ANDREW E. SVENSON PAPERS

de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
The University of Southern Mississippi


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Creator: Andrew E. Svenson
Title: Andrew E. Svenson Papers
Dates: 1953-1975
Dates: [bulk 1953-1970]
Quantity: 3.65 cubic feet (12 boxes)
Identification: DG0959

Abstract: Andrew Svenson was a best-selling author whose name remained largely unknown to the public. Under a variety of pseudonyms, Svenson authored or co-authored more than seventy Happy Hollisters, Bobbsey Twins, and Hardy Boys series books. The Andrew Svenson Papers contain production materials for twenty-one books authored by Svenson.

Biographical Note

Andrew Svenson was born in New Jersey in 1910. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1932 with a degree in creative writing and for fourteen years did editorial work for the Newark Evening News. On leaving the newspaper in 1948, he joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate, which produced the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery series, eventually becoming a partner in 1961. In the 1940s and 1950s he also taught writing at Rutgers University and Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey.

While at Stratemeyer, Svenson shared the major writing chores with Harriet Adams, daughter of Edward Stratemeyer, who was the original Carolyn Keene of Nancy Drew mystery fame and the originator of the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Under a variety of pseudonyms, many shared with other authors, Svenson wrote several books for the Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and Honey Bunch series. He is probably best known as the founder and author of three children's series: The Happy Hollisters (writing as Jerry West), The Tolliver Family (as Alan Stone), and Dan Scott (as Bret King.) In his career, Svenson authored more than seventy adventure novels for children.

"The trick in writing children's books," Svenson once said, "is to set up danger, mystery and excitement on page one. Force the kid to turn the page. I've written page one as many as twenty times. Then in the middle of each chapter there's a dramatic point of excitement, and at the chapter's end, a cliff-hanger."

Andy Svenson died of bone cancer in 1975. His wife and six children survive him.

Sources:
Something About the Author, v. 2, pp. 238-9
Obituary, New York Times, 23 August 1975, p. 24
Obituary, Publisher's Weekly, 29 September 1975


Scope and Content Note

The Andrew E. Svenson Papers contain audio-discs, typescripts, galleys, and proofs for twenty-one series adventure books written between 1953 and 1970. The material is organized into three series: books, related material, and letters sent.

The papers in the book series are arranged alphabetically by title and the material for each book is arranged chronologically in order of creation when known. Svenson's technique for writing books involved writing a complete chapter outline, studying it, and then dictating about ten pages of text. He dictated the story on a sound scriber and his secretary transcribed it. Svenson preferred dictation to writing because he thought dictation made the dialog "jump." The papers contain audio-discs for thirteen titles. The material for The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Mexican Idol represents the best example of Svenson's creative process from beginning to end.

The series of related materials contains a matted biographical excerpt from Something About the Author. It also contains a matted Publisher's Weekly obituary with a photograph of the author. Marion Svenson, the author's widow, donated these items.

The series of letters sent contains four letters sent to the de Grummond Collection by Andrew Svenson and one sent by Marion Svenson, four months after her husband's death.


Series and Subseries

A. Books (1953 - 1970)

The Arctic Patrol Mystery (1969)

The Bombay Boomerang (1970)

The Happy Hollisters (1953)

The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery (1963)

The Happy Hollisters and the Ghost Horse Mystery (1965)

The Happy Hollisters and the Haunted House Mystery (1962)

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch (1966)

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Indian Treasure (1953)

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Mexican Idol (1967)

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Midnight Trolls (1970)

The Happy Hollisters and the Sea Turtle Mystery (1964)

The Happy Hollisters and the Whistle-Pig Mystery (1964)

The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach (1953)

The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip (1953)

The Melted Coins (1970)

The Mystery of the Flying Express (1970)

The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge (1966)

The Tollivers and the Mystery of Pirate Island (1967)

The Tollivers and the Mystery of the Lost Pony (1967)

The Tollivers and the Mystery of the Old Jalopy (1967)

Tom Swift and his Dyna-4 Capsule (1969)

B. Related Material
C. Letters Sent (1966 -1975)


Restrictions

Restrictions on Use

Noncirculating; available for research.

Copyright Restrictions

The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials, other than that noted above.


Related Material

For information on the Stratemeyer Syndicate, see The Secret of the Stratemeyer Syndicate: Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and the Million Dollar Fiction Factory, by Carol Billman (de Grummond PS3537 .T817 Z56 1986). See also Stratemeyer Pseudonyms and Series Books: An Annotated Checklist of Stratemeyer and Stratemeyer Syndicate Publications (de Grummond Z8849.69 .J63 1982), edited by Deidre Johnson. See also de Grummond Vertical File: Stratemeyer Syndicate.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Andrew E. Svenson Papers, de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.

Provenance

These papers were donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection of the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries by Andrew and Marian Svenson between 1968 and 1981.

Processing Information

Processed by C. Alder, November 2001. Encoded into EAD Version 1.0 by Danielle L. Bishop. This finding aid is the product of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Container Listing

Box/Folder

.

Books

Arctic Patrol Mystery by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon] (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1969)
1/1Text, chapters 1 - 20 and unlabeled, 24 audio discs
Bombay Boomerang by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon] (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1970)
1/2Outline, 7 audio discs (one disc labeled 'chapter 9 - 10')
The Happy Hollisters by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1953)
1/3Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 5; front matter, marked for publication
1/4Typescript, edited, chapters 6 - 11
1/5Typescript, edited, chapters 12 - 18
1/6Galley, chapters 1 - 9
1/7Galley, chapters 10 - 18
The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1963)
2/1Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4; front matter, marked for publication; captions, typed, (2 pp.)
2/2Typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 8
2/3Typescript, edited, chapters 9 - 13
2/4Typescript, edited, chapters 14 - 18
2/5Illustration layouts, 3 sheets
2/6Galley, sheets 1 - 34, minor editing
2/7Galley, sheets 35 - 65, minor editing
The Happy Hollisters and the Ghost Horse Mystery by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1965)
2/8Text, chapters 1 - 18, 22 audio discs; outline, chapters 4 - 9, 1 audio disc
The Happy Hollisters and the Haunted House Mystery by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1962)
3/1Typescript, minor editing, chapters 1 - 4; front matter, marked for publication
3/2Typescript, minor editing, chapters 5 - 8
3/3Typescript, minor editing, chapters 9 - 12
3/4Typescript, minor editing, chapters 13 - 18
3/5Galley, sheets 1 - 32, August 1961; illustration reproductions, (9 items)
3/6Galley, sheets 33 - 56, August 1961; illustration reproductions, (11 items)
3/7Galley, pp. 1 - 111, 18 September 1961
3/8Galley, pp. 112 - 183, 18 September 1961
The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1966)
4/1Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4; captions, handwritten, 1 p.
4/2Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 7
4/3Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 8 - 13
4/4Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 14 - 18
4/5Carbon copy of second typescript, chapters 1 - 5, minor editing
4/6Carbon copy of second typescript, chapters 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 (some chapters partial)
The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Indian Treasure by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1953)
5/1Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4; captions, typed, 2 pp.
5/2Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 9
5/3Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 10 - 13
5/4Carbon copy of first typescript, edited, chapters 14 - 18
5/5First typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4
5/6First typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 9
5/7First typescript, edited, chapters 10 - 13
5/8First typescript, edited, chapters 14 - 18
The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Mexican Idol by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1967)
5/9Text, chapters 1 - 15, 17 - 18, and unlabeled, 22 audio discs; outline, chapters 1 - 2, 2 audio discs
5/10First typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4
5/11First typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 9
5/12First typescript, edited, chapters 10 - 14
6/1First typescript, edited, chapters 15 - 18
6/2Second typescript, edited, front matter and chapters 1 - 4
6/3Second typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 9
6/4Second typescript, edited, chapters 10 - 14
6/5Second typescript, edited, chapters 15 - 18
6/6Galley, sheets 1 - 32, minor editing, 1 May 1967
6/7Galley, sheets 33 - 62, minor editing, 1 May 1967
7/1First proof, pp. 1 - 94
7/2First proof, pp. 95 - 183
7/3Second proof, pp. 1 - 94
7/4Second proof, pp. 95 - 183
7/5Duplicate of second proof, marked 'Reader's Set,' pp. 1 - 94
7/6Duplicate of second proof, marked 'Reader's Set,' pp. 95 - 183
7/7Illustration layouts, 3 sheets; caption information for illustrator, typed, 8 pp.
The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Midnight Trolls by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1970)
7/8Text, chapters 2 - 18, 17 audio discs
The Happy Hollisters and the Sea Turtle Mystery by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1964)
8/1Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4; front matter, marked for publication
8/2Typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 10
8/3Typescript, edited, chapters 11 - 18
8/4Illustration layouts, 9 October 1963, 3 sheets; captions, typed, October 1963, 1 p.
The Happy Hollisters and the Whistle-Pig Mystery by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1964)
8/5Text, chapters 2 - 8, 10 audio discs
8/6Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4; front matter, marked for publication
8/7Typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 8
8/8Typescript, edited, chapters 9 - 12
8/9Typescript, edited, chapters 13 - 18
8/103 sets of illustration layouts, 5 pp. each set; captions, typed, 1 p.
The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1953)
9/1Carbon copy of typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4
9/2Carbon copy of typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 8
9/3Carbon copy of typescript, edited, chapters 9 - 13
9/4Carbon copy of typescript, edited, chapters 14 - 18; captions, typed, 2 pp.
The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Jerry West], illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1953)
9/5Typescript, minor editing, chapters 1 - 6
9/6Typescript, minor editing, chapters 7 - 12
9/7Typescript, minor editing, chapters 13 - 18
10/1Galley, chapters 1 - 9
10/2Galley, chapters 10 - 18
The Melted Coins by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon] (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1970)
10/3Text, chapters 1 - 2, 4 - 20, 19 audio discs; outline, unlabeled, 4 audio discs
The Mystery of the Flying Express by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon] (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1970)
10/4Outline, 4 audio discs (one disc labeled '3rd hand chapter 9')
The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon] (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1966)
10/5Text, chapters 1 - 20, 21 audio discs
The Tollivers and the Mystery of Pirate Island by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Alan Stone], illustrations by Mel Bolden (Cleveland: The World Publishing Co., 1967)
10/6Text, chapters 1 - 12 and unlabeled, 13 audio discs
10/7Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 4
10/8Typescript, edited, chapters 5 - 8
10/9Typescript, edited, chapters 9 - 12
11/1First galley
11/2Second galley
The Tollivers and the Mystery of the Lost Pony by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Alan Stone], illustrations by Mel Bolden (Cleveland: The World Publishing Co., 1967)
11/3Text, chapters 2 - 12 and unlabeled, 15 audio discs
11/4Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 6
11/5Typescript, edited, chapters 7 - 12
11/6First galley, edited
11/7Second galley, minor editing
The Tollivers and the Mystery of the Old Jalopy by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Alan Stone], illustrations by Mel Bolden (Cleveland: The World Publishing Co., 1967)
11/8Text, chapters 1 - 12, 12 audio discs
11/9Typescript, edited, chapters 1 - 6
12/1Typescript, edited, chapters 7 - 12
12/2Galley, edited; captions, typed, 1 p.
12/3Galley, minor editing
Tom Swift and His Dyna-4 Capsule by Andrew Svenson [under pseudonym Victor Appleton III] (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1969)
12/4Outline, chapters 1 - 4, 6 - 7, 15 - 17 and unlabeled, 5 audio discs



.

Related Material

12/5Photocopy of biography from Something About the Author, v. 2, p. 238, matted
12/6Obituary, Publisher's Weekly, 29 September 1975, with photograph, matted



.

Letters Sent

12/7Letters sent to the de Grummond Collection, 1966 - 1975, (5 items)

Accession Number: 2011-329

Inclusive Dates: 1954-1971

Volume: 2.1 cubic ft.

Given By : The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming

Copyright: This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Form of Material:

The Happy Hollisters and the Cowboy Mystery by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson]; Doubleday, 1961.

Captions for illustrations
Sketch of title page
Front matter
Final typescript [marked for publication]
Illustrations on press sheets/proof pages
Final galley proof

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Whistle-Pig Mystery by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1964.

Typescript [edited]
Typescript [carbon]

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Ghost Horse by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson]; Doubleday, 1965.

Captions for illustrations
Front matter
Typescript [edited]
Final typescript [marked for publication]
Illustrations on press sheets/proof pages
Galleys [2 versions]
Final galley proof

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Punch and Judy Mystery by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1964.

Typescript [edited]
Typescript [carbon]

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Sea Turtle Mystery by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1964.

Typescript [edited]

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1966.

Final typescript [marked for publication]
Sketch of title page
Illustrations on press sheets/proof pages
Galleys [2 versions]
Final galley proof

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Monster Mystery by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1969.

Typescript [edited, missing last page]
Final typescript [marked for publication]
Final galley proof

 

The Happy Hollisters at Mystery Mountain by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1964.

Final typescript [marked for publication]

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Midnight Trolls by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1969.

Typescript [edited]
Final typescript [marked for publication]
Galley
Final galley proof

 

The Happy Hollisters at Snowflake Camp by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1954.

Final typescript [marked for publication]

 

The Happy Hollisters and the Swiss Echo Mystery by Jerry West [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton; Doubleday, 1963.

Captions for illustrations
Final typescript [marked for publication]

 

The Phantom of Wolf Creek (Bret King #8) by Dan Scott [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Joe Beeler; Grosset & Dunlap, 1963.

Typescript [edited]

 

The Mystery of Bandit Gulch (Bret King #9) by Dan Scott [Andrew Svenson], illustrated by Joe Beelr; Grosset & Dunlap, 1964.

Typescript [edited]

 

The Arctic Patrol Mystery (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #48) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1969.

Typescript [edited]

 

The Mystery of the Flying Express (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #20) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1970.

Outline
Typescript [edited]

 

The Melted Coins (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #23) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1970.

Typescript [edited]

 

The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #45) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1966.

Typescript/1st draft [edited]
Typescript/2nd draft

 

Danger on Vampire Trail (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #50) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1971.

Typescript [edited]

 

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #21) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1970.

Outline

 

The Flickering Torch Mystery (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #22) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1971.

Outline

 

The Bombay Boomerang (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories #49) by Franklin W. Dixon [Andrew Svenson]; Grosset & Dunlap, 1970.

Outline

 

Miscellaneous:

Photograph of Andrew Svenson [w/negative]

Biographical information re: Andrew Svenson

 


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