Orphan Annie's Author

Do You Have any Info on Orphant Annie, or want to learn more?

 

As a researcher, I am constantly looking for information about the person who inspired the Little Orphant Annie character of Riley's poem - Mary Alice Smith Gray.  I am also looking to discover more about her family, and trying to fill in the holes of what happened to her family members. 

 

I am also looking for some information about Mary Alice Smith's relationship with Riley, and the actual writing of the poem itself. 

 

I am also trying to draw any connections that I can between the Orphant Annie poem, and the Orphan Annie comic strip, the movies, the radio show, and the broadway play. 

 

I am on Facebook, Pineterest, Ancestry.com and My Heritage.com -  looking for info as well as several genealogy message boards.  Any help- or insight someone can provide - would be greatly appreciated!