It published stories written by Margaret Sidney, Edward Everett Hale, Sarah Orne Jewett, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, and Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman.

[1] Wide Awake was illustrated by many well known artists including Howard Pyle, William Thomas Smedley, Sol Eytinge Jr. and Frank T.

"[4] The first issue was dated July, 1875 and in it readers were informed "Magazines like Wide Awake are good for young folks, and contain nothing of the 'run-away-to-sea' style for boys, or the 'elope-and-be-happy' incentive for girls, which are greatly cried against by parents now-a-days.

Readers' letters about their homes and families were printed in a section called Wide Awake Post Office.

Due to positive reader response editor Ella Farman Pratt asked Stone to write a series of stories about the Pepper family.

[1] Until the demise of Wide Awake all of the Five Little Peppers novels were first serialized in the magazine, and later published in book form by D. Lothrop Company.

In 1882 Wide Awake began adding a 16-page Chautauqua Young Folks' Reading Union (CYFRU) Supplement to each issue.

[2] The CYFRU supplements were not included in the bound volumes marketed as Wide Awake Pleasure Books, and they were discontinued in 1888.

On March 18, 1892, Daniel Lothrop died unexpectedly, and for a time his widow set aside her writing career and took on the responsibilities of being a book and magazine publisher.

Readers were told: "So, to make a long story short, with this August number Wide Awake ceases to be a separate publication.