These guidelines describe how Arctophile researches, writes, and corrects its articles. They apply to every writer and every section of the site.
Sources We Rely On
We build articles from primary sources wherever they exist. A claim about a date, a maker, or a patent should trace back to a document, an object record, or an archive.
- Museum catalogs and object records, including those of the Smithsonian Institution
- Patent records from the USPTO and Google Patents
- The Library of Congress, including its newspaper and print collections
- National Park Service sites connected to Theodore Roosevelt
- Company archives and official histories, such as those published by Margarete Steiff GmbH
Reputable media such as Smithsonian Magazine, the BBC, and Reuters serve as secondary sources. We do not cite anonymous blogs, content farms, or unsourced lists.
Checking Dates and Attributions
Dates and names get the strictest check. Where two sources disagree, we look for the earliest documented record and note the conflict in the article instead of picking the more convenient version.
Object attributions follow the holding museum or the maker’s own records. If a bear’s maker or year is uncertain, the article says “attributed to” or gives a date range.
Documented History and Popular Legend
Teddy bear history carries many retold stories. The 1902 Mississippi hunting trip, Clifford Berryman’s cartoon, and the Michtom shop account each circulate in several versions, and not every detail appears in sources from the period.
We separate what period records show from what later retellings claim. When we repeat a legend, we label it as one.
Corrections
If you find an error, write to [email protected] with the article link and, if possible, a source. We review every report, fix confirmed errors, and add a dated correction note when a change affects a fact.
Image Credits and Illustrations
Photos carry credits naming the photographer, museum, archive, or stock library. AI-generated or digitally created images are labeled as illustrations in their captions and alt text. We never present them as archival photographs or museum objects.
Independence
Arctophile does not accept payment for reviews or coverage. Makers, sellers, and museums cannot buy a favorable article.
The site is supported by advertising. If we ever publish affiliate links or sponsored content, that material will be clearly disclosed on the page where it appears.