George Helgesen Fitch (June 5, 1877 – August 9, 1915) was an American author, humorist, and journalist perhaps best known for his stories about fictional Siwash College.
Fitch was born in Galva, Illinois. He was the eldest son of Elmer Eli Fitch, editor and publisher of the Galva News, and Rachel Helgesen, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Holverson) Helgesen. His grandfather, Thomas Helgesen, was a native of Norway who had immigrated to America in 1848.[1]
Fitch graduated from Knox College in 1897. He worked as a reporter for a number of midwest newspapers including the Council Bluffs, IowaDaily Nonpareil and the Peoria, IllinoisHerald-Transcript. Eventually he became frequently published in national magazines, breaking in with his popular "Megaphone" series satirizing urban America. He also penned a syndicated column called "Vest Pocket Essays". By 1910, Fitch not only was a respected writer and editor, he became a nationally syndicated columnist for George Matthew Adams' news service. He was elected as a Progressive Party candidate to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1912.[2]
Knox, his alma mater, was the basis of a series of popular stories set at "Good Old Siwash College". First appearing in the Saturday Evening Post in 1908, they focused on characters including football player Ole Skjarson and Petey Simmons, a coach who paid his "amateur" athletes as well as the fraternity Eta Bita Pie. The Siwash stories were the basis for the movie Those Were the Days! (1940) starring William Holden as Simmons, which was filmed on location at and around Knox College. Fitch died of a ruptured appendix while visiting his sister Louise in California at the age of 38.[3]
Quotes
Fitch gave an early form of the adage "Journalism is the first rough draft of history":
A reporter is a young man who blocks out the first draft of history each day on a rheumatic typewriter.[4][5]
george, fitch, author, george, helgesen, fitch, june, 1877, august, 1915, american, author, humorist, journalist, perhaps, best, known, stories, about, fictional, siwash, college, george, fitchfitch, circa, 1915bornjune, 1877galva, illinoisdiedaugust, 1915, fr. George Helgesen Fitch June 5 1877 August 9 1915 was an American author humorist and journalist perhaps best known for his stories about fictional Siwash College George H FitchFitch circa 1915BornJune 5 1877Galva IllinoisDiedAugust 9 1915 age 38 San FranciscoOccupationHumorist writer journalist Syndicated columnistNationalityAmericanGenreHumor Contents 1 Biography 2 Quotes 3 Selected works 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditFitch was born in Galva Illinois He was the eldest son of Elmer Eli Fitch editor and publisher of the Galva News and Rachel Helgesen daughter of Thomas and Anna Holverson Helgesen His grandfather Thomas Helgesen was a native of Norway who had immigrated to America in 1848 1 Fitch graduated from Knox College in 1897 He worked as a reporter for a number of midwest newspapers including the Council Bluffs Iowa Daily Nonpareil and the Peoria Illinois Herald Transcript Eventually he became frequently published in national magazines breaking in with his popular Megaphone series satirizing urban America He also penned a syndicated column called Vest Pocket Essays By 1910 Fitch not only was a respected writer and editor he became a nationally syndicated columnist for George Matthew Adams news service He was elected as a Progressive Party candidate to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1912 2 Knox his alma mater was the basis of a series of popular stories set at Good Old Siwash College First appearing in the Saturday Evening Post in 1908 they focused on characters including football player Ole Skjarson and Petey Simmons a coach who paid his amateur athletes as well as the fraternity Eta Bita Pie The Siwash stories were the basis for the movie Those Were the Days 1940 starring William Holden as Simmons which was filmed on location at and around Knox College Fitch died of a ruptured appendix while visiting his sister Louise in California at the age of 38 3 Quotes EditFitch gave an early form of the adage Journalism is the first rough draft of history A reporter is a young man who blocks out the first draft of history each day on a rheumatic typewriter 4 5 See Wikiquote article for details Selected works EditAt Good Old Siwash 1910 Homeburg Memories 1915 Vest Pocket Essays 1916 References Edit George Helgesen Fitch Literary Encyclopedia George Helgesen Fitch Welcome to Ringgold County Archived November 25 2010 at the Wayback Machine George Fitch Western Illinois University permanent dead link July 3 1914 Lincoln NE Daily Star The Reporter by George Fitch pg 6 col 4 First draft of history journalism November 23 2009 Barry Popik Other sourcesPast and Present of Fayette County Iowa B F Bowen amp Co Indianapolis 1910 Fitch Roscoe Conkling History of the Fitch Family 1400 1930 1930 George Fitch The Literary Encyclopedia July 17 2001 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Helgesen Fitch Works by George Fitch at Project Gutenberg Works by or about George Fitch at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Fitch author amp oldid 1090593320, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
