Charles Monroe Schulz was born on November 6, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN, only child to Dena and Carl Schulz. Schulz’ father was a barber and his mother was a nurse. Schulz describes his early encounter with comics, from which he gained the unusual nickname he would carry throughout life.

"The comics entered my world early. I was two days old when an uncle nick-named me “Sparky,” short for Sparkplug, Barney Google’s horse in a popular comic strip of the time. And that name has stayed with me since." (Golden Celebration 6)

Schulz also received artistic encouragement at a young age when his kindergarten teacher in St. Paul commented, “Someday, Charles, you’re going to be an artist.” These insightful words left a powerful impression on Schulz.

Schulz grew up in a suburban neighborhood much like that in Peanuts. As he recalls of his childhood, “sports played a reasonably strong role, although they were of the sandlot variety,” (GC 6) providing Schulz ample opportunity to experience the anguish and joys of recreational sports. Schulz also had a dog named Spike during his teen years which ‘turned out to be the forerunner of Snoopy.’ A rendering of Spike was Schulz’ first published drawing which he sent to ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’.

War Experience & First Work

At age 20, Schulz was drafted into the army. Schulz writes little of his experience in World War II in his autobiographical works, relating primarily negative and detrimental experiences. As Schulz explains

"The three years I spent in the army in World War II taught me all I need to know about loneliness, and my sympathy for the loneliness that all of us experience has dropped heavily upon poor Charlie Brown. From my army years I know what it is like to spend days, evenings, and weekends by myself and also know how uncomfortable anxiety can be."

Although Schulz had sent in drawing samples to different major magazines before the war, it was not until after his service ended that he ‘set about in earnest to sell [his] work.’ (GC 7) After a few experiences publishing with small comic magazines in the late 1940s, Schulz received a publishing offer from United Feature Syndicate in New York and began drawing daily comic strips.