# Original Nancy Drew author dies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 29, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387 "2002-05-29T17:14:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/1 "2002-05-29T17:14:29Z")
TOLEDO, Ohio (CNN) – Millie Benson, the author who captivated generations of young girls with her Nancy Drew mystery books, died Tuesday night. She was 96. [http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/books/05/29/obit.benson/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/books/05/29/obit.benson/index.html) Benson is the one who wrote the original 26 novels. I always loved that series growing up, especially the character George. I could relate. Nancy, we hardly knew ye… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/2 "2002-05-29T17:28:40Z")
I grew up on the 1950s bowdlerized versions (I had two older sisters)…they were much shorter than the originals and lacked the humorous shuffling Negroes, avaricious Jews, and villainous swarthy Dagoes who hung around down by the docks and hopped themselves up by sniffing “snow.” Shortly before my own daughter was born I was delighted to find that [Applewood Books](http://www.awb.com/) had begun re-issuing the original volumes! I’ve had many pleasurable read-aloud hours explaining what a “running board” or a “frock” is. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/4 "2002-05-29T18:44:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > I grew up on the 1950s bowdlerized versions (I had two older sisters)… Well I read Nancy Drew even though I didn’t have any older sisters, and _I_ am secure enough in my masculinity to not grasp at straws to defend my love for this titian-haired heroine. Oh Nancy! What did you ever see in that oaf Ned Nickerson? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![avocet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@avocet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/avocet)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/5 "2002-05-29T19:07:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*]Oh Nancy! What did you ever see in that oaf Ned Nickerson? ☹ \*\* I knew Ned Nickerson. Ned Nickerson was a friend of mine. You sir are no Ned Nickerson! (Just a joke! He’s fictional.) ( But then, so is Arnold Winkelried. Wasn’t he Guildenstern in the Swiss version of the play?) ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/6 "2002-05-29T19:12:58Z")
She only got [$150](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25794-2002May29.html) per book…with no royalties, and was forbidden from identifying herself as the author of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/7 "2002-05-29T19:36:38Z")
96 and still working! Wow! My heroine. R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/8 "2002-05-30T00:05:44Z")
All Toledoans, myself inluded are proud of our Milly. Toledo Blade Article Milly Benton (Hope I got that URL right, never put a linc in a post before so if it’s wrong forgive me, and Mod, PLEASE fix?) Our local PBS Station **WGTE** produced a one hour documenty about her Titled **“The Storied life of Milly Benton”** (Sorry, I just checked thier web site, and it’s not currently available) It had been scheduled and did run on 9-11, but we didn’t watch, as our minds were elsewhere at the time you understand.I’m sure with her passing, the show will be rerun and available on thier website soon. Yes, **Violet** she continued to write her article for the Blade, it usually consisted of items of import to the Seniors in the area. She was reportedly working on this weeks article when she began to not feel well and was taken to the hospital. **MILLY Ol’ Girl** many of us owe you much. Our introduction to the world of reading. Our own fantasys of finding out the mysteries of the universe, and so much more. **Thanks** although I must admit I read more Hardy Boys, having had a MAD crush on Parker Stevenson in JrHigh ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/9 "2002-05-30T01:19:57Z")
I spent a lot of years in Toledo. Milly was something of an amusing cultural icon. My favorite journalism prof, a crusty, gruff 40 year news veteran who used to be the managing editor of the Blade (one of America’s alleged newspapers) had a great Milly story. She wrote this column that was kind of an “about town” thing. One day she was on her way to the airport to start her vacation (this was probably in the mid 70s give or take) and Joe, the instuctor’s, phone rang with Milly on the other end. A paraphrase follows: Milly: (excited yelling voice) Joe, it’s Milly! Joe: What is it? Milly: There’s a fire out by the airport!!! You’ve got to send a reporter right away!!! (Imagine yelling old lady voice) Joe: It’s an hour to deadline. I don’t have time to get somebody out there. Milly: Joe, it’s a really BIG fire. You NEED to send a reporter!!! Joe: You’ve worked here since I was in elementary school, Milly. If you’re not a goddamned reporter then why the hell are you and your brownies and pies always in my goddamned newsroom? Find out what happened, phone the story in, catch your flight and have a nice vacation!!! Milly was so proud of her byline on that “hard” news story she kept in on her desk for years. It’s a shame to see she’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/10 "2002-05-30T01:28:07Z")
I too loved Nancy Drew and her lovable friends George, Bess, and Ned (although I always thought Ned was a bit too good to be true.) I once owned the entire original 56 books in hardcover, but my mom sold them at a yard sale without my knowing! She thought I had outgrown them. Hrumph. I still check them out of the library occasionally, though they only have the newer paperback ones, wherein Nancy is a swingin’ 80s girl. Rest in peace, Milly, and thank you for many fun adventures. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/11 "2002-05-30T01:42:17Z")
Beagledave… She knew that going in. The man she wrote for took the monetary risks. If the books had flopped she would have still got her money. $150 was a lot of money during the depression. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/12 "2002-05-30T13:18:47Z")
I don’t want to in any way detract from the accomplishments of this wonderfully talented lady, however, she was not the creator of the Nancy Drew series. See [this link](http://seriesbookcentral.tripod.com/samedad.html) for more information. While it’s true that Millie Benson wrote a huge percentage of the original books, the first three were written by Edward Stratemeyer. As with most of the series that his publishing company produced (Tom Swift, Hardy Boys, Rover Boys, Nancy Drew), he almost always wrote the first few books himself, then provided outlines to variouse authors for subsequent books. I in no way wish to imply that Millie Benson wasn’t an extreamly talented author that brought to life a character that meant a great deal to a lot of young people, I do just want people to also recognize that Edward Stratemeyer was the founding father of most of the series that a lot of us hold dear from childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/13 "2002-05-30T13:22:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atrael \* > \*\*the first three were written by Edward Stratemeyer. \*\* Hah! I always _said_ the quality dropped WAY off after _The Bungalow Mystery_. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/14 "2002-05-30T14:18:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atrael \* > she was not the creator of the Nancy Drew series. See [this link](http://seriesbookcentral.tripod.com/samedad.html) for more information. The link (which is not to the _Smithsonian_’s website) has an article claiming to be from _Smithsonian_’s October 1992 issue. I don’t have the hard copy, but [here](http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/backissues/back_issues_1992/oct/) is a list of articles from that issue, for citation purposes, from the _Smithsonian_’s web site. I can’t find anything that matches the article. I’m not claiming fraud; I’m just perplexed. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/15 "2002-05-30T15:17:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\*The link (which is not to the _Smithsonian_’s website) has an article claiming to be from _Smithsonian_’s October 1992 issue. > > I don’t have the hard copy, but [here](http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/backissues/back_issues_1992/oct/) is a list of articles from that issue, for citation purposes, from the _Smithsonian_’s web site. I can’t find anything that matches the article. > > I’m not claiming fraud; I’m just perplexed. \*\* Ok, I’ll see what I can find, I’ve seen that same article several places, so I’ll work on finding something a bit more solid. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/16 "2002-05-30T15:25:17Z")
Ok, the actual article doesn’t seem to be available, but if you check out [this link](http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/backissues/back_issues_1991/oct/stratem.html) you’ll see that it was indeed an article published in October of 1991. Off by a year from the date listed on the first web page. Since I’ve seen the article re-posted several times, I’m going to assume that they didn’t actually change the text, although to be fair, without being able to see the original article, I can’t say for certain. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/17 "2002-05-30T17:02:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*Well I read Nancy Drew even though I didn’t have any older sisters, and _I_ am secure enough in my masculinity to not grasp at straws to defend my love for this titian-haired heroine. Oh Nancy! What did you ever see in that oaf Ned Nickerson? ☹ \*\* Hey! Don’t you be disrespecting my boy Ned. He [goes to school](http://members.aol.com/biblioholc/Ned.html) at my alma mater! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-nancy-drew-author-dies/111387/18 "2002-05-30T21:41:15Z")
[Here](http://www.mysterynet.com/nancydrew/grownups/nancy/) is a fan site that supports the Edward Stratemeyer theory. I know, I know it’s only a fan site but it is obviously well done and seems to be well researched. I have always heard that one person did create Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and several others. Maybe this is a job for Mr. Adams?