Ellis Parker Butler (1869–1937) was a highly prolific American author and humorist whose career spanned more than four decades. Over his lifetime, he produced more than 30 books and upwards of 2,000 short stories, essays, and poems. His work was widely read and appeared in over 225 magazines, sharing pages with prominent contemporaries such as Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Butler is most famous for his 1905 comic short story "Pigs Is Pigs," a humorous tale about a bureaucratic railway stationmaster who refuses to classify a shipment of guinea pigs as pets, leading to an exponential population explosion while they await delivery. Another of his enduring creations was Philo Gubb, a comic detective who starred in a series of popular mystery parodies. Butler's writing was characterized by its lighthearted satire, everyday settings, and accessible humor.
Despite his immense literary output, Butler worked primarily as a full-time banker and considered writing a part-time pursuit. He was deeply involved in his local community and played a significant role in the New York City literary scene. He was a founding member of both the Dutch Treat Club and the Authors League of America, cementing his legacy as an active supporter of fellow writers and artists.
