Caroline+Keene

=The Mystery of the Real Caroline Keene=

Although Caroline Keene is listed as the author for the Nancy Drew series, the name is actually a pen name for a group of ghost writers. In 1915, [|Edward Stratemeyer] founded the Stratemeyer Writing Syndicate. As part of the Syndicate, Mr. Stratemeyer hired a group of ghost writers to take book ideas of his and develop books. After the ghost writers wrote the books, the books were returned to Mr. Stratemeyer for editing and approval. One requirement of those who wished to write for the Syndicate as ghost writers was that they sign a legal contract that they would remain anonymous. When Mr. Stratemeyer died in 1930, his daughter, Harriet Stratemeyer took over running the Stratemeyer Writing Syndicate. Ms. Stratemeyer married Russell Vroom Adams. Mrs. Adams continued running the Stratemeyer Syndicate until her death in 1982.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, one ghost writer, [|Mildred Benson], claimed to be the author of the Nancy Drew books. This claim went to court in 1980 with the court finding that Ms. Benson was one of the ghost writers who developed the ideas of Mr. Stratemeyer and Mrs. Adams. There is still considerable disagreement over who was the "real" Caroline Keene.