Howard R. Garis

Howard Roger Garis (April 25, 1873 – November 6, 1962) was an American author, best known for a series of books, published under his own name, that featured the character of Uncle Wiggily Longears, an engaging elderly rabbit. Garis and his wife were possibly the most prolific children's authors of the early 20th century. Many of his books were illustrated by Lansing Campbell.

Garis was born in Binghamton, New York. He and his spouse Lilian Garis both worked as reporters for the Newark Evening News. He did some work on the side for WNJR also in Newark.

Howard R. Garis, 1922

Uncle Wiggily

The first Uncle Wiggily story appeared January 10, 1910 in the Newark News. For almost four decades the newspaper published an Uncle Wiggily story by Garis every day except Sunday, and the series was eventually nationally syndicated. By the time Garis retired from the newspaper in 1947, he had written more than 15,000 Uncle Wiggily stories.^[1]

By virtue of his accessible characters and engaging plots, Garis was one of the most influential children's authors of his day. Many of his books, especially the Uncle Wiggily books, are still widely read and are readily available over the internet. Milton Bradley produced an Uncle Wiggily board game in 1967^[2] and again in 1988.^[3] The game debuted much earlier though and remained popular until the 1970s.

Stratemeyer Syndicate

Garis wrote many books for the Stratemeyer Syndicate under various pseudonyms. As Victor Appleton, he wrote about the enterprising Tom Swift; as Laura Lee Hope, he is generally credited with writing volumes 4–28 and 41 of the Bobbsey Twins; as Clarence Young, the Motor Boys series; as Lester Chadwick, the Baseball Joe series; and as Marion Davidson, a number of books including several featuring the Camp Fire Girls. The couple's children also wrote for Stratemeyer. After Edward Stratemeyer's death in May 1930, his two daughters, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams (1892–1982) and Edna C. Squier (1895–1974), ran the company, with the result that Garis stopped writing for the Syndicate in 1933 after several disagreements.^[4]

Garis died in 1962 in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Biographies

Garis' son, Roger Garis, penned a biography of the writing Garis family My Father Was Uncle Wiggily (McGraw-Hill, 1966), as well as writing several books under his own name and pseudonyms, including a four-volume series of children's adventures/mysteries for A. L. Burt. His daughter, Cleo F. also wrote a three-volume series of children's mysteries, published by A. L. Burt. His granddaughter, Leslie Garis, wrote a more revealing Garis family memoir, The House of Happy Endings (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007).

Bibliography of titles written under Garis's name

• With Force and Arms, J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Company, 1902
• The King of Unadilla, J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Company, 1903
• The White Crystals, Little, Brown and Company, 1904
• Isle of Black Fire, J. B. Lippincott Company, 1904
• Tam of the Fire Cave, D. Appleton and Company, 1927
• Tuftoo the Clown, D. Appleton and Company, 1928
• Chad of Knob Hill, Little, Brown and Company, 1929

The Mystery Boys series

Written under the pen name Van Powell

1. The Mystery Boys and the Inca Gold, 1931
2. The Mystery Boys and Captain Kidd's Message, 1931
3. The Mystery Boys and the Secret of the Golden Sun, 1931
4. The Mystery Boys and the Chinese Jewels, 1931
5. The Mystery Boys and the Hindu Treasure, 1931

The Daddy series

Not positive of publishing order or completeness of list

1. Daddy Takes Us Camping, 1914
2. Daddy Takes Us Fishing, 1914
3. Daddy Takes Us to the Circus, 1914
4. Daddy Takes Us Skating, 1914
5. Daddy Takes Us Coasting, 1914
6. Daddy Takes Us to the Farm, 1918 (?)
7. Daddy Takes Us to the Garden, 1914
8. Daddy Takes Us Hunting Flowers, 1915
9. Daddy Takes Us Hunting Birds, 1916
10. Daddy Takes Us to the Woods, 1917

The Baseball Joe Series

Written under the pen name Lester Chadwick

1. Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars
2. Baseball Joe on the School Nine
3. Baseball Joe at Yale
4. Baseball Joe in the Central League
5. Baseball Joe in the Big League
6. Baseball Joe on the Giants
7. Baseball Joe in the World Series
8. Baseball Joe Around the World
9. Baseball Joe: Home Run King
10. Baseball Joe Saving the League
11. Baseball Joe Captain of the Team
12. Baseball Joe Champion of the League
13. Baseball Joe Club Owner
14. Baseball Joe Pitching Wizard

Two Wild Cherries series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Two Wild Cherries
2. Saving the Old Mill
3. Two Wild Cherries at the Seashore
4. Two Wild Cherries in the Woods

Rick and Ruddy series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Rick and Ruddy, 1920
2. Rick and Ruddy in Camp, 1921
3. Rick and Ruddy Afloat, 1922
4. Rick and Ruddy Out West, 1923
5. Rick and Ruddy on the Trail, 1924
6. Swept from the Storm, 1930

Those Smith Boys series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Those Smith Boys, 1910
2. Those Smith Boys on the Diamond, 1912

The Venture Boys series

as Howard R. Garis

1. The Venture Boys Afloat, 1917
2. The Venture Boys in Camp, 1918

Larry Dexter Series

as by Howard R. Garis

1. From Office Boy to Reporter 1907
2. Larry Dexter, Reporter, 1907
3. Larry Dexter's Great Search, 1909
4. Larry Dexter and the Bank Mystery, 1912
5. Larry Dexter and the Stolen Boy, 1912
6. Larry Dexter in Belgium, 1915
7. Larry Dexter and the Ward Diamonds, 1927
8. Larry Dexter's Great Chase, 1927

Volumes 1 and 2 initially published by Chatterton-Peck. Volumes 1 through 6 issued by Grosset & Dunlap. Volumes 6 and 7 issued by Garden City Publishing (in paperback only)

Volume 1 through 6 retitled and issued by George Sully as the Young Reporter Series circa 1918.

1. The Young Reporter at the Big Flood
2. The Young Reporter and the Land Swindlers
3. The Young Reporter and the Missing Millionaire
4. The Young Reporter and the Bank Mystery
5. The Young Reporter and the Stolen Boy
6. The Young Reporter at the Battle Front

Three Little Trippertrots series

as Howard R. Garis. Published by Graham & Matlack, New York. Compilations of stories originally read over the New Jersey Telephone Herald entertainment service.

1. Three Little Trippertrots, 1912
2. Three Little Trippertrots And Their Travels, 1912

Tom Cardiff series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Tom Cardiff's Circus (1926) (reprinted in USSR as Том Кардиф в Цирке) (1930)
2. Tom Cardiff in the Big Top (1927)

Circus Animal stories

Published by R. F. Fenno

1. Snarlie the Tiger, 1916
2. Woo-Uff The Lion, 1917
3. Umboo the Elephant, 1918

Bed Time series

This series of children's books was written by Garis beginning in 1910. Each volume contains 31 stories, one for each day of the month:

1. Sammie and Susie Littletail
2. Johnny and Billy Bushytail
3. Lulu, Alice & Jimmie Wibble-Wobble
4. Jackie and Peetie Bow-Wow
5. Buddy and Brighteyes Pigg
6. Joie, Tommie and Kittie Kat
7. Charlie and Arabella Chick
8. Neddie and Beckie Stubtail
9. Bully and Bawly No-Tail
10. Nannie and Billie Wagtail
11. Jollie and Jillie Longtail
12. Jacko and Jumpo Kinkytail
13. Curly and Floppy Twistytail
14. Toodle and Noodle Flat-Tail
15. Dottie and Willie Flufftail
16. Dickie and Nellie Fliptail
17. Woodie and Waddie Chuck
18. Bobby and Betty Ringtail

The Curlytops series

as Howard R. Garis Published by Cupples & Leon, illustrated by Julia Greene

1. At Cherry Farm; or, Vacation Days in the Country, 1918.
2. On Star Island; or, Camping Out with Grandpa, 1918.
3. Snowed In; or, Grand Fun with Skates and Sleds, 1918.
4. At Uncle Frank's Ranch; or, Little Folks on Ponyback, 1918. Cupples & Leon.
5. At Silver Lake; or, On the Water with Uncle Ben, 1920.
6. And Their Pets; or, Uncle Toby's Strange Collection, 1921.
7. And Their Playmates; or, Jolly Times Through the Holidays, 1922.
8. In the Woods; or, Fun at the Lumber Camp, 1923.
9. At Sunset Beach; or, What Was Found in the Sand, 1924.
10. Touring Around; or, The Missing Photograph Album, 1925.
11. In a Summer Camp; or, Animal Joe's Menagerie, 1927.
12. Growing Up; or, Winter Sports and Summer Pleasures, 1928.
13. At Happy House; or, The Mystery of the Chinese Vase, 1931.
14. At the Circus; or, The Runaway Elephant, 1932.

Buddy series

as Howard R. Garis. Cupples & Leon published this series about the adventures of Buddy Martyne with his family and friends:

1. Buddy on the Farm or, a Boy and his Prize Pumpkin, 1929
2. Buddy in School, or, a Boy and his Dog, 1929
3. Buddy and his Winter Fun, or, a Boy in a Snow Camp, 1929
4. Buddy at Rainbow Lake, or, a Boy and his Boat, 1930
5. Buddy and his Chum, or, a Boy’s Queer Search, 1930
6. Buddy at Pine Beach, or, a Boy on the Ocean, 1931
7. Buddy and his Flying Balloon, or, a Boy’s Mysterious Airship, 1931
8. Buddy on Mystery Mountain or, a Boy’s Strange Discovery, 1932
9. Buddy on Floating Island or, a Boy’s Wonderful Secret, 1933
10. Buddy and the Secret Cave or, a Boy and the Crystal Hermit, 1934
11. Buddy and his Cowboy Pal or, a Boy on a Ranch, 1935
12. Buddy and the Indian Chief or, a Boy among the Navajos, 1936
13. Buddy and the Arrow Club or, a Boy and the Long Bow, 1937
14. Buddy at Lost River or, a Boy and a Gold Mine, 1938
15. Buddy on the Trail or, a Boy Among the Gypsies, 1939
16. Buddy in Deep Valley or, a Boy on a Bee Farm, 1940
17. Buddy at Red Gate or, a Boy on a Chicken Farm, 1941
18. Buddy in Dragon Swamp or, a Boy on a Strange Hunt, 1942,
19. Buddy’s Victory Club or, a Boy and a Salvage Campaign, 1943
20. Buddy and the G-Man Mystery or, a Boy and a Strange Cipher, 1944
21. Buddy and his Fresh Air Camp or, a Boy and the Unlucky Ones, 1947

Rocket Riders series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Rocket Riders Across The Ice or Racing Against Time, 1933
2. Rocket Riders Over the Desert or, Seeking the Lost City, 1933
3. Rocket Riders in Stormy Seas or, Trailing the Treasure Divers, 1933
4. Rocket Riders in The Air or, A Chase in the Clouds, 1934

Teddy series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Teddy and The Mystery Monkey, 1936
2. Teddy and The Mystery Dog, 1936
3. Teddy and The Mystery Cat, 1937
4. Teddy and The Mystery Parrot, 1938
5. Teddy and The Mystery Pony, 1939
6. Teddy and His Mystery Deer, 1940
7. Teddy and His Mystery Goat, 1941

Uncle Wiggily series

as Howard R. Garis

1. Uncle Wiggily's Adventures
2. Uncle Wiggily's Travels
3. Uncle Wiggily's Fortune
4. Uncle Wiggily's Automobile
5. Uncle Wiggily at the Seashore
6. Uncle Wiggily's Airship
7. Uncle Wiggily in the Country
8. Uncle Wiggily in the Woods
9. Uncle Wiggily on the Farm
10. Uncle Wiggily's Journey
11. Uncle Wiggily and Baby Bunty
12. Uncle Wiggily's Story Book
13. Uncle Wiggily's Picture Book
14. Uncle Wiggily's Puzzle Book
15. Uncle Wiggily on Sugar Island
16. The Uncle Wiggily Book
17. Uncle Wiggily's Bungalow
18. Uncle Wiggily's Picnic Party
19. Uncle Wiggily’s Surprises
20. Uncle Wiggily's Happy Days
21. Uncle Wiggily and The Canoe
22. Uncle Wiggily and the Littletails
23. Uncle Wiggily in Wonderland, 1921
24. Uncle Wiggily and Old Mother Hubbard, 1922

Happy Home series

The Happy Home Series is a six-volume series of children's books written by Garis between 1926 and 1927:

1. Adventures of the Galloping Gas Stove
2. Adventures of the Runaway Rocking Chair
3. Adventures of the Traveling Table
4. Adventures of the Sliding Foot Stool
5. Adventures of the Sailing Sofa
6. Adventures of the Prancing Piano

References

1. Bodian, Nat. Old Newark Memories: "Recalling Newark News Writer Howard Garis and His Rabbit"
2. Milton Bradley, 1967
3. Milton Bradley 1988
4. Keeline, James D. "Stratemeyer Syndicate Pseudonyms".

External links

• Works by Lester Chadwick at Project Gutenberg
• Works by Howard Roger Garis at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Howard Roger Garis at Internet Archive
• Works by or about Lester Chadwick at Internet Archive
• Works by or about Victor Appleton at Internet Archive
• Works by or about Laura Lee Hope at Internet Archive
• Works by or about Clarence Young at Internet Archive
• Works by Howard R. Garis at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
• Howard R. Garis at Find a Grave
• Works by Howard R. Garis at Esprios (Free to download titles)