Charles Stuart Pratt facts for kids

Charles Stuart Pratt was an American writer who created stories for children. He sometimes used different names, like C. P. Stewart or C. P. Stuart. He is best known for working as the art editor for Wide Awake magazine for 16 years, starting in 1875.

Charles Pratt spent 30 years editing children's magazines. For most of this time, he worked alongside his wife, Ella Farman Pratt.

Early Life of Charles Pratt

Charles Stuart Pratt was born on February 10, 1854. His birthplace was South Weymouth, Massachusetts. His parents were Loring and Laura (Vining) Pratt. Charles went to South Weymouth High School. After that, he studied art at a school in Boston.

Charles Pratt's Writing Career

Starting at Wide Awake Magazine

In 1875, when Charles Pratt was 21, he became the art editor for Wide Awake. This was a children's magazine published by D. Lothrop Company in Boston. His future wife, Ella Farman, was the magazine's literary editor. Charles and Ella got married in 1877.

As the art editor, Charles Pratt hired many famous artists. These artists helped make the magazine look great. He also wrote many stories for Wide Awake. These stories were often published without his name or under a pen name. He worked at Wide Awake from 1875 until 1891.

Working on Other Children's Magazines

Charles Pratt and his wife also worked on other magazines for kids. These magazines were also from D. Lothrop Company. They edited Babyland from 1877 to 1892. They also worked on it again from 1894 to 1897. They also edited Little Men and Women for some time.

From 1897 to 1909, Pratt edited Little Folks. This children's magazine was published by S. E. Cassino Company in Salem, Massachusetts. Ella Farman Pratt was a co-editor until she passed away in 1907. For many years, the magazine's contents page mentioned that Charles S. and Ella Farman Pratt had edited it.

Writing for Adult Magazines

While editing children's magazines, Charles Pratt also wrote stories for grown-up magazines. He won a big prize for his story A Celestial Crime. This story was published in The Black Cat magazine in December 1897. His story Napoleon and the Regent Diamond was in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in September 1895. This story was even mentioned in another magazine, The Review of Reviews.

Charles Pratt's Personal Life

Charles Stuart Pratt married Eliza Anna (Ella) Farman on November 11, 1877. They lived in Warner, New Hampshire for most of their marriage. Ella Farman Pratt had a son named Ralph Farman Pratt. He was born on July 7, 1878, and later became a landscape painter.

Charles Pratt was also active in his community. For many years, he was on the board of trustees for the Pillsbury Free Library. He worked to create small branch libraries for school children. These libraries were in Davisville and Melvin’s Mills, which are villages within Warner, New Hampshire.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1909, Charles Pratt stopped working as editor of Little Folks. He had serious health problems. His hometown newspaper said he suffered from an illness. It also said he bravely handled his health challenges.

For a long time, he used his savings to live. However, by 1920, he faced financial difficulties. A notice in The Writer magazine mentioned that he needed help. It said he was unwell and had edited Wide Awake with his wife.

Charles Pratt passed away in Warner, New Hampshire, on April 3, 1921. He was buried in South Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Books Written by Charles Pratt

• 1886 - Bye-O-Baby Ballads, D. Lothrop
• 1888 - Baby’s Lullaby Book, Prang & Company
• 1896 - Little Peterkin Vandike, L.C. Page & Company
• 1896 - The Brown Bunny, (using the name C.P. Stewart), S.E. Cassino Company
• 1899 - Stick-and-Pea Plays, D. Lothrop
• 1899 - Buz-Buz & His Twelve Adventures, D. Lothrop
• 1905 - Riddle-Rhymes, S.E. Cassino Company
• 1908 - Little Noah’s Ark, (using the name C.P. Stuart), S.E. Cassino Company