Howard Roger Garis ((1873-04-25)April 25, 1873 – (1962-11-06)November 6, 1962) was an American author, best known for a series of books that featured the character of Uncle Wiggily Longears, an engaging elderly rabbit. Many of his books were illustrated by Lansing Campbell. Garis and his wife, Lilian Garis, were possibly the most prolific children's authors of the early 20th century.
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 11,000 Uncle Wiggily stories.[1]
In 1916 Milton Bradley began selling the Uncle Wiggily Game. In 1987 Parker Brothers bought the rights to the board game and produced it for many years. As of 2018 Winning Moves was manufacturing the Uncle Wiggily Game.[2]
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.[3]
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).
Bibliographyedit
Titles written under Garis's nameedit
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
Mystery Boys seriesedit
Written under Howard R. Garis, and published by Bradley
Mystery Boys in Ghost Canyon, 1930
Mystery Boys at Round Lake, 1931
The Daddy series (selected)edit
Daddy Takes Us Camping, 1914
Daddy Takes Us Fishing, 1914
Daddy Takes Us to the Circus, 1914
Daddy Takes Us Skating, 1914
Daddy Takes Us Coasting, 1914
Daddy Takes Us to the Farm, 1918 (?)
Daddy Takes Us to the Garden, 1914
Daddy Takes Us Hunting Flowers, 1915
Daddy Takes Us Hunting Birds, 1916
Daddy Takes Us to the Woods, 1917
The Baseball Joe Seriesedit
Written under the pen name Lester Chadwick
Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars
Baseball Joe on the School Nine
Baseball Joe at Yale
Baseball Joe in the Central League
Baseball Joe in the Big League
Baseball Joe on the Giants
Baseball Joe in the World Series
Baseball Joe Around the World
Baseball Joe: Home Run King
Baseball Joe Saving the League
Baseball Joe Captain of the Team
Baseball Joe Champion of the League
Baseball Joe Club Owner
Baseball Joe Pitching Wizard
Two Wild Cherries series / The Dick and Janet Cherry Seriesedit
Originally released as Two Wild Cherries; re-released as The Dick and Janet Cherry series; as Howard R. Garis
Two Wild Cherries; or, How Dick and Janet Lost Something
Two Wild Cherries In The Country; or, How Dick and Janet Saved The Mill
Two Wild Cherries At The Seashore; or, How Dick and Janet Were Shipwrecked
Two Wild Cherries in the Woods; or, How Dick and Janet Caught the Bear
(This series later released under alternative titles by McLoughlin, and book order changed)
Rick and Ruddy seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
Rick and Ruddy, 1920
Rick and Ruddy in Camp, 1921
Rick and Ruddy Afloat, 1922
Rick and Ruddy Out West, 1923
Rick and Ruddy on the Trail, 1924
(This series later released under alternative titles by McLoughlin)
Those Smith Boys seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
Those Smith Boys, 1910
Those Smith Boys on the Diamond, 1912
The Venture Boys seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
The Venture Boys Afloat, 1917
The Venture Boys in Camp, 1918
Larry Dexter Seriesedit
as by Howard R. Garis
From Office Boy to Reporter 1907
Larry Dexter, Reporter, 1907
Larry Dexter's Great Search, 1909
Larry Dexter and the Bank Mystery, 1912
Larry Dexter and the Stolen Boy, 1912
Larry Dexter in Belgium, 1915
Larry Dexter and the Ward Diamonds, 1927
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.
The Young Reporter at the Big Flood
The Young Reporter and the Land Swindlers
The Young Reporter and the Missing Millionaire
The Young Reporter and the Bank Mystery
The Young Reporter and the Stolen Boy
The Young Reporter at the Battle Front
Three Little Trippertrots seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis. Published by Graham & Matlack, New York. Compilations of stories originally read over the New Jersey Telephone Herald entertainment service.
Three Little Trippertrots, 1912
Three Little Trippertrots And Their Travels, 1912
Tom Cardiff seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
Tom Cardiff's Circus (1926) (reprinted in USSR as Том Кардиф в Цирке) (1930)
Tom Cardiff in the Big Top (1927)
Circus Animal storiesedit
Published by R. F. Fenno
Snarlie the Tiger, 1916
Woo-Uff The Lion, 1917
Umboo the Elephant, 1918
Bed Time seriesedit
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:
Sammie and Susie Littletail
Johnny and Billy Bushytail
Lulu, Alice & Jimmie Wibble-Wobble
Jackie and Peetie Bow-Wow
Buddy and Brighteyes Pigg
Joie, Tommie and Kittie Kat
Charlie and Arabella Chick
Neddie and Beckie Stubtail
Bully and Bawly No-Tail
Nannie and Billie Wagtail
Jollie and Jillie Longtail
Jacko and Jumpo Kinkytail
Curly and Floppy Twistytail
Toodle and Noodle Flat-Tail
Dottie and Willie Flufftail
Dickie and Nellie Fliptail
Woodie and Waddie Chuck
Bobby and Betty Ringtail
The Curlytops seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis; Published by Cupples & Leon, illustrated by Julia Greene
At Cherry Farm; or, Vacation Days in the Country, 1918.
On Star Island; or, Camping Out with Grandpa, 1918.
Snowed In; or, Grand Fun with Skates and Sleds, 1918.
At Uncle Frank's Ranch; or, Little Folks on Ponyback, 1918. Cupples & Leon.
At Silver Lake; or, On the Water with Uncle Ben, 1920.
And Their Pets; or, Uncle Toby's Strange Collection, 1921.
And Their Playmates; or, Jolly Times Through the Holidays, 1922.
In the Woods; or, Fun at the Lumber Camp, 1923.
At Sunset Beach; or, What Was Found in the Sand, 1924.
Touring Around; or, The Missing Photograph Album, 1925.
In a Summer Camp; or, Animal Joe's Menagerie, 1927.
Growing Up; or, Winter Sports and Summer Pleasures, 1928.
At Happy House; or, The Mystery of the Chinese Vase, 1931.
At the Circus; or, The Runaway Elephant, 1932.
Buddy seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis.
Cupples & Leon published this series about the adventures of Buddy Martyne with his family and friends:
Buddy on the Farm or, a Boy and his Prize Pumpkin, 1929
Buddy in School, or, a Boy and his Dog, 1929
Buddy and his Winter Fun, or, a Boy in a Snow Camp, 1929
Buddy at Rainbow Lake, or, a Boy and his Boat, 1930
Buddy and his Chum, or, a Boy’s Queer Search, 1930
Buddy at Pine Beach, or, a Boy on the Ocean, 1931
Buddy and his Flying Balloon, or, a Boy’s Mysterious Airship, 1931
Buddy on Mystery Mountain or, a Boy’s Strange Discovery, 1932
Buddy on Floating Island or, a Boy’s Wonderful Secret, 1933
Buddy and the Secret Cave or, a Boy and the Crystal Hermit, 1934
Buddy and his Cowboy Pal or, a Boy on a Ranch, 1935
Buddy and the Indian Chief or, a Boy among the Navajos, 1936
Buddy and the Arrow Club or, a Boy and the Long Bow, 1937
Buddy at Lost River or, a Boy and a Gold Mine, 1938
Buddy on the Trail or, a Boy Among the Gypsies, 1939
Buddy in Deep Valley or, a Boy on a Bee Farm, 1940
Buddy at Red Gate or, a Boy on a Chicken Farm, 1941
Buddy in Dragon Swamp or, a Boy on a Strange Hunt, 1942,
Buddy’s Victory Club or, a Boy and a Salvage Campaign, 1943
Buddy and the G-Man Mystery or, a Boy and a Strange Cipher, 1944
Buddy and his Fresh Air Camp or, a Boy and the Unlucky Ones, 1947
Rocket Riders seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
Rocket Riders Across The Ice or Racing Against Time, 1933
Rocket Riders Over the Desert or, Seeking the Lost City, 1933
Rocket Riders in Stormy Seas or, Trailing the Treasure Divers, 1933
Rocket Riders in The Air or, A Chase in the Clouds, 1934
Teddy seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
Teddy and The Mystery Monkey, 1936
Teddy and The Mystery Dog, 1936
Teddy and The Mystery Cat, 1937
Teddy and The Mystery Parrot, 1938
Teddy and The Mystery Pony, 1939
Teddy and His Mystery Deer, 1940
Teddy and His Mystery Goat, 1941
Uncle Wiggily seriesedit
as Howard R. Garis
Uncle Wiggily's Adventures
Uncle Wiggily's Travels
Uncle Wiggily's Fortune
Uncle Wiggily's Automobile
Uncle Wiggily at the Seashore
Uncle Wiggily's Airship
Uncle Wiggily in the Country
Uncle Wiggily in the Woods
Uncle Wiggily on the Farm
Uncle Wiggily's Journey
Uncle Wiggily and Baby Bunty
Uncle Wiggily's Story Book
Uncle Wiggily's Picture Book
Uncle Wiggily's Puzzle Book
Uncle Wiggily on Sugar Island
The Uncle Wiggily Book
Uncle Wiggily's Bungalow
Uncle Wiggily's Picnic Party
Uncle Wiggily’s Surprises
Uncle Wiggily's Happy Days
Uncle Wiggily and The Canoe
Uncle Wiggily and the Littletails
Uncle Wiggily in Wonderland, 1921
Uncle Wiggily and Old Mother Hubbard, 1922
Happy Home seriesedit
The Happy Home Series is a six-volume series of children's books written by Garis between 1926 and 1927:
Adventures of the Galloping Gas Stove
Adventures of the Runaway Rocking Chair
Adventures of the Traveling Table
Adventures of the Sliding Foot Stool
Adventures of the Sailing Sofa
Adventures of the Prancing Piano
Referencesedit
^Bodian, Nat. "Recalling Newark News Writer Howard Garis and His Rabbit". Old Newark Memories.
^Francis, Judy (June 3, 2018). "Historic Treasure: Uncle Wiggily evolves from books to board game". Tribune-Star (e-paper).
^Keeline, James D. "Stratemeyer Syndicate Pseudonyms".
External linksedit
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