Born on July 10, 1905, Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson was a renowned American journalist and children’s book writer. She penned some of the first Nancy Drew mysteries and shaped the detective’s fun-loving personality. Mildred Benson, writing under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, was the author of 23 out of the first 30 Nancy Drew mysteries, many of which became bestsellers.

Mildred Benson Childhood

It’s possible that her older brother played a role in sparking her interest in athletics and exploring at a young age. From the very young age, Mildred had a clear goal of becoming an author. In June 1919, at the age of thirteen, her first published work was a short story called “The Courtesy” in a children’s publication.

College Life

She successfully obtained her English degree from the University of Iowa in 1925. She became a pioneer for students during that time by earning a master’s degree in journalism in 1927. Benson began her career by selling short stories to magazines such as St. Nicholas and Lutheran Young Folks, and also held different jobs while studying. She worked under editor George Gallup at The Daily Iowan during her college days and later wrote for the society pages at the Clinton Herald after graduation.

Marriage

Asa Alvin Wirt entered her life when she was attending the University of Iowa. They married in Chicago on March 4, 1928. Their daughter, Margaret Joan Wirt, came into the world in 1936. Following Asa’s passing, she wed George A. Benson, an editor at The Times. He also passed away eight years later.

Career

In addition to her work with the Stratemeyer Syndicate, Mildred authored numerous series under her own name and various pseudonyms from the 1930s to the 1950s. Her productivity was remarkable, having written over 130 published books under more than a dozen pen names. She wrote an exceptional series in 1930 -1931 featuring Ruth Darrow, a daring pilot involved in thrilling adventures, advocating for women’s abilities.
Her real name was used to write the Penny Parker stories between 1939 and 1947. Parker had the qualities of both Nancy Drew and Benson, as she was the daughter of a newspaper editor and eagerly delved into mysteries and dangerous situations. Benson’s favourite subject to write about was Parker because she had control over the character, unlike Nancy Drew. She went as far as to say that Parker is a better Nancy Drew than Nancy herself.
In 1964, at fifty-nine years old, Mildred achieved her commercial pilot’s license. During the 1990s, she initiated a weekly column titled “On the Go” for the Toledo Blade. Mildred Wirt Benson, the original Carolyn Keene, made national headlines in 1993 when she was an honored guest at a Nancy Drew conference. On May 28, 2002, at the age of ninety-seven, she peacefully passed away.