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{{Infobox Writer
⚫
'''George Helgesen Fitch''' ([[1877]]-August 9, 1915) was an American author, humorist, and journalist perhaps best known for his stories about fictional Siwash College.
⚫
| name = George Helgesen Fitch
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birthdate = 5 June 1877
| birthplace = [[Galva, Illinois]]
| deathdate = 9 August 1915 (age 38)
| deathplace = [[San Francisco, California]]
| occupation = [[Humorist]], [[Writer]], [[Journalist]], [[Syndicated columnist]]
| nationality = [[United States]]
| genre = Humor
⚫
}}


⚫
Fitch was born in [[Galva, Illinois]]. He was the son of Elmer Eli Fitch, editor and publisher of the ''Galva News'', and Rachel Helgesen, daughter of Thomas and Anna Helgesen. Thomas Helgesen was a native of Norway.


⚫
'''George Helgesen Fitch''' (5 June 1877 - 9 August 1915) was an American author, humorist, and journalist perhaps best known for his stories about fictional Siwash College.
⚫
Fitch graduated from [[Knox College (Illinois)|Knox College]] in 1897. He worked as a reporter for a number of midwest newspapers and eventually 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". He was elected to the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] in 1912.


==Biography==
⚫
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 like Ole Skjarsen, the Swede and Petey Simmons or the [[Fraternities and sororities|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 at Knox.
⚫
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.<ref> [http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1543 ''George Helgesen Fitch'' (Literary Encyclopedia)]</ref>


⚫
Fitch graduated from [[Knox College (Illinois)|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.<ref>[http://iagenweb.org/ringgold/biographical/bio-fitchelmereli.html ''George Helgesen Fitch'' (Welcome to Ringgold County)]</ref>
Fitch died of a ruptured [[Vermiform appendix|appendix]] while visiting his sister Louise in [[California]] at the age of 38.


⚫
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 Skarsen and Petey Simmons, a coach who paid his “amateur” athletes as well as the [[Fraternities and sororities|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 located at Knox College. Fitch died of a ruptured [[Vermiform appendix|appendix]] while visiting his sister Louise in [[California]] at the age of 38.
<ref>[http://www.wiu.edu/english/journalism/fitch.php ''George Fitch'' (Western Illinois University)]</ref>
==Selected works==
*''At Good Old Siwash'' (1910)
*''Homeburg Memories'' (1915)
*''Vest Pocket Essays'' (1916)
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://iagenweb.org/ringgold/biographical/bio-fitchelmereli.html Welcome to Ringgold County]

* ''[[New York Times]]'', August 10, 1915
* [http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1543 Literary Encyclopedia: George Helgesen Fitch]
==Other sources==
==Other sources==
*''Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa'' (B.F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis. 1910)
*''Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa'' (B.F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis. 1910)
* Fitch, Roscoe Conkling ''History of the Fitch Family 1400-1930'' (1930)
*''George Fitch'' (The Literary Encyclopedia. 17 July 2001)
*''George Fitch'' (The Literary Encyclopedia. 17 July 2001)


<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
⚫
|NAME= Fitch, George Helgesen
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=American writer
|DATE OF BIRTH=1877
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Galva, Illinois]], [[United States]]
|DATE OF DEATH=August 9, 1915
|PLACE OF DEATH=[[California]], [[United States]]
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitch, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitch, George}}
[[Category:1877 births]]
[[Category:1877 births]]
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[[Category:Members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:American people of Norwegian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Norwegian descent]]
[[Category:American humorists]]
[[Category:American writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Illinois]]

Revision as of 07:06, 27 March 2010

George Helgesen Fitch
OccupationHumorist, Writer, Journalist, Syndicated columnist
NationalityUnited States
GenreHumor


George Helgesen Fitch (5 June 1877 - 9 August 1915) was an American author, humorist, and journalist perhaps best known for his stories about fictional Siwash College.

Biography

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, 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 Skarsen 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 located at Knox College. Fitch died of a ruptured appendix while visiting his sister Louise in California at the age of 38. [3]

Selected works

  • At Good Old Siwash (1910)
  • Homeburg Memories (1915)
  • Vest Pocket Essays (1916)

References

  1. ^ George Helgesen Fitch (Literary Encyclopedia)
  2. ^ George Helgesen Fitch (Welcome to Ringgold County)
  3. ^ George Fitch (Western Illinois University)

Other sources

  • Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa (B.F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis. 1910)
  • Fitch, Roscoe Conkling History of the Fitch Family 1400-1930 (1930)
  • George Fitch (The Literary Encyclopedia. 17 July 2001)
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