by Mike Matzinger
Percy Keese Fitzhugh (1876 – 1950) was an American author best known for writing dozens of adventure novels for boys, many of which centered on themes of Scouting and outdoor life.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Fitzhugh attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, where he developed his writing skills and love for storytelling. He began publishing short stories and children’s tales in magazines before gaining widespread fame for his Scouting-inspired book series.
In the 1913 Annual Report, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced the formation of the Book Department. The report stated, “Under the direction of Mr. Franklin K. Mathiews, it developed that the Scout Movement could greatly increase its usefulness by undertaking to furnish advice upon worthwhile books for boys.” Two steps were taken to implement this strategy. First, the Book Department would provide book reviews of youth fiction in each monthly issue of Boys’ Life Magazine, at one point publishing as many as 50 reviews per month. Second, the BSA would hire authors to write approved youth fiction books focused on Scouting values and themes.
Mathiews found his first author in Percy Keese Fitzhugh, an accomplished journalist and writer who had penned a Scout-themed book, Along the Mohawk Trail, which Mathiews felt met all the requirements for quality youth literature. Fitzhugh accepted the assignment, and between 1915 and the early 1930s, he wrote 68 books in four series—Tom Slade, Roy Blakeley, Pee-Wee Harris, and Westy Martin. He also wrote an additional 9 books in the Buddy Books for Boys series, although these were not officially endorsed by the BSA.
Fitzhugh’s characters were beloved for their humor, energy, and realism, helping to make Scouting appealing to generations of readers. He spent his later years in Oradell, New Jersey, where he continued writing until his death in 1950. Fitzhugh’s legacy endures through his influence on early 20th-century American youth literature and the popular image of Scouting in American culture.