Mildred A. Wirt

Mildred A. Wirt Benson, also known as Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson, was a notable American author of children's books. She was born in 1905 and passed away in 2002. Benson is best remembered for her work as a writer for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, where she wrote most of the first 30 Nancy Drew novels using the pen name Carolyn Keene. Her writing career with the Syndicate spanned from 1929 to 1947, during which she contributed to over twenty of the original Nancy Drew mysteries, many of which became bestsellers.

In addition to her work on the Nancy Drew series, Benson also wrote for several other series under the Stratemeyer Syndicate, including the Dana Girls, Penny Nichols, Dot and Dash, Honey Bunch, Kay Tracey, and Ruth Fielding. She also wrote the Penny Parker series under her own name. Benson's association with the Syndicate began in 1926 when she was hired by Edward Stratemeyer. She was paid a flat fee of $125 for the first Nancy Drew book she wrote using an outline provided by the syndicate. Overall, Benson was one of 28 individuals who helped produce the Syndicate's Nancy Drew mystery books from 1929 to 1984. Other pseudonyms used by Benson for the Syndicate include Frank Bell, Joan Clark, Julia K. Duncan, Alice B. Emerson, Frances K. Judd, Don Palmer, Helen Louise Thorndyke, Dorothy West, and Ann Wirt.