Pee-Wee Harris
Encyclopedia
Walter "Pee-wee" Harris, is a fictional Boy Scout
who has appeared in several series of boy's books by Percy Keese Fitzhugh
as well as in a long-running comic strip
in the magazine Boys' Life
. Originally spelled "Pee-wee", his name has occasionally been spelled "Pee-Wee" and is spelled "Pee Wee" in the Boy's Life comic strip.
, and carries a compass
, a pocketknife, a belt axe, and some food to appease his never-ending appetite. His fellow Scouts would say that "Pee-Wee is not in the Boy Scouts, the Boy Scouts are in him."
His adventures were so numerous that in 1922 Pee-Wee was given a book series
of his own. The series revolves around him using Scouting skills such as signaling
and stalking
to have adventures and solve mysteries. The hero of these stories usually gets himself into predicaments through his enthusiasm for the Scout way and his noble intentions. But Pee-wee is the kind of boy who always lands on his feet. He takes a situation that he manages to screw up with his zeal and, with his Scout knowledge and a huge dose of luck, always seems to come out on top. “Even when he loses, he wins”. The series also featured other Scouts from the "First Bridgeboro Troop" such as Tom Slade, Roy Blakeley, and Westy Martin, who also had their own series of books, the first two preceding the Pee-wee series and the last following it. The Pee-wee Harris book series ran until 1930.
Like many of the Scouts in Fitzhugh's novels, Pee-wee was based on a real person, in Pee-wee's case- one Al Gar Bloom, whose father ran a newsstand near Fitzhugh's studio in Hackensack, NJ. Al, himself a Scout, would regularly pester Mr. Fitzhugh to see the manuscripts before they were sent off to his publisher. When the Pee-wee Harris series began; Al was the natural choice as the Scout who would grace the cover of the first volume. Al lived in Hackensack for many years, eventually becoming a reporter for the Bergen Evening Record. In an interview given in the 1970s, Al had this to say about PKF’s books: “Fitzhugh’s books – moral, humorous – were well suited to my generation just as the Rover Boys
, Horatio Alger and Oliver Optic were rigidly keyed to the moral tone and drive for material success of their respective eras.”
13 Pee-Wee Harris books were published by Grosset & Dunlap
:
In addition, these two stories are known to exist:
Around 1935 Grosset & Dunlap sold the rights to the first two Pee-wee Harris books to Whitman Publishing. These books, along with 4 other Fitzhugh titles, were added to their extensive "2300" series of books for young adults. They remained in their catalog until the 1950s.
An abridged audio book of the seminal novel was published in December 2009.
. This project was begun by cartoonist Alfred B. Stenzel who was given the task of capturing the essence of Pee-wee’s character and applying it to short adventures that could be rendered on one page in eight or ten frames. The strip originally carried the byline
"by Percy K. Fitzhugh" even though Fitzhugh had passed in 1950. The comic strip originally followed story lines from the books. Over the years, it has been changed in both style and story line. In the latest incarnations of the strip, Westy (a holdover from Fitzhugh's original stories), Sam, and Chubb (comparative newcomers) appear in supporting roles. Responsibility for the strip has been handed down over the years and now rests with accomplished illustrator Mike Adair.
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
who has appeared in several series of boy's books by Percy Keese Fitzhugh
Percy Keese Fitzhugh
Percy Keese Fitzhugh is an American author of nearly 100 books for children and young adults.-Biography:Percy Keese Fitzhugh was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Records do not indicate that he graduated. He married Harriet Lloyd LePorte on July 13, 1900 in...
as well as in a long-running comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
in the magazine Boys' Life
Boys' Life
Boys' Life is the monthly magazine of the Boy Scouts of America . Its targeted readership is young American males between the ages of 6 and 18.Boys' Life is published in two demographic editions...
. Originally spelled "Pee-wee", his name has occasionally been spelled "Pee-Wee" and is spelled "Pee Wee" in the Boy's Life comic strip.
Books
Pee-Wee Harris first appeared in 1915 as a supporting character in Fitzhugh’s series of novels about the Boy Scouts of "Troop 1, Bridgeboro, NJ". Though Pee-Wee is small of stature and young of age, he is the quintessential First Class Boy Scout— he is almost always wearing one of his many Scout uniformsUniform and insignia of the Boy Scouts of America
The uniform and insignia of the Boy Scouts of America gives a Scout visibility and creates a level of identity within both the unit and the community. The uniform is used to promote equality while showing individual achievement...
, and carries a compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
, a pocketknife, a belt axe, and some food to appease his never-ending appetite. His fellow Scouts would say that "Pee-Wee is not in the Boy Scouts, the Boy Scouts are in him."
His adventures were so numerous that in 1922 Pee-Wee was given a book series
Book series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....
of his own. The series revolves around him using Scouting skills such as signaling
Flag semaphore
Semaphore Flags is the system for conveying information at a distance by means of visual signals with hand-held flags, rods, disks, paddles, or occasionally bare or gloved hands. Information is encoded by the position of the flags; it is read when the flag is in a fixed position...
and stalking
Tracking (hunting)
Tracking in hunting and ecology is the science and art of observing animal tracks and other signs, with the goal of gaining understanding of the landscape and the animal being tracked...
to have adventures and solve mysteries. The hero of these stories usually gets himself into predicaments through his enthusiasm for the Scout way and his noble intentions. But Pee-wee is the kind of boy who always lands on his feet. He takes a situation that he manages to screw up with his zeal and, with his Scout knowledge and a huge dose of luck, always seems to come out on top. “Even when he loses, he wins”. The series also featured other Scouts from the "First Bridgeboro Troop" such as Tom Slade, Roy Blakeley, and Westy Martin, who also had their own series of books, the first two preceding the Pee-wee series and the last following it. The Pee-wee Harris book series ran until 1930.
Like many of the Scouts in Fitzhugh's novels, Pee-wee was based on a real person, in Pee-wee's case- one Al Gar Bloom, whose father ran a newsstand near Fitzhugh's studio in Hackensack, NJ. Al, himself a Scout, would regularly pester Mr. Fitzhugh to see the manuscripts before they were sent off to his publisher. When the Pee-wee Harris series began; Al was the natural choice as the Scout who would grace the cover of the first volume. Al lived in Hackensack for many years, eventually becoming a reporter for the Bergen Evening Record. In an interview given in the 1970s, Al had this to say about PKF’s books: “Fitzhugh’s books – moral, humorous – were well suited to my generation just as the Rover Boys
Rover Boys
The Rover Boys Series for Young Americans was a popular children's book series of the early 20th century credited to "Arthur M. Winfield", a pseudonym for Edward Stratemeyer. A total of 30 titles were published between 1899 and 1926 and the books remained in print for years forward.The original...
, Horatio Alger and Oliver Optic were rigidly keyed to the moral tone and drive for material success of their respective eras.”
13 Pee-Wee Harris books were published by Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap is a United States book publisher founded in 1898.The company was purchased by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1982 and today is part of the British publishing conglomerate, Pearson PLC through its American subsidiary Penguin Group....
:
- Pee-Wee Harris (1922)
- Pee-Wee Harris on the Trail (1922)
- Pee-Wee Harris in Camp (1922)
- Pee-Wee Harris in Luck (1922)
- Pee-Wee Harris Adrift (1922)
- Pee-Wee Harris F.O.B. Bridgeboro (1923)
- Pee-Wee Harris: Fixer (1924)
- Pee-Wee Harris: As Good As His Word (1925)
- Pee-Wee Harris: Mayor For A Day (1926); serialized in Boys' Life as Pee-Wee's Patrol
- Pee-Wee Harris and the Sunken Treasure (1927)
- Pee-Wee Harris on the Briny Deep (1928)
- Pee-Wee Harris in Darkest Africa (1929)
- Pee-Wee Harris Turns Detective (1930)
In addition, these two stories are known to exist:
- "Pee-Wee Harris Warrior Bold" (1930) - published as a serial in Boys' Life magazine
- "Pee-Wee's Gold Brick" - an unpublished manuscript
Around 1935 Grosset & Dunlap sold the rights to the first two Pee-wee Harris books to Whitman Publishing. These books, along with 4 other Fitzhugh titles, were added to their extensive "2300" series of books for young adults. They remained in their catalog until the 1950s.
An abridged audio book of the seminal novel was published in December 2009.
Comics
In 1952, Pee-Wee made the transition to the comic strip, appearing in the "Pee Wee Harris" comic strip in Boys' LifeBoys' Life
Boys' Life is the monthly magazine of the Boy Scouts of America . Its targeted readership is young American males between the ages of 6 and 18.Boys' Life is published in two demographic editions...
. This project was begun by cartoonist Alfred B. Stenzel who was given the task of capturing the essence of Pee-wee’s character and applying it to short adventures that could be rendered on one page in eight or ten frames. The strip originally carried the byline
"by Percy K. Fitzhugh" even though Fitzhugh had passed in 1950. The comic strip originally followed story lines from the books. Over the years, it has been changed in both style and story line. In the latest incarnations of the strip, Westy (a holdover from Fitzhugh's original stories), Sam, and Chubb (comparative newcomers) appear in supporting roles. Responsibility for the strip has been handed down over the years and now rests with accomplished illustrator Mike Adair.