many more years.
    Miss Alice Teddy has spent the past month in this Land O' Lakes, her native home, and while she enjoys traveling and meeting folks, she is as much a Badgerite as ever and is one of the great boosters for northern Wisconsin.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, August 15, 1925, page 1


    Alice Teddy will say goodbye to her home folks of Merrill and vicinity Saturday afternoon and evening at the Badger Opera House. "Will Alice Teddy shed tears?" many are asking, and George B. Crapsey, her owner, assuringly tells us yes.
    There is a lot of sentiment in Alice Teddy. Long years ago, she made her theatrical debut in Merrill, but she hasn't forgotten. Years of world travel and prosperity have intervened. Alice Teddy has become internationally known and famous. Now she is about to leave Merrill. Not because she has become metropolitan and wishes to forget her small town beginning. Alice Teddy isn't proud at all. In fact, she is remarkably democratic.
    Saturday afternoon and evening, Alice will shake hands with all her Merrill friends to bid them goodbye. Like the dramatic farewells of many other world-renowned actresses on their final appearance in cities where they have arisen to fame, so too will this parting drama in the life Alice Teddy throb with emotion. Heart strings will be torn asunder. Alice Teddy will do her utmost to please the good folk of Merrill with her last skating act in their midst.
    This real Alice of Wonderland when playing in vaudeville knows by the sound of the music when her act begins. She alights from the chair in which she has been sitting and onto the stage she bounds. She waltzes on skates, makes turns and spins that even the human roller skater of experience scarcely can follow. All this she does with grace and in harmony with the music. Alice likes music and she has developed a wonderful attachment to the modern variety, the jazz type of music--in fact, the louder it is, the better she likes the music.
    Alice Teddy accompanies Mr. Crapsey to Ashland, Ore. Sept. 1. Ashland will be her future home and there Mr. Crapsey has 160 acres of timberland, a filling station, a camping ground and several cottages. William Crapsey is running this outing place now. The timber is fir, pine and cedar, which his brother acquired four years ago.
    Mr. George Crapsey plans on erecting a pavilion, 30x50 feet, where Alice Teddy can skate. It will be on the summit of the height where the filling station and camping ground are located. Here thousands of people congregate during a season. Here they will have an opportunity to view Alice Teddy on roller skates. Like elsewhere, where Miss Alice Teddy has skated, the pastime of roller skating promises to revive its interest and her human sisters will endeavor to skate as gracefully and skillfully as Alice Teddy.
    Mr. Crapsey expects from time to time to visit northern Wisconsin and Merrill. He realizes there is no better place in all the United States to fish and to spend a summer vacation. Mr. Crapsey is disposing of his home at Merrill, situated at Lake View and Tenth streets, and of his land acreages in this part of Wisconsin. Merrill regrets to see Mr. Crapsey leave Wisconsin. It promises to turn out in large numbers to bid him and Alice Teddy farewell, at the same time hoping that circumstances will permit them to visit Merrill frequently in the future. They will always be welcomed.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, August 24, 1925, page 2


    Alice Teddy said goodbye to a very large audience Saturday evening at the Badger Opera House. Hundreds of persons gathered at the opera house to see Alice Teddy on this, the last occasion that she will appear in Merrill, her home town. Heavy rains threatened, but Merrill folks were extremely anxious to pay their last respects to Alice Teddy.
    The crowd started to come at an early hour and remained until after ten o'clock to see Alice Teddy perform. All were unanimous in the declaration that Alice Teddy has never been equaled in all beardom for agility and grace on skates and on the stage. Then the time for the final farewell to Alice Teddy and her owner, George B. Crapsey, arrived, and there was mutual sadness; even Alice Teddy was sad to leave Merrill.
Merrill Daily Herald, Merrill, Wisconsin, August 31, 1925, page 5


    In the year 1896, Schulz Spur was known as Kickbush. George Crapsey was one of its early settlers. George had a sawmill and a large building that housed a tavern, dance hall and a boarding house. One time in the early 1900s, Mr. Crapsey was out west on a trip; he brought home a small bear cub. He raised it and named her Alice Teddy. She learned quickly and was taught many tricks. George put roller skates on her, and after a short time she was skating back and forth on the bar and entertaining the customers. She could do many tricks on the skates, including somersaults and even dancing with Mr. Crapsey.
    Alice Teddy enjoyed riding in cars. When George drove his car he'd have her sitting beside him on the front seat. Alice Teddy liked to wrestle, too. She was gloved and muzzled and a neighbor, John Kasper, would wrestle her. She was very gentle and strong and sometimes there was no contest. Alice Teddy won!
    They made up an act starring Alice Teddy and started putting on exhibitions first in this country and later in Europe. On one tour in Europe she gave performances before King George V and Queen Mary of England among other celebrities and crowned heads. She was billed as "The only bear in the world that skates on roller skates."
    Mrs. Crapsey sewed many colorful costumes for Alice Teddy to wear while performing her stunts. She had a grand finale too. While wearing her roller skates she'd climb steps to a platform and then hold an umbrella or the U.S. flag high above her head.
    Her reward for these performances was candy that Mr. Crapsey always carried in his pocket for her. He always carried a gun when she was performing as she sometimes became very angry, especially when it was time to hibernate. One time Mrs. Crapsey failed to take the animal's breakfast with her into the pen and was injured by clawing her scalp and hip. It was necessary to take several stitches in the wound.
Merrill Courier, Merrill, Wisconsin, August 20, 1999, page 25


    Our family moved from St. Paul to Lincoln County in 1896 and settled in Kickbush, now known as Schulz Spur, in 1900. As I remember, Wylands had a blacksmith shop. Schulz had a brick yard and the post office, and George Crapsey had a sawmill and a large building that housed a tavern, dance hall and boarding house.
    When I was about 12 years old, Mother sent me to help Mrs. Crapsey with many chores she had at the boarding house. It was during this time that Mrs. Crapsey brought home a very small bear cub from a trip out west.
    They called her Alice Teddy and she became a real pet, climbing around Mr. Crapsey's shoulders and trying to get in his pockets. She learned quickly and was taught many tricks. They put roller skates on her and after a short time she was skating back and forth on the bar entertaining the customers. Before long she outgrew that and they moved her to the dance hall. She could do almost anything on roller skates, turning somersaults and even waltzing with Mr. Crapsey.
    One time while Mr. Crapsey was training her she jumped out the second story window of the dance hall. Luckily, he had the harness and leash on her and was able to hang on to her. It was all the three of us could do to get her pulled back in the window again.
    Alice Teddy liked riding in cars and when Mr. Crapsey drove his car he'd have her sitting beside him on the front seat.
    Alice Teddy would wrestle too. She was gloved and muzzled, and my brother John Kasper wrestled her. She was very gentle until he accidentally pulled her hair or pinched her and then there was no contest... Alice Teddy won! Sometimes her claws, even though they were clipped, would come right through the leather gloves.
    They made up an act starring Alice Teddy and started putting on exhibitions first in this country and later in Europe.
    In Europe they gave performances before King George V and Queen Mary of England among other celebrities and crowned heads. She was billed as "The only bear in the world that skates on roller skates."
    Mrs. Crapsey sewed many colorful costumes for Alice Teddy to wear while performing her stunts.
    Alice Teddy had a grand finale too. While wearing her roller skates she'd climb steps to a platform and then hold an umbrella or the U.S. flag high above her head.
    Her reward for these performances was candy that Mr. Crapsey always carried in his pockets for her. He also carried a gun when she performed as she sometimes became very ugly, especially when it was time to hibernate.
    When the Crapseys returned from their tour they moved to Merrill and Alice Teddy lived in a cage by their home.
"A Glimpse of the Past," Merrill Courier, Merrill, Wisconsin, March 30, 2001, page 35


    Spokane genealogist Miriam Midkiff crawls the Internet in search of family connections and historical tidbits. A member of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, Midkiff also teaches courses in genealogy at the Community Colleges of Spokane and for the Spokane County Library District.
    Like other genealogists, Midkiff has collected scores of Web bookmarks for sites that contain historical records, family histories or census data. Midkiff typifies the wired and totally networked Web genealogist. She has become a master of following links and tracking sources until she finds what she's looking for.
    For Midkiff, one of regular resources is Google Book Search, the vast collection of more than 1 million public-domain books, pamphlets and diaries.
    About a year ago Midkiff was hunting for information about a distant relative who lived in Minnesota. Midkiff posted some information about him on a Web site she uses to list her family tree.
    A Midwest historian saw the comments about her relative, her great-great-great-great-uncle George Crapsey. He mailed her a photograph of Crapsey he'd found, showing her relative standing next to a bear wearing roller skates. Dated sometime around 1911, the photo caption said the bear was named Alice Teddy and that Crapsey toured with the animal across the world.
    At that point she still didn't have a lot of information about Crapsey or Alice Teddy. But then Midkiff plugged the name Alice Teddy into Google Book Search just to see what might come up.
    While she used the basic Google search engine for some research, up to that point Midkiff had not made regular use of Google Book Search. But in this case it produced two citations for Alice Teddy. The big payoff was a 1918 pamphlet on the history of vaudeville. On page 257 was a short description of Alice Teddy, "the roller-skating bear" that also did lobby stunts.
    "I expected Google Books to just have classic books that no longer had copyrights," said Midkiff. "But instead I found pamphlets and old ephemera that you'd never think would be helpful in your family research."
    She then went back to Google and searched for more information. Eventually she came upon a 1911 newspaper article that read:
    "When Crapsey returned home to Merrill, Wis., he brought Alice along. Her remarkable intelligence prompted him to spend his spare time in teaching Alice tricks. She readily learned to wear shoes, clothes, to walk upright and finally, after months of hard practice, to skate on ball-bearing rollers. Alice is the only bear in the world skating and dancing on skates."
    That extra information helped Midkiff add a human dimension to the history of her Minnesota relatives, she said.
    After she posted her Alice Teddy discoveries on her genealogy blog--at AnceStories1.blogspot.com--Google hired a film crew last winter in Spokane to produce a three-minute video about her use of Google Book Search. That video can be found on YouTube.
    Midkiff also relies on the Google Alert service to send updates whenever a Web site adds information that fits keywords related to her research.
    When any Google-tracked Web site adds a post with any of the words "Midkiff," "Sweers," "Tuinstra," "Valk" or "Westaby," Midkiff gets an automated e-mail with a link to that site. Those names are some of the more unusual ones in her and her husband's ancestry.
    Nine months of the year, Midkiff works as a staff support worker for special education staff at Garry Middle School in the Spokane School District. During the summers, she says she spends three or four hours a day doing research online and posting articles to her blog.
    "The Internet has caused a huge surge in genealogy," she said. For one thing, it's made available huge troves of documents that used to be found inside libraries and government archives.
    It's also allowed genealogy researchers to stay in touch with each other and share ideas. Often, those ideas of others point the way to finding some hard-to-find information, she said.
    "This is what makes genealogy so addicting," she said. "You search and search for things like a detective, follow clues, and hopefully you end up with some fantastic results."
Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington, July 27, 2008, page 48


Last revised June 21, 2026