In the summer of 1875, a quiet revolution began in Boston with the launch of Wide Awake, a magazine that promised to be the antithesis of the sensationalist literature flooding the market. Daniel Lothrop, a publisher with a distinct evangelical worldview, envisioned a publication that would cultivate broad minds and pure hearts in American children between the ages of ten and eighteen. The first issue, dated July 1875, explicitly rejected the popular tropes of the era, warning readers that it contained nothing of the run-away-to-sea style for boys or the elope-and-be-happy incentives for girls that parents were so desperately trying to avoid. This was not merely a collection of stories; it was a moral compass for a generation, designed to steer young minds away from the perceived dangers of unchecked imagination and toward a path of responsible adulthood. The magazine's existence was a direct response to the anxieties of Victorian parents who feared that the stories children were reading would corrupt their morals or encourage reckless behavior. By establishing a clear boundary between entertainment and moral instruction, Lothrop created a space where children could explore the world without fear of being led astray.
The Literary Circle
The pages of Wide Awake became a gathering place for some of the most significant literary figures of the late nineteenth century, creating a unique ecosystem of talent that few magazines could match. Margaret Sidney, writing under the pen name Harriet Mulford Stone, began her career with the magazine in 1877, contributing the story Polly Pepper's Chicken Pie, which would eventually evolve into the beloved Five Little Peppers series. Her work was so well-received that editor Ella Farman Pratt encouraged her to expand the narrative, leading to a serialized run that would define the magazine's identity for years. The magazine also featured contributions from Edward Everett Hale, Sarah Orne Jewett, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, and Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, each bringing their distinct voices to the pages. These writers were not merely hired hands; they were part of a community that included illustrators like Howard Pyle, William Thomas Smedley, Sol Eytinge Jr., and Frank T. Merrill, whose artwork brought the stories to life with a level of detail and emotion that was rare for the time. The collaboration between these authors and artists created a rich tapestry of American literature that resonated deeply with its young audience, making Wide Awake a cultural touchstone for the era.The Editor's Journey
Ella Farman, the magazine's first editor, began her tenure from the quiet confines of her home in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she worked alongside her friend Emma L. Shaw to shape the early identity of Wide Awake. Their partnership was a testament to the collaborative spirit that defined the magazine's early years, as they navigated the challenges of editing a publication that aimed to be both educational and entertaining. In 1877, Farman and Charles Stuart Pratt, the magazine's art editor, were married, and Shaw returned to Michigan, marking a shift in the magazine's operational dynamics. Farman remained as editor until December 1891, guiding the publication through its formative years and establishing a reputation for quality and integrity. Her leadership was instrumental in maintaining the magazine's moral standards while allowing for creative freedom, a balance that would become the hallmark of Wide Awake. The transition of power to Elbridge Streeter Brooks, who had previously served as an associate editor at St. Nicholas Magazine, signaled a new chapter in the magazine's history, one that would ultimately lead to its merger and eventual transformation into St. Nicholas.