Mildred A. Wirt Benson
List of Her Stories and Novels for Children

For more information about Mildred Wirt Benson, please read Geoffrey Lapin's article on Mildred Wirt Benson and an article in Mildred Wirt Benson's own words.

The three volume Boy Scout Explorers Series was written under the pen name of Don Palmer.  The series follows the adventures of the boys of Explorer Post No. 21 in South America and in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

  1. Boy Scout Explorers at Emerald Valley, 1955
  2. Boy Scout Explorers at Treasure Mountain, 1955
  3. Boy Scout Explorers at Headless Hollow, 1957

The Brownie Scouts Series was published by Cupples and Leon from 1949 to 1953.  Impulsive Veve McGuire and her Brownie Scout friends have many fun adventures with their scout leader, Miss Gordon.

  1. The Brownie Scouts at Snow Valley, 1949
  2. The Brownie Scouts in the Circus, 1949
  3. The Brownie Scouts in the Cherry Festival, 1950
  4. The Brownie Scouts and Their Tree House, 1951
  5. The Brownie Scouts at Silver Beach, 1952
  6. The Brownie Scouts at Windmill Farm, 1953

Always advertised as "by the author of the Nancy Drew books," this 34 volume series was published from 1934 to 1979.  Louise and Jean Dana attend Starhurst School and solve mysteries at the same time.

  5. The Secret at the Hermitage, 1936
  6. The Circle of Footprints, 1937
  7. The Mystery of the Locked Room, 1938
  8. The Clue in the Cobweb, 1939
  9. The Secret at the Gatehouse, 1940
10. The Mysterious Fireplace, 1941
11. The Clue of the Rusty Key, 1942
12. The Portrait in the Sand, 1943
13. The Secret in the Old Well, 1944
14. The Clue in the Ivy, 1952
15. The Secret of the Jade Ring, 1953
16. Mystery at the Crossroads, 1954

Dan Carter and his fellow Cubs enjoy outdoor activities and friendly competition with other Cub Scouts as they learn how to be good citizens.  The Dan Carter series was published by Cupples and Leon from 1949 to 1953.

  1. Dan Carter, Cub Scout, 1949
  2. Dan Carter and the River Camp, 1949
  3. Dan Carter and the Money Box, 1950
  4. Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle, 1951
  5. Dan Carter and the Great Carved Face, 1952
  6. Dan Carter and the Cub Honor, 1953

This four volume series from 1931 was written jointly by Mildred A. Wirt Benson and Walter Karig.  Doris Force is a typical Stratemeyer Syndicate heroine who has more than her share of bizarre adventures.

  1. Doris Force at Locked Gates, 1931
  2. Doris Force at Cloudy Cove, 1931

Young Dot Davidson and her lively dog, Dash, share splendid adventures with their friend, Roger, in this five volume series published by the Cupples and Leon company from 1938 to 1940.

  1. Dot and Dash at the Maple Sugar Camp, 1938
  2. Dot and Dash at Happy Hollow, 1938
  3. Dot and Dash in the North Woods, 1938
  4. Dot and Dash in the Pumpkin Patch, 1939
  5. Dot and Dash at the Seashore, 1940

This series was written under the pen name of Frank Bell.  The two volume Flash Evans series was published by Cupples and Leon in 1940.  The series follows the adventures of newspaper photographer Flash Evans.

  1. Flash Evans and the Darkroom Mystery, 1940
  2. Flash Evans, Camera News Hawk, 1940

The Girl Scouts Series was published by Cupples and Leon from 1953 to 1957.  The volumes follow the adventures of the Beaver Patrol as they do good deeds and solve mysteries.

  1. The Girl Scouts at Penguin Pass, 1953
  2. The Girl Scouts at Singing Sands, 1955
  3. The Girl Scouts at Mystery Mansion, 1957

18. Honey Bunch, Her First Little Treasure Hunt, 1937
19. Honey Bunch, Her First Little Club, 1938
20. Honey Bunch, Her First Trip in a Trailer, 1939
21. Honey Bunch, Her First Trip to a Big Fair, 1940
22. Honey Bunch, Her First Twin Playmates, 1941

Dangerous Deadline, 1957
Quarry Ghost, 1959
Kristie at College [Quarry Ghost], 1960

Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch, 1939 (as Joan Clark)

Mystery at the Lookout, 1942 (as Carolyn Keene)

C&L Mystery Stories for Girls

The Twin Ring Mystery, 1935
Mystery of the Laughing Mask, 1940

 

Sky Racers, 1935
Carolina Castle, 1936
Courageous Wings, 1937
Linda, 1940
Pirate Brig, 1950

This eighteen volume series was published by several different companies from the 1930s to the 1980s.  Sixteen year old Kay Tracey solves mysteries with her two friends Betty and Wilma.

  3. The Mystery of the Swaying Curtains, 1935
  4. The Shadow on the Door, 1935
  5. The Six Fingered Glove Mystery, 1936
  6. The Green Cameo Mystery, 1936
  7. The Secret at the Windmill, 1937
  8. Beneath the Crimson Brier Bush, 1937
  9. The Message in the Sand Dunes, 1938
10. The Murmuring Portrait, 1938
11. When the Key Turned, 1939
12. In the Sunken Garden, 1939
14. The Sacred Feather, 1940

This three volume series was written under the pen name of Ann Wirt.  The Madge Sterling books were released as a breeder set by Goldsmith in 1932.

  1. The Missing Formula, 1932
  2. The Deserted Yacht, 1932
  3. The Secret of the Sundial, 1932

Mildred A. Wirt wrote seven individual titles for Cupples and Leon during the 1930s which were grouped together for this series of books.

The Clue at Crooked Lane, 1936
The Hollow Wall Mystery, 1936
The Shadow Stone, 1937
The Wooden Shoe Mystery, 1938
Through the Moon-Gate Door, 1938
Ghost Gables, 1939
The Painted Shield, 1939

The Nancy Drew series was first published in 1930 and is one of the most successful children's series of all time.  Nancy Drew is a lawyer's daughter and solves mysteries with the help of her friends Bess and George.

  1. The Secret of the Old Clock, 1930
  2. The Hidden Staircase, 1930
  3. The Bungalow Mystery, 1930
  4. The Mystery at Lilac Inn, 1930
  5. The Secret at Shadow Ranch, 1931
  6. The Secret of Red Gate Farm, 1931
  7. The Clue in the Diary, 1932
11. The Clue of the Broken Locket, 1934
12. The Message in the Hollow Oak, 1935
13. The Mystery of the Ivory Charm, 1936
14. The Whispering Statue, 1937
15. The Haunted Bridge, 1937
16. The Clue of the Tapping Heels, 1939
17. The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, 1940
18. The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion, 1941
19. The Quest of the Missing Map, 1942
20. The Clue in the Jewel Box, 1943
21. The Secret in the Old Attic, 1944
22. The Clue in the Crumbling Wall, 1945
23. The Mystery of the Tolling Bell, 1946
24. The Clue in the Old Album, 1947
25. The Ghost of Blackwood Hall, 1948
30. The Clue of the Velvet Mask, 1953

Penny Parker Mystery Stories
(as Mildred A. Wirt)

This seventeen volume series was published during the 1930s and 1940s.  Irrepressible Penny Parker works as a newspaper reporter for her father's newspaper.

  1. Tale of the Witch Doll, 1939
  2. The Vanishing Houseboat, 1939
  3. Danger at the Drawbridge, 1940
  4. Behind the Green Door, 1940
  5. Clue of the Silken Ladder, 1941
  6. The Secret Pact, 1941
  7. The Clock Strikes Thirteen, 1942
  8. The Wishing Well, 1942
  9. Ghost Beyond the Gate, 1943
10. Saboteurs on the River, 1943
11. Hoofbeats on the Turnpike, 1944
12. Voice from the Cave, 1944
13. Guilt of the Brass Thieves, 1945
14. Signal in the Dark, 1946
15. Whispering Walls, 1946
16. Swamp Island, 1947
17. The Cry at Midnight, 1947

This four volume series was published by Goldsmith from 1936 to 1939.  Penny Nichols is the daughter of a famous detective and impulsively tackles cases of her own.

  1. Penny Nichols Finds a Clue, 1936
  2. Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key, 1936
  3. Penny Nichols and the Black Imp, 1936
  4. Penny Nichols and the Knob Hill Mystery, 1939

Ruth Darrow Flying Stories
(as Mildred A. Wirt)

This short series was published from 1930 to 1932, taking advantage of America's great interest in aviation.  Ruth Darrow and her best friend Jean Harrington have many adventures as they fly Ruth's plane to various locations.

  1. Ruth Darrow in the Air Derby, 1930
  2. Ruth Darrow in the Fire Patrol, 1930
  3. Ruth Darrow in the Coast Guard, 1931
  4. Ruth Darrow in Yucatan, 1931

The Ruth Fielding series was published from 1913 through 1934 by Cupples and Leon.  Ruth Fielding is the prototype for the girl sleuths who came later, including Nancy Drew, the Dana Girls, and Beverly Gray.

23. Ruth Fielding and Her Great Scenario, 1927
24. Ruth Fielding at Cameron Hall, 1928
25. Ruth Fielding Clearing Her Name, 1929
26. Ruth Fielding in Talking Pictures, 1930
27. Ruth Fielding and Baby June, 1931
28. Ruth Fielding and Her Double, 1932
29. Ruth Fielding and Her Greatest Triumph, 1933
30. Ruth Fielding and Her Crowning Victory, 1934

Trailer Stories for Girls
(as Mildred A. Wirt)

This four volume series by Mildred A. Wirt features three teenagers who travel around the country in their trailer, having a variety of exciting adventures and solving several mysteries at the same time.

 1. The Runaway Caravan, 1937
 2. The Crimson Cruiser, 1937
 3. Timbered Treasure, 1937
 4. The Phantom Trailer, 1938