Special Collections
Manuscripts and Personal Papers of
Authors of Books for Children
held by the University of Iowa Libraries
BENSON, MILDRED AUGUSTINE WIRT, 1905--. Papers of Margaret Wirt Benson, 1915-1994. Benson met Edward Stratemeyer, the owner of Stratemeyer Syndicate, in1926 who offered the opportunity to write a novel in his "Ruth Fielding" series. Her work pleased Stratemeyer and after producing several pseudonymous novels, she was offered the opportunity to begin work on a new series, revolving around a girl detective named Nancy Drew. Under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, Augustine wrote 23 of the first 25 books in the series. She continued to write fiction for children and young adults under her own name, her own pseudonyms (Frank Bell, Joan Clark, Don Palmer, Dorothy West, Ann Wirt), and collective pseudonyms owned by Stratemeyer Syndicate (Julia K. Duncan, Alice B. Emerson, Frances K. Judd, Carolyn Keene, Helen Louise Thorndyke). Her extensive papers are now in the Iowa Women's Archive (Finding Aid). See also Geoffrey S. Lapin, "The Ghost of Nancy Drew" and Mildred Wirt Benson, "The Ghost of Ladora".
BRADLEY (SANBORN), DUANE, 1914-. Papers of Duane Bradley, 1960-1980. 1 ft.
Manuscripts and related materials for several of Mrs. Bradley's titles, including Electing a President (1963) and Sew It and Wear It (1966). Iowa Authors Mss.MsC560. (Finding Aid). See also "Some Children's Books by Iowa Authors" by Myra Cao.
CALHOUN, MARY HUISKAMP, 1926- . Magic in the Alley (Atheneum, 1970). 4 draft typescripts: September, 1966; Fall, 1967; September, 1968; October, 1968 and April 1969. MsC577. (Finding Aid)
CHRISTIE, CAROLINE MABRY, 1887--. Mss. .5 ft.
Holdings are the manuscript of Silver Heels, a book for children. Iowa Authors Mss. (Finding Aid).
EYERLY, JEANNETTE (HYDE), 1908--. Papers of Jeannette Eyerly, 1925-1994. 12.5 ft.
Author of books for young adults from More Than a Summer Love, (1962), with a special concern for mental health. Correspondence, notes, various drafts, promotional material, etc., of her many books for adolescents. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC599. (Finding Aid). See also Eyerly's The Lay of a Lay Librarian from Books at Iowa.
FELSEN, HENRY GREGOR, 1916-. Papers of Henry G. Felsen, 1942-1970. 4.5 ft.
Novelist, story writer and author of children's books, including his first, Jungle Highway (1942) and Hot Rod (1950), a best-seller for 30 years. Correspondence and literary manuscripts. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC601. (Finding Aid)
FENTON, CARROLL LANE, 1900-1969, and FENTON, MILDRED ADAMS, 1899-1995. [P]. Papers of Carroll Lane Fenton and Mildred Adams Fenton, 1963-1966. 2 ft.
A geologist by training and a member of several university faculties, Caroll Fenton published a large number of books on scientific topics for children, most of them with his own illustrations and many co-authored with his wife. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC602. (Finding Aid). See also "Some Children's Books by Iowa Authors" by Myra Cao.
GORMAN, CAROL. Papers of Carol Gorman, 1987-1994. 0.5 ft.
Author of books for young adults and teacher. Preliminary drafts of her writings. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC612. (Finding Aid)
GRAHAM, ALBERTA POWELL, 1875-1955. Papers of Alberta Graham, 1945-1955. 6 ft.
A writer of biographies for children (on Columbus, Clara Barton, Lafayette and LaSalle, among others), Mrs. Graham also published more than 300 songs and Strike Up the Band! (1949), a collection of short biographies of American band musicians. Both her books and songs are represented in her papers. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC615. (Finding Aid). See also"Some Children's Books by Iowa Authors" by Myra Cao.
McGUIRE, FRANCES LYNCH, 1869-1947. Francis Lynch McGuire Manuscript, 1951. 1 ft.
Wagon to a Star, a collection of stories about life on an Adair County farm in the 1870s. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC652. (Finding Aid)
MEDARY, MARJORIE, 1890--. Mss. 2 ft.
Editor and author of books for young adults. This collection drafts and other materials relating to Prairie Printer (a sequel to Buckeye Boy), about a pioneer northeast Iowa newspaperman; Orange Winter, about Florida in the 1870's; College in Crinoline and Prairie Anchorage, both of which have pioneer settings, and some other works. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC657. (Finding Aid)
MEIGS, CORNELIA L. The New Moon. Story for Youth's Companion; manuscript of book, printer's copy, galley. MsC658. (Finding Aid)
MORRISON, VELMA FORD, 1909-- . Papers of Velma Ford Morrison, 1953-1982. 1.5 ft.
Author of books for children, president of the Morrison Book Company. Correspondence, preliminary drafts and art work for her books including There's Only One You (1978) and Going On a Dig (1981). Iowa Authors Mss. MsC662. (Finding Aid)
MUEHL, LOIS BAKER, 1920-- . Papers of Lois Baker Muehl, 1959-1984. 1 ft.
Manuscripts and correspondence related to her books for children including My Name Is-- (1959) and Hidden Year of Devlin Bates (1967). Iowa Authors Mss. MsC665.(Finding Aid)
ROBERTSON, KEITH, 1914- . Papers of Keith Robertson, 1941-1991. 2 ft.
Subject files documenting Robertson's literary career, including typescript drafts of Henry Reed's Big Show (1958) and The Crow and the Castle (1967). There are also folders of corrspondence, research, royalty statements, etc., all relating to the writing and publishing of his children's books and short stories. Iowa Author Mss. MsC684. (Finding Aid)
SHULTZ, GLADYS DENNY. Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale (circa 1962). Printer's copy. MsC692. (Finding Aid)
SIMMONS, ELEANOR (ELLIE) POWNALL, 1925-1999. Papers, 1960-1970. 2 ft.
Printmaker and artist, Simmons wrote and illustrated a number of books for children. This collection includes Mary, The Mouse Champion (1963), Dog (1967), Cat (1968), Wheels (1968), and Family (1970). Iowa Authors Mss. MsC698. (Finding Aid).
STONG, PHIL DUFFIELD, 1899-1957. Mss. 2 ft.
Iowa author best remembered for State Fair (film scripts dated 1945, 1961 and 1962 are here), Stong also wrote several books for children, including The Adventures of "Horse" Barnsby and Hirum the Hillbilly. Both of these, and others, are represented in this collection. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC705. (Finding Aid).
VEGLAHN, NANCY CRARY, 1937-- . Papers of Nancy Veglahn, 1966-1980. 3 ft.
Author of numerous books for young adults, many on science subjects. Collection includes manuscripts and correspondence about, among other titles, Follow the Golden Goose (1971) and Coils, Magnets and Rings (1976). Iowa Authors Mss. MsC713. (Finding Aid)
WALKER, PAMELA. Pamela Walker Manuscripts. 1 ft.
Teacher and novelist. Author of Twyla (1973, 1976), a book for young adults. Three drafts, related correspondence. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC717. (Finding Aid)
WALLACE, JAMES B. Papers of James B. Wallace, 1933-1989. 0.5 linear ft.
Notebooks of a collector of children's books, artwork and other items by children's author Marguerite de Angeli. MsC483.
WEIR, RUTH CROMER. Papers of Ruth Cromer Weir, 1948-1970. 3 ft.
Author of biographies for children. Among manuscripts in the collection are those for her books on Benjamin Franklin, John Paul Jones, and Marco Polo. Also scripts for a 1954 television program, "F Bar F Ranch." Iowa Authors Ms. MsC722. (Finding Aid). See also "Some Children's Books by Iowa Authors" by Myra Cao.
A bracketed "O" following the name indicates that a MARC-AMC record has been entered in InfoHawk, the Libraries' online catalog; an bracketed "I" indicates an inventory available online (and is linked when the name is highlighted); and a bracketed "P" indicates that the author was among the 60 included in Frank Paluka's Iowa Authors (1967).
