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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.ukbrought to you byCOREprovided by Iowa Research OnlineT he G host o f N a n c y D rewG E O F F R E Y S. L A P IN" It w o u ld be a sh a m e if all th a t m o n e y w e n t to th e T opham s!T h ey w ill fly h ig h e r th a n ever!"T h u s b e g in s th e first b o o k in a series of titles th a t h a s w h e tte dth e litera ry a p p e tite s of y o u n g re a d e rs for w ell over fifty years.The Secret of the Old Clock b y C a ro ly n K eene w a s to se t th e to n eof ju v en ile a d v e n tu re sto ries th a t is still le a d in g y o u n g folksin to th e jo y s of re a d in g th e s ta n d a rd classics of literatu re.C a ro ly n K eene h a s b e e n w ritin g th e series b o o k s chroniclingth e a d v e n tu re s of N a n c y D re w a n d th e D an a G irls since 1929.W ith o v e r 175 titles p u b lis h e d , th e a u th o r is still g o in g stro n g ,p re s e n tly p ro d u c in g o v er fifteen n e w b o o k s each y ear. H ertitles h a v e b e e n tra n s la te d in to a t lea st tw elv e d iffe re n t la n g u a g e s, a n d sales re c o rd s sta te th a t th e v o lu m e s sold n u m b e rin th e h u n d r e d s of m illions.M ore th a n th e m y ste ry of th e e n d u ra n c e of su ch u nlikelylite ra tu re is th e q u e s tio n of w h o C a ro ly n K eene is a n d h o w onep e rs o n c o u ld p o ssib ly b e th e a u th o r of su c h a rec o rd n u m b e r of" b e s t-s e lle rs ." N u m e ro u s litera ry h isto rie s offer conflictingin fo rm a tio n c o n c e rn in g th e life of M s K eene. T he o n e co m m o nfact is th a t th e re exists n o actu al p e rs o n b y th a t n a m e . C arolynK eene is a p s e u d o n y m for th e a u th o r of th e series books.C a ro ly n K een e w a s E d w a rd S tratem ey er. A n o th e r sourcesay s th a t sh e w a s H a rrie t A d a m s. Yet o th e rs say th a t she w asE d n a S quire, W alter K arig, Jam es D u n c a n L aw rence, N ancyA x elrad, M a rg a ret S cherf, G race G ro te, a n d a p le th o ra ofo th e rs. W h a t y e a rs of re se a rc h h a v e y ie ld e d is th e fact th a t theo n e a u th o r w h o e sta b lish e d b o th th e o riginal c h aracter ofN a n c y D re w a n d th e c h a ra c te riz a tio n fo rm u la th a t h a s k e p t thehttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
y o u n g detectiv e so p o p u la r is o n e M ild red A. W irt B enson.M rs. B enson h a d c re a te d a h e ro in e e x h ib itin g th e v a lu e s a n dp e rso n a lity th a t sh e h e rse lf h a d s h o w n as a s tu d e n t a t T heU niversity of Iow a.I first becam e in trig u e d b y th e a m b ig u o u s a u th o rs h ip of th eN ancy D rew M y stery Stories in 1963 w h e n I w a s a s tu d e n td o in g v o lu n te e r w o rk in th e pu b lic lib rary sy ste m in A tlan ticCity, N e w Jersey. Since th e lib rary c a te re d to th e n e e d s ofvacatio n in g fam ilies, its sh e lv e s b o a s te d a larg e collection ofc h ild re n 's b o o k s, in c lu d in g th e N a n c y D re w b o o k s. A s a childI h a d d u tifu lly re a d b o th th e D re w a n d H a rd y Boys m y ste rystories. T he q u a in t w o rld of ro a d s te rs , to u rin g cars, a n dru n n in g b o a rd s h a s sta y e d w ith m e in to m y a d u lt y ears.W h at a ro u s e d m y c u rio sity w a s th e fact th a t lib ra ry catalo g u ecard s for th e series listed as a u th o r: C a ro ly n K een e, pseudonym.A s h a d m illions of o th e r re a d e rs, I h a d alw ay s a s s u m e d th a tth e re really w a s a M s K eene, re g u la rly c h u rn in g o u t th eexploits of th e te e n a g e sle u th .K n o w in g th e th o ro u g h n e s s w ith w h ic h lib ra rian s catalo g u ein fo rm atio n , I w a s s u rp rise d th a t th e a u th o rs h ip in fo rm a tio nsim ply s to p p e d w ith th e w o rd pseudonym. H e re w a s th e firstin stan ce w h e re I h a d se e n n o fu rth e r in fo rm a tio n given.In q u iries to th e lib rary staff w e re of n o h elp : n o o n e e v e nse em e d to care. D u rin g th e n e x t th re e y e a rs th e o n ly p rin te dfact I fo u n d w a s o n e sm all n o ta tio n in a n a u th o r catalogue:C arolyn K eene, real name unknown.M y first big le a d cam e in th e refe re n c e d e p a rtm e n t inB altim ore's E noch P ra tt Free L ibrary. W hile lo o k in g th ro u g h a nold v o lu m e of th e Cum ulative Book Index, I fo u n d a p e n c ile dn o tatio n n e x t to th e list of b o o k s b y C a ro ly n K eene: M ild redA u g u stin e W irt, see D u rw a rd H o w e s ' American Women 19391940. L ocating th a t v o lu m e I re a d , a m o n g o th e r b io g rap h icalfacts c o n c ern in g W irt, th a t sh e w a s also a u th o r of n o n -D re wtitles in clu d in g Carolina Castle, Sky Racers, Through the Moon-GateDoor, The Shadow Stone, a n d The Runaw ay Caravan . P s e u d o n y m slisted in clu d e d D o ro th y W est, Joan C lark, F ran ces K. J u d d , andC arolyn K eene. R e tu rn in g to th e Cum ulative Book Index, I fo u n dhttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
u n d e r W irt's n a m e lo n g lists of u n fam iliar b o o k titles. T herew e re also th e a d d itio n a l p e n n a m e s of F ran k Bell a n d D onP alm er. C h e c k in g u n d e r th e s e tw o n a m e s a n d h e r o th erp s e u d o n y m s , I w a s able to com pile a list of o v er fifty titles, n o tin c lu d in g th e N a n c y D re w b o o k s. Each y e a r's e d itio n of th e CBIa d d e d titles to th e a lre a d y su b sta n tia l list of boo k s by thisa u th o r.A n o th e r e n try a p p e a re d . T his tim e it w as n o t a p s e u d o n y m .R ath er, it w a s a n e w s u rn a m e . W irt w a s n o w in p a re n th e s e s ,fo llo w ed b y th e n a m e M rs. G eo rg e A a ro n B enson. M s W irt h a dg o n e a n d g o tte n m arried!I d ilig en tly w e n t th ro u g h each y e a r's vo lu m e. W h a t in fo rm a tio n I g le a n e d w a s th a t th is w o m a n h a d w ritte n o v er 130 books,a n d , if ev e ry in d ic a tio n p ro v e d to b e correct, w as still w riting.A s M ild red A. W irt sh e h a d w ritte n th e P e n n y P a rk er M ysteryStories, T railer Stories for G irls, th e R u th D a rro w Flying Series,th e B row nie S cout Series, th e G irl Scout Series, th e C u b ScoutS eries, a h isto rical n o v e l Pirate Brig, a n d n u m e ro u s o th ern o n s e rie s m y ste ry , a d v e n tu re , a n d flying b o o k s. A s A n n W irtsh e h a d w ritte n th e M ad g e S terlin g Series. A s F rances K. Ju d d ,th e K ay T racey M y ste ry Stories; as D o ro th y W est, th e P e n n yN ichols a n d C o n n ie C arl books; as F ran k Bell, th e F lash E vansSeries; as D o n P alm er, th e Boy S cout E xplorer Series; a n d asM ild red B en so n , Quarry Ghost a n d Dangerous Deadline. Thela tte r w a s w in n e r of th e 1957 Boys' Life —D o d d , M ead PrizeC o m p e titio n for C h ild re n 's Fiction.M y last sto p th a t a fte rn o o n w a s to check th e city directo ry forh e r la st re c o rd e d h o m e to w n , T oledo, O h io. T h ere, a lo n g w ithh e r a d d re s s a n d te le p h o n e n u m b e r, w a s listed h e r o ccu p a tio n - c o u rth o u s e re p o rte r, Toledo Blade.D u rin g th e n e x t w e e k s I b e g a n th e se arc h for copies of W irt'sn o n -D re w b o o k s. W ith th e m ajo rity b e in g o u t-o f-p rin t, m yv isits to u s e d b o o k s h o p s re w a rd e d m e w ith th e first of m an yof h e r titles. A trip to P h ila d e lp h ia re s u lte d in m y re tu rn in gh o m e w ith tw o full s h o p p in g b ag s. Each b o o k sto re se em e d toh a v e so m e of h e r titles.http://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
The n e x t s te p w a s to s ta rt re a d in g th em . E ven th o u g h a u th o ra n d c h aracter n a m e s w e re d iffe re n t, e v e ry th in g else s e e m e dquite fam iliar: n o t ju s t p lo t lin es a n d s itu a tio n s, b u t colorfuld e scrip tio n s of c o u n try ro a d s , d a rk p a ssa g e w a y s, a n d th e likeall h a d a p le a sa n t, re a d a b le flow . T h ere w e re e v e n ro a d s te rsa n d to u rin g cars. I tru ly h a d fo u n d a g o ld m in e —N a n c y D re ww as h a v in g a d v e n tu re s in th e g u ise of o th e r characters.I m e t M ild red A. W irt in 1 9 6 9 . I h a d w ritte n to h e r re q u e s tin gan in te rv ie w b e c au se of a n article a p p e a rin g in th e J a n u a ry 25,1969, issu e of S a tu rd a y R eview . " T h e Secret o f N a n c y D re w "by A rth u r P ra g er to ld of th e " g ra n d m o th e rly la d y " w h o w asa u th o r of th e N a n c y D re w M y ste ry Stories. H a rrie t S. A d a m sh a d b e e n w ritin g th a t p o p u la r series of b o o k s since its in c e p tio nin 1930. She, a lo n g w ith fo u r o th e r a u th o rs , h a d also p e n n e d allH a rd y Boys; T om Sw ift, Jr.; a n d B obbsey T w in s b o o k s, a n d w a syearly p ro d u c in g o n e n e w title p e r series. A t th a t tim e sh e w a sw o rk in g o n h e r fo rty -th ird D re w title.H a v in g re a d th e m ajo rity of b o o k s w ritte n u n d e r th e n a m e ofW irt a n d h e r p s e u d o n y m s , I w a s co n v in c e d th a t sh e in d e e dw as C aro ly n K eene. T h erefo re, w h y w a s th is A d a m s w o m a nb e in g to u te d as a u th o r of th o se books?I h a d since m o v e d to In d ia n a p o lis, In d ia n a , w h ic h acco rd in gto th e m a p , d id n o t se em to b e to o far fro m T oledo. I w ro te toW irt. H e r re s p o n s e to m y re q u e s t w a s to h a v e o u r m e e tin g a th e r Toledo Blade office. She w a s a slight, g ra y -h a ire d w o m a n ,b o th c h a rm in g a n d w itty . A s sh e o p e n e d h e r d e sk d ra w e r top u t a w ay h e r scarf I c a u g h t a g lim p se of th a t p a rtic u la r issu e ofth e Saturday Review. I k n e w th a t m y d ecisio n to re q u e s t th ein terv iew h a d b e e n a g o o d one.M ildred A u g u stin e w a s th e first w o m a n to g ra d u a te fro m th eSchool of Jo u rn a lism of T h e U n iv e rsity of Iow a. S he alsoreceived th a t U n iv e rsity 's first m a s te r's d e g re e in jo u rn a lism .W hile a s tu d e n t th e re sh e h a d h a d n u m e ro u s s h o rt sto riesp u b lish e d in m ag a z in e s in c lu d in g St. Nicholas, Youth's Compan ion, Lutheran Young Folks, a n d Boy Life. M a n y sto ries so ld h a dhttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
b e e n w ritte n for E n g lish class, w h e re tea c h e r F ran k L u th e rM o tt h a d sa id th a t sh e h a d n o p o te n tia l as a n a u th o r, giving h era " B" for h e r c o u rse w o rk .H a v in g ta k e n a y e a r b e tw e e n d e g re e s to w o rk as gen eralre p o rte r a n d society e d ito r a t th e Clinton Herald, sh e re a d a n adin a tra d e p u b lic a tio n re q u e s tin g a u th o rs to w rite boo k s forch ild ren . T rav elin g to N e w Y ork for a n in te rv ie w , sh e m e t w ithE d w a rd S tra te m e y e r, w h o w a s h irin g w rite rs to p ro d u c e booksin v a rio u s series h e w a s o v e rse e in g . A s a n e d ito r for H oratioA lger, h e h a d le a rn e d h o w to successfully g lu t th e m a rk e t w ithc o u n tle ss titles for y o u n g folks.A u g u s tin e s h o w e d h im h e r m a n y p u b lis h e d s h o rt stories,b e in g to ld th a t h e w o u ld c o n ta c t h e r, s h o u ld th e re be a n y w o rksu ite d to h e r p a rtic u la r style of w ritin g . S ho rtly th ere after,S tra te m e y e r re q u e s te d th a t sh e try to b re a th e n e w life in to hisfa lte rin g R u th F ield in g Series. Ruth Fielding and Her GreatScenario b y Alice B. E m e rso n w a s w ritte n a t h e r p a re n ts ' ho m ein L a d o ra, Iow a, th e h a c k n e y e d p lo t a n d ch a ra c te rs fig h tin g h e rall th e w a y th ro u g h . C u p p le s a n d L eo n p u b lis h e d th e title in1927.S tra te m e y e r w a s satisfied e n o u g h to re q u e s t m o re Fieldingtitles. R uth Fielding at Cameron Hall a n d Ruth Fielding ClearingHer Nam e w e re b o th w ritte n a fte r h o u rs in T h e U n iv ersity ofIo w a S chool of Jo u rn a lism . T he series la ste d for th irty v o lu m es,th e final e ig h t titles b e in g w ritte n b y h er.U p o n co m p le tio n of e ach title, A u g u s tin e w o u ld receive th eu s u a l p a y m e n t of 100, a c c o m p a n ie d b y a s h o rt ty p e d d o c u m e n t to b e s ig n e d b y h e r. T his " re le a se " re le g a te d to S trate m e y e r all claim s of a u th o rs h ip , p lo ts, ch a ra c te rs, a n d then a m e s of A lice B. E m e rso n a n d R u th Fielding.H a v in g since rec e iv e d h e r m a s te r's d e g re e , A u g u stin e b e g a nw o rk for th e Io w a C ity Press-Citizen, w h e re sh e m e t a n dm a rrie d A sso c ia te d P re ss c o rre s p o n d e n t A sa W irt. W ith h e rh u s b a n d 's m o v e to C le v e la n d 's Plain Dealer, M rs. W irt sta rte dw ritin g th e first of m a n y b o o k s to b e p u b lis h e d u n d e r h e r o w nn a m e . T h e R u th D a rro w F lying Series a p p e a re d in 1930 u n d e rth e p u b lis h in g b a n n e r of B arse & C o m p a n y . T he D arrowhttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
character cam e a b o u t b e c au se of a n e w in te re s t in w o m e n 'sflying exploits. T he c h a ra c te r's n a m e w a s in sp ire d b y th a t ofR uth E lder w h o , in 1927, w a s th e first w o m a n to a tte m p t aflight across th e A tlantic O cean. D u rin g th e n e x t tw o y e a rsR uth D a rro w w a s to h a v e fo u r a d v e n tu re s: In the A ir Derby, Inthe Fire Patrol, In Yucatan, a n d In the Coast Guard. T he y e a r 1932b ro u g h t a b o u t th e a b s o rp tio n of th e B arse C o m p a n y b y G ro sset& D u n lap . It w a s th is sam e p u b lis h in g h o u s e th a t h a d rec e n tlyd e b u te d th e a d v e n tu re s of A m e ric a's m o st fam o u s girl sle u th .D u rin g th e tim e th a t W irt w a s w ritin g th e first D a rro w titles,E d w ard S tra te m e y e r c o n ta c te d h e r a sk in g if sh e w e re in te r e s te d in b e g in n in g a n e w series of b o o k s for him . T he H a rd yBoys by F ran k lin W . D ixon h a d re c e n tly b e e n p u t o n th e m a rk e tas a n e w a d v e n tu re -m y ste ry series for y o u n g b o y s. W ritte n forh im b y C a n a d ia n jo u rn a list Leslie M cF arlane, th e series p ro v e dto be in sta n tly p o p u la r, w a rra n tin g a sim ilar se t of b o o k s to bep ro d u c e d for y o u n g girls. S tra te m e y e r felt th a t W irt's a p p ro a c hto th e F ielding b o o k s w a s a n in d ic a tio n th a t h is n e w h e ro in ew o u ld do w ell in h e r h a n d s . T he n e w c h a ra c te r's n a m e w a s tobe N an cy D rew .S tra te m e y e r's re g im e n for b o o k s p ro d u c e d th ro u g h h is of fices w as to h ire e sta b lish e d a u th o rs to w rite tex ts fro m b riefsy n o p se s p re p a re d b y him . O n in d ex c a rd s w e re listed c h a ra c ter n a m e s, th e ir re la tio n sh ip s to o n e a n o th e r, a n d a p a ra g ra p ho r tw o , telling th e e ssen ce of th e in te n d e d plo t. C aro ly nK e e n e 's The Secret of the Old Clock w a s to tell of D re w 's searchfor a m issin g will, h id d e n by o n e Josia C row ley. W irt said of th ep lot received, " C e rta in h a c k n e y e d n a m e s a n d situ a tio n s c o u ldn o t b e b y p a sse d . T h erefo re I c o n c e n tra te d o n N a n c y , try in g tom ake h e r a d e p a rtu re fro m th e s te re o ty p e d h e ro in e of th e d a y ."N ev er w as N a n c y p a tte rn e d a fte r a real p e rs o n . S he w aschangeable to th e re a d e r, w h o p ro je c te d h e r im a g in a tio n tobecom e N an cy . N a n c y D re w re p re s e n te d fre e d o m for girlsw hich w a s a n e w c o n cep t. G irls w e re re a d y for th a t."M r. S tra te m e y e r e x p re sse d b itte r d is a p p o in tm e n t w h e n h ereceived th e m a n u sc rip t, sa y in g th e h e ro in e w a s m u c h too flip,an d w o u ld n e v e r be w ell re c e iv e d ." W irt's m a n u s c rip t n e v e r http://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
th e le ss w a s s e n t off to A le x a n d er G ro sset a n d G eorge D u n la p ,w h o s e p u b lis h in g h o u s e ag g ressiv ely h a d b e e n selling S trate m e y e r's H a rd y Boys, T om Sw ift, a n d B obbsey T w ins books.N o t s h a rin g th e v ie w p o in t of S tra te m e y e r, th e p u b lish e rsre q u e s te d th a t th e sa m e a u th o r p re p a re tw o m o re titles for th eseries. The Hidden Staircase a n d The Bungalow M ystery w e re to bed istrib u te dsim u lta n e o u slyw ithth efirst title.Theth re e -v o lu m e " b re e d e r s e t" w a s p u b lis h e d in 1930. W irt'sp a y m e n t p e r b o o k w a s 125, w ith all rig h ts rele ase d o v er toS tra te m e y e r, as w a s re q u ire d of all of his " g h o s ts ."Im m e d ia te sales fig u res fo re to ld th e financial p o te n tia l of theseries, p ro m p tin g a n e e d for a d d itio n a l titles. T he books,se em in g ly d e s tin e d for sta r sta tu s , a lm o st m e t a n early dem ise:E d w a rd S tra te m e y e r d ie d o n M ay 10, 1930. H is o rg an izatio nh a d b e e n s u p p ly in g all titles in G ro sset a n d D u n la p 's in v e n to ryof series sta rrin g R over Boys, O u td o o r G irls a n d Boys, M ovingP ictu re G irls a n d Boys, B u n n y B row n, Six Little B unkers,H o n e y B u n ch , G a ry G ra y so n , X Bar X Boys, T ed Scott, B lytheG irls, a n d o th e rs. P an ick in g , th e p u b lish e rs a p p e a le d to th eS tra te m e y e r d a u g h te rs , H a rrie t a n d E d n a. T h e w o m e n , w h oh a d n o t b e e n a llo w e d to p a rtic ip a te in th e ir fa th e r's b u sin e ssd e a lin g s, to o k o v e r h is o p e ra tio n s , fo rm in g w h a t ev en tu allyw a s to b e called th e S tra te m e y e r S yndicate. O riginal staff a n dg h o s t w rite rs w e re re ta in e d a t th e re q u e s t of S tra te m e y e r'sp rin c ip a l p u b lis h in g h o u s e s , G ro sset & D u n la p a n d C u p p le s &L eon. W ritin g c o n tin u ity w ith in each series th u s w as a ssu re d .M ild red W irt rec e iv e d a re q u e s t for th e n e x t N a n c y D rewm y ste ry sto ry , The M ystery at Lilac Inn. T his title m o st likely w asth e la st to d e p e n d o n a p lo t d e v ise d b y S tra te m e y e r before hisd e a th . W irt d u tifu lly w ro te The Secret at Shadow Ranch, The Secretat Red Gate Farm, a n d The Clue in the Diary. R eq u ests also cam efor th e first tw o titles in a n e w series for girls. A s Julia K.D u n c a n , W irt w a s to w rite Doris Force at Locked Gates a n d DorisForce at Cloudy Cove.A t th e h e ig h t of th e G re a t D e p re ssio n , W irt receiv ed d istre ss in g n e w s fro m H a rrie t S tra te m e y e r A d am s: p a y m e n t for fo rth http://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
com ing boo k s w o u ld h a v e to be re d u c e d to 75 p e r m a n u sc rip t.W irt d e c lin ed th e in v ita tio n to w rite th e n e x t th re e v o lu m e s inth e D rew series. Nancy's M ysterious Letter, The Password toLarkspur Lane, a n d The Sign of the Twisted Candles all a p p e a re d assch ed u le d . A d a m s h a d e n liste d th e ta le n ts of a n o th e r of h e rg h o sts to w rite th o se titles. A w a r h isto ria n a n d b e st-sellin gn ovelist, W alter K arig, h a d w ritte n sev eral P e rry P ierce, X BarX Boys, a n d tw o D oris Force b o o k s for h e r o rg an iz atio n . H issch ed u le h a d p e rm itte d h is p ro d u c in g th e th re e D re w titles o ndem and.T he h ia tu s fro m th e w o rk fo r A d a m s h a d p e rm itte d W irt'svisiting v a rio u s p u b lish in g h o u s e s to sell h e r in d e p e n d e n tw ork. H e r first series to see p rin t fro m th e G o ld sm ith P u b lish ers w as th e th re e -v o lu m e M ad g e S terlin g Series b y A n n W irt.The M issing Formula, The Deserted Yacht, a n d The Secret of theSundial w e re all s h o rte r in le n g th th a n m o st m y ste ry sto ries ofth e d ay, h a v in g o n ly fifteen c h a p te rs, in s te a d of th e tra d itio n a ltw enty-five. W ith th e th ic k n e ss of th e s e d im e sto re -d istrib u te dhttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
titles b e in g less th a n u s u a l, W irt's first n a m e co u ld n o t bea c c o m m o d a te d across th e b o o k s' sp in e s. T he n a m e of A n n w asc h o se n arb itra rily b y th e p u b lis h e rs to rep lace th a t of M ildred.1934 sa w W irt's re tu r n to th e N a n c y D re w series. TheS tra te m e y e r o rg a n iz a tio n h a d b e e n able to offer acceptablep a y m e n t for its c o n tra ct w o rk , a n d The Clue of the Broken Locketw a s p u b lis h e d . The Message in the Hollow Oak w a s th e title for1935. It w a s also in th a t y e a r th a t W irt receiv ed a b o o k o rd e r toc o n tin u e a S tra te m e y e r-o w n e d series th a t h a d b e e n b e g u n byso m e o n e else. T he K ay T racey M y ste ry S tories b y Frances K.J u d d h a d h a d its first tw o titles w ritte n b y c h ild re n 's a u th o rA n n a P e rro tt W rig h t. W irt's first c o n trib u tio n to th a tse v e n te e n -v o lu m e series w a s The M ystery of the Swaying Cur tains. S he e v e n tu a lly w a s to w rite th e n e x t e le v e n titles, e n d in gw ith The Sacred Feather in 1940. K ay T racey 's a d v e n tu re s w erep u b lis h e d b y G ro sse t & D u n la p 's h e a rtie s t co m p e tito r, C u p p ies & Leon.V ictor W . C u p p le s a n d A rth u r T. L eo n w e re th e first m ajorp u b lis h e rs to a c ce p t larg e n u m b e rs of b o o k s w ritte n b y th eS tra te m e y e rs' m o st prolific g h o st. B eg in n in g w ith The TwinRing M ystery in 1935, th e firm p u b lis h e d fifty-six in d e p e n d e n tlyp ro d u c e d titles b y W irt.T he re s p e c te d P e n n P u b lish in g C o m p a n y also h a d a 1935W irt title. Sky Racers w a s th e first of tw o flying n o v els to com efro m th a t c o m p a n y . B efore its late r a b so rp tio n b y Books,In c o rp o ra te d of N e w York, it p u b lis h e d W irt's first historicaln o v e l fo r c h ild re n , Carolina Castle. B oth Sky Racers a n d Coura geous W ings w e re re p rin te d fre q u e n tly b y th e la tte r co m p an y .Carolina Castle, o n e of W irt's fin e st w o rk s, sa w few p rin t ru n s,n o w b e in g h e r scarcest title.G ro sse t & D u n la p h a d rec e n tly com e o u t w ith a n e w girls'series b y C a ro ly n K eene. T he D a n a G irls w e re y o u n g e r v e r sio n s of N a n c y D rew , so lv in g m y ste rie s b e tw e e n classes atS ta rh u rs t B o ard in g School. A u th o r of th e first fo u r of th eira d v e n tu re s w a s Leslie M cF arlane, g h o s t of th e H a rd y Boys.M cF arlane sa id y e a rs late r in h is a u to b io g ra p h y th a t h e " w aste m p te d to tu r n th e m lo o se in o n e of B a y p o rt's n u m e ro u shttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
a b a n d o n e d b u ild in g s w ith th e H a rd y Boys, ju s t to see w h a tw o u ld h a p p e n . It m ig h t h a v e d o n e th e fo u r of th e m n o e n d ofg o o d ."W irt w a s re q u e s te d to w rite m a n u s c rip ts for all D a n a titlesfrom 1936 th ro u g h 1954. S he also receiv ed o rd e rs for five of th eS y n d icate's H o n e y B unch Books: Her First Little Treasure H u nt,Her First Little Club, Her First Trip in a Trailer, Her First Trip to aBig Fair, a n d Her First Tw in Playmates.1936 w a s th e b e g in n in g of W irt's m o st prolific p e rio d .C u p p le s & L eon w e re so p le a se d w ith th e su ccess of T he Tw inRing M ystery th a t th e y a d v e rtis e d th e n e w M ild red A. W irtM y stery Series. " M ild re d A. W irt s o u n d s a n e w a n d triu m p h a n t n o te in th e field of m y ste ry a n d a d v e n tu re sto ries forgirls w ith th is v ib ra n t g ro u p of sto ries. T old in th e m o d e rnm a n n e r w ith a w a rm th of d e p th a n d feeling, a n d a p o w e rfu lw eb of s u s p e n s e , th e se sto ries u n fo ld a g a in s t colorful b a c k g ro u n d s in a p a n o ra m a of e x citem en t a n d m y s te ry ." F ro m 1936to 1940 sh e a d d e d e ig h t titles to th e series, in c lu d in g The Clue atCrooked Lane, The Hollow Wall M ystery, The Shadow Stone, TheWooden Shoe M ystery, Through the Moon-Gate Door, Ghost Gables,The Painted Shield, and M ystery of the Laughing Mask.T he Trailer S tories for G irls w a s y e t a n o th e r se t p u b lis h e d byC u p p le s & L eon in 1937. T he " th o ro u g h ly m o d e rn series ofa d v e n tu re sto ries, u n iq u e in su b ject m a tte r, p recise in tre a t m e n t a n d alive w ith u p -to -th e m in u te a c tio n ," c o n siste d of TheRunaway Caravan, The Crimson Cruiser, Timbered Treasure, a n dThe Phantom Trailer.Joan C la rk 's P e n n y N ich o ls Series w a s th e last series to besta rte d d u rin g th a t tw o -y ea r p e rio d . T h e fo u r-title series w a sp u b lish e d by G o ld sm ith P u b lish e rs, still g a rn e rin g p ro fits fromh e r earlier M ad g e S terlin g Series. U n d e r th e C lark id e n tity sh ealso w ro te th a t c o m p a n y 's Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch in 1939.T he y ears 1938 a n d 1939 p ro d u c e d tw o a d d itio n a l series fromC u p p le s & Leon: D ot a n d D a sh b y D o ro th y W e st a n d F lashE vans by F ran k Bell. T he five-title D ot a n d D a sh Series to ld ofa d v e n tu re s of a y o u n g girl a n d h e r d o g a n d w a s a im e d a t m u c hy o u n g e r rea d e rs. By c o n tra st, Flash Evans and the Darkroomhttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
M ystery a n d Camera New s Hawk w e re for o ld er boys. T he latterseries p ro v e d to b e so im p re ssiv e th a t p ro d u c e rs for ra d io 's JackA rm strong, All-Am erican Boy w ro te to th e b o o k s' p u b lish e rsa sk in g th a t th e y c o n ta c t " M r. Bell" co n c ern in g his w ritin gsc rip ts for th e ir p ro g ra m .W irt's m o st sig n ifican t in d e p e n d e n t series w a s b e g u n in1939, o n ce a g a in fo r C u p p le s & L eon. T he P e n n y P arkerM y ste ry Stories stro v e for realism . " F e a tu rin g a d a rin g , livew ire h e r o in e —P e n n y P a rk er, d a u g h te r of a n e w s p a p e r ed ito ra n d a girl w ith a real 'n o s e for n e w s '—th e se stories w ith th eirg la m o ro u s n e w s p a p e r b a c k g ro u n d u n fo ld a series of bafflingm y ste rie s th a t le a d th e unofficial girl re p o rte r in to co u n tlessth rills a n d d a n g e rs ." T itles su c h as The Clock Strikes Thirteen,Hoofbeats on the Turnpike, Saboteurs on the River, Guilt of the BrassThieves, Signal in the Dark, Voice from the Cave, Swamp Island , a n dThe Cry at M idnight w e re u n u s u a l for th is g e n re of c h ild re n 'sfiction. So w a s th e o fte n so le m n a p p ro a c h u s e d to stre ss th ese v erity of th e w a r y e a rs. F ew b o o k s of th a t era d e a lt w ith blackm a rk e t sales, m in e d e te c tio n d evices, a n d b ra ss a n d goldh o a rd in g . P e n n y P a rk er e n c o u n te re d th e m all.E v en P e n n y P a rk e r c o u ld n o t se em to o v ercom e th e p o p u larity of N a n c y D rew . G o in g as s tro n g as ev er, th e D re w girlw a s still h a v in g h e r a d v e n tu re s w ritte n b y W irt. H o w e v er,th e re w a s a c h a n g e th a t h a d b e g u n to com e in to th e texts of theb o o k s. T he orig in al v o lu m e s in th e series h a d b e e n w ritte nfro m a p a ra g ra p h -lo n g p lo tlin e th a t h a d b e e n s u p p lie d byE d w a rd S tra te m e y e r, a n d la te r b y h is d a u g h te rs . A s th e seriesp ro g re s s e d o v e r th e y e a rs, th e p a ra g ra p h e v o lv ed in to page,p a g e s, a n d finally a n o u tlin e to w h ic h W irt ste a d fastly com p lied . C h a ra c te r d e v e lo p m e n t a n d in v e n tiv e n e ss w e re p h a s e do u t in fav o r of w h a t w a s to b e k n o w n as th e S tratem ey erS y n d ic a te 's " fo rm u la ." C h a p te r b e g in n in g s a n d e n d in g s w erespecifically d e fin e d . T h e u s e o f s h o rt w o rd s a n d se n te n c e s w ass tre sse d . T he S tra te m e y e r siste rs w e re b e c o m in g ex p erts ath o w ju v e n ile fiction s h o u ld b e w ritte n .In th e late 1940s th e N a n c y D re w M y ste ry S tories a n d D anaG irls M y ste ry Stories b e g a n a p p e a rin g in p rin t w ith sm allhttp://ir.uiowa.edu/bai/vol50/iss1
alteratio n s m a d e fro m W irt's orig in al m a n u s c rip ts . T he firstc h an g es w e re b a re ly noticeable: d isc re et c h a n g e s of w o rdp lacem en t, n u m e ro u s a d v e rb s a d d e d , sm all d e le tio n s fro m th eoriginal. By th e tim e 1947's The Clue in the Old A lbum w asp u b lish e d , it h a d b e e n a lte re d so drastically th a t th e e n tireoriginal text h a d b e e n re w ritte n . S o m eo n e w a s p rac tic in g h o wto w rite N a n c y D rew .M ildred W irt receiv ed a n o rd e r for The Ghost of Blackwood Hallin 1947. It w o u ld b e th e last title of th e D re w series sh e w o u ldw rite u n til 1953's The Clue of the Velvet M ask. F o u r titles w e re tobe w ritte n b y Iris V in to n a n d o th e rs, o n ly to h a v e W irt re tu r nfor th a t o n e final c o n trib u tio n in 1953. M ystery at the Crossroads,1954's D an a G irls a d v e n tu re , w a s to be W irt's la st b o o k w ritte nfor th e S tra te m e y e r S yndicate.T he final fo u r series w ritte n b y W irt w e re all p u b lis h e d b y h e rp rin cip al c o m p a n y , C u p p le s & L eon. B row nie S cout, GirlScout, a n d C u b S cout series h a d six, th re e , a n d six titlesrespectively. T he Boy
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories in 1963 when I was a student doing volunteer work in the public library system in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Since the library catered to the needs of vacationing families, its shelves boasted a large collection of children's books, including the Nancy Drew books. As a child
