The second day of history week we will spend with wonderful ladies. The first of them is Mildred Wirt Benson.

We remind you that in honor of the upcoming birthday of Nancy Drew, we will publish short articles and interesting facts from the past of the book series during the week.

From Idea to Reality

In 1929, Stratemeyer wrote to one of his publishers, Grosset & Dunlap, outlining the new girl detective series. The publisher was enthusiastic, and Stratemeyer set about getting the first books produced as quickly as possible. He entrusted the task of bringing Nancy to life to Mildred A. Wirt, a college-educated twenty-four-year-old who had written a few pieces for his syndicate.

Carolyn Keene.Mildred was independent, athletic, and spirited, and had little regard for literature's previous portrayal of young women as passive creatures waiting to be rescued by men. She wanted to reflect the strides that women had recently achieved the right to vote, for example, and give girls a positive role model to aspire to. Her Nancy was ladylike and refined, but also sharp-witted, self-sufficient, and in charge of her own destiny. In April 1930, the first three Nancy Drew books were published under the pen name