Tom Slade at Temple Camp

Percy Keese Fitzhugh, born on September 7, 1876, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American writer known for his extensive works aimed at children and young adults. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, though it s unclear whether he graduated. Fitzhugh married Harriet Lloyd LePorte on July 13, 1900, in Kingston, Massachusetts. His first known work, The Goldenrod Story Book, was published in 1906. Fitzhugh is best known for his series centered around Boy Scouting, set in the fictional town of Bridgeboro, New Jersey, which was inspired by his hometown of Hackensack, New Jersey. His most notable characters include Tom Slade, Pee-Wee Harris, Roy Blakeley, and Westy Martin, who each had their own series of books. Fitzhugh wrote nearly 100 books, with around 70 published by Grosset & Dunlap, many of which were part of five different series, including Buddy Books for Boys, featuring various stories of scouting adventures. His works remain a beloved part of children s literature, capturing the excitement and challenges of boyhood and scouting life.