# Harriet Adams

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American novelist (1892–1982)

For the American explorer, see [Harriet Chalmers Adams](/source/Harriet_Chalmers_Adams). For the British artist, scientific illustrator, and author, see [Harriet Isabel Adams](/source/Harriet_Isabel_Adams).

Harriet Adams Born Harriet Stratemeyer (1892-12-12)December 12, 1892 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Died March 27, 1982(1982-03-27) (aged 89) Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, U.S. Pen name Carolyn Keene Occupation Novelist, publisher Genre Young adult mystery fiction Notable works Nancy Drew series Spouse Russell Vroom Adams ​ (m. 1915)​ Children Russell V., Jr. and Edward (sons) Patricia and Camilla (daughters) Parents Edward Stratemeyer Magdalena Van Camp

**Harriet Stratemeyer Adams** (December 12, 1892 – March 27, 1982) was an American juvenile [book packager](/source/Book_packager), children's [novelist](/source/Novelist), and [publisher](/source/Publisher) who was responsible for some 200 books over her literary career. She wrote the plot outlines for many books in the [Nancy Drew](/source/Nancy_Drew) series, using characters invented by her father, [Edward Stratemeyer](/source/Edward_Stratemeyer). Adams also oversaw other [ghostwriters](/source/Ghostwriter) who wrote for these and many other series as a part of the [Stratemeyer Syndicate](/source/Stratemeyer_Syndicate), and oversaw the rewriting of many of the novels to update them starting in the late 1950s.

## Stratemeyer Syndicate

With her sister, Edna, Adams took over control of the [Stratemeyer Syndicate](/source/Stratemeyer_Syndicate) after her father [Edward Stratemeyer](/source/Edward_Stratemeyer)'s death in 1930.[1] Edna ran the daily business operations, while Adams dealt with publishers and wrote; Edna became inactive when she married in 1942, and Adams took over the business.[1] Adams is credited with keeping the Syndicate afloat through the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression), and with revising the two most popular series, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, in the 1950s and 1960s, removing stereotypes and streamlining plots and characters. She ran the Syndicate for 52 years.[1]

## Role in Nancy Drew series

The extremely popular [Nancy Drew](/source/Nancy_Drew) books were the brainchild of Adams's father, who created the characters of a sixteen-year-old sleuth, her lawyer father, and their housekeeper. Later, Nancy's age was increased to eighteen to give her more independence. Adams came up with plot ideas and hired ghostwriters to flesh them out. The best-known books were written primarily by [Mildred Wirt Benson](/source/Mildred_Wirt_Benson),[2] though all were published under the pseudonym [Carolyn Keene](/source/Carolyn_Keene). Adams outlined a few in the [Hardy Boys](/source/Hardy_Boys) series, which were published under the pseudonym [Franklin W. Dixon](/source/Franklin_W._Dixon). Although Adams claimed to write all the Nancy Drew books entirely by herself during her lifetime, it is well established that Wirt and 28 other authors did the actual writing, following Adams's ideas and embellishing on them. Adams touched up the completed manuscripts.[3]

## Personal life

Harriet Stratemeyer was born in [Newark, New Jersey](/source/Newark%2C_New_Jersey), on December 12, 1892, the daughter of [Edward Stratemeyer](/source/Edward_Stratemeyer) and Magdalena Van Camp.[4] At a young age, Adams wanted to break free from being a "proper, young lady who should stay at home". She climbed trees, made friends with local boys, and loved books from an early age. Adams graduated from [Wellesley College](/source/Wellesley_College) in 1914. Her father forbade her to work outside the estate, so she edited manuscripts at home.[1] In 1915, she married Russell Vroom Adams, and raised four children, becoming involved in the family business only after her father's death.[1] She resided in [Maplewood, New Jersey](/source/Maplewood%2C_New_Jersey), and in [Pottersville, New Jersey](/source/Pottersville%2C_New_Jersey), an area within [Tewksbury Township](/source/Tewksbury_Township%2C_New_Jersey).[5] She lived in Pottersville at her estate, Bird Haven New Jersey and died of a heart attack while watching *[The Wizard of Oz](/source/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film))* for the first time.[6]

Adams was [interred](/source/Interred) in the Stratemeyer crypt[7] in [Fairmount Cemetery](/source/Fairmount_Cemetery%2C_Newark) in Newark.[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-morgan_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-morgan_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-morgan_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-morgan_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-morgan_1-4) Morgan, Barbara (1999). "Adams, Harriet Stratemeyer". In Commire, Anne (ed.). *[Women in World History: A biographical encyclopedia](/source/Women_in_World_History)*. Vol. 1. Waterford, CT: Yorkin Publications, Gale Group. pp. 49–51. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0787640808](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0787640808).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Martin, Douglas (30 May 2002). ["Mildred Benson Is Dead at 96; Wrote 23 Nancy Drew Books"](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/30/books/mildred-benson-is-dead-at-96-wrote-23-nancy-drew-books.html). *The New York Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Benfer, Amy (1999-10-08). ["Who was Carolyn Keene?"](https://www.salon.com/1999/10/08/keene_q_a/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ogshare&utm_content=og). *Salon.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Melanie Rehack, *Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her* (Harvest-Harcourt, 2006), p. 12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT_5-0)** Chira, Susan. ["Harriet Adams Dies. Nancy Drew Author Wrote Over 200 Novels"](https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F10C14F83F5D0C7A8EDDAA0894DA484D81), *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, March 29, 1982. Accessed October 7, 2007. "Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, who wrote nearly 200 children's books including many of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, died Saturday evening. She was 89 years old, and lived in Pottersville and Maplewood, N.J."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SI_6-0)** ["Bird Haven Farm 2006"](http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siarchives&uri=full=3100001~!270707~!0#focus). *Garden Club of America Collection*. [Smithsonian Gardens](/source/Smithsonian_Gardens), [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution). Retrieved 8 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Resting Places: The Burial Sites of 14000 Famous Persons, by Scott Wilson

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Fairmount Cemetery](https://www.fairmountcemetery.com/history.php)

## Further reading

- Billman, Carol. *The Secret of the Stratemeyer Syndicate*. New York: Ungar, 1986.

## External links

- [Biography by Stratemeyer's granddaughter](http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/ucnancydrew2a.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080719011728/http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/ucnancydrew2a.htm) 2008-07-19 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Harriet Stratemeyer Adams](https://lccn.loc.gov/n83169423) at the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress) (no catalog records, but 746 under the linked name Carolyn Keene)

- [Harriet Adams](https://web.archive.org/web/http://www.iblist.com/author2616.htm) at the Internet Book List

- [Harriet Adams](http://www.ibdof.com/author_books.php?author=2364) at the Internet Book Database of Fiction

- [Mildred Wirt Benson's obituary](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/30/books/mildred-benson-is-dead-at-96-wrote-23-nancy-drew-books.html)

- [BBC.co.uk - Franklin W. Dixon](https://archive.today/20130114003734/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1038791)

- [Harriet Adams](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14302158) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

v t e Nancy Drew Stratemeyer Syndicate Carolyn Keene Edward Stratemeyer Characters Nancy Drew George Fayne Ned Nickerson Writers Mildred Benson Walter Karig Harriet Adams Susan Wittig Albert George Edward Stanley James D. Lawrence See also The Hardy Boys Tom Swift TV series The Dana Girls Books Nancy Drew Mystery Stories The Secret of the Old Clock (1930) The Hidden Staircase (1930) The Bungalow Mystery (1930) The Mystery at Lilac Inn (1930) The Secret at Shadow Ranch (1931) The Secret of Red Gate Farm (1931) The Clue in the Diary (1932) Nancy's Mysterious Letter (1932) The Sign of the Twisted Candles (1933) The Password to Larkspur Lane (1933) The Clue of the Broken Locket (1934) The Message in the Hollow Oak (1935) The Mystery of the Ivory Charm (1936) The Whispering Statue (1937) The Haunted Bridge (1937) The Clue of the Tapping Heels (1939) The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk (1940) The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion (1941) The Quest of the Missing Map (1942) The Clue in the Jewel Box (1943) The Secret in the Old Attic (1944) The Clue in the Crumbling Wall (1945) The Mystery of the Tolling Bell (1946) The Clue in the Old Album (1947) The Ghost of Blackwood Hall (1948) The Clue of the Leaning Chimney (1949) The Secret of the Wooden Lady (1950) The Clue of the Black Keys (1951) The Mystery at the Ski Jump (1952) The Clue of the Velvet Mask (1953) The Ringmaster's Secret (1953) The Scarlet Slipper Mystery (1954) The Witch Tree Symbol (1955) The Hidden Window Mystery (1956) The Haunted Showboat (1957) The Secret of the Golden Pavilion (1959) The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (1960) The Mystery of the Fire Dragon (1961) The Clue of the Dancing Puppet (1962) The Moonstone Castle Mystery (1963) The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes (1964) The Phantom of Pine Hill (1965) The Mystery of the 99 Steps (1966) The Clue in the Crossword Cipher (1967) The Spider Sapphire Mystery (1968) The Invisible Intruder (1969) The Mysterious Mannequin (1970) The Crooked Banister (1971) The Secret of Mirror Bay (1972) The Double Jinx Mystery (1973) Mystery of the Glowing Eye (1974) The Secret of the Forgotten City (1975) The Sky Phantom (1976) The Strange Message in the Parchment (1977) Mystery of Crocodile Island (1978) The Thirteenth Pearl (1979) The Triple Hoax (1979) The Flying Saucer Mystery (1980) The Secret in the Old Lace (1980) The Greek Symbol Mystery (1980) The Swami's Ring (1981) The Kachina Doll Mystery (1981) The Twin Dilemma (1981) Captive Witness (1981) Race Against Time (1982) The Broken Anchor (1983) The Mardi Gras Mystery (1988) The Case of the Rising Stars (1988) The Mystery of the Masked Rider (1992) The Treasure in the Royal Tower (1995) The Wedding Day Mystery (1997) The E-mail Mystery (1998) Whispers in the Fog (2000) The Legend of the Emerald Lady (2000) Mystery By Moonlight (2002) The Bike Tour Mystery (2002) The Mistletoe Mystery (2002) No Strings Attached (2003) The Riding Club Crime (2003) Danger on the Great Lakes (2003) Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland (2003) Other series The Nancy Drew Files (1986-97) Nancy Drew Notebooks (1993-2005) Nancy Drew on Campus (1995-98) Nancy Drew: Girl Detective (2004-12) Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew (2006-15) Nancy Drew Diaries (2013-present) Nancy Drew Clue Book (2015-present) Hardy Boys crossovers Be a Detective Mystery Stories (1984-85) Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Supermystery (1988-98) Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery (2007-12) Other media Video games Secrets Can Kill (1998) (Remastered, 2010) Stay Tuned for Danger (1999) Message in a Haunted Mansion (2000) Treasure in the Royal Tower (2001) The Final Scene (2001) Secret of the Scarlet Hand (2002) Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (2002) The Haunted Carousel (2003) Danger on Deception Island (2003) The Secret of Shadow Ranch (2004) Curse of Blackmoor Manor (2004) Secret of the Old Clock (2005) Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon (2005) Danger by Design (2006) The Creature of Kapu Cave (2006) The White Wolf of Icicle Creek (2007) Legend of the Crystal Skull (2007) The Phantom of Venice (2008) The Haunting of Castle Malloy (2008) Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses (2008) Ransom of the Seven Ships (2009) Dossier: Resorting to Danger (2009) Warnings at Waverly Academy (2009) Trail of the Twister (2010) Shadow at the Water's Edge (2010) The Captive Curse (2011) Alibi in Ashes (2011) Tomb of the Lost Queen (2012) The Deadly Device (2012) Ghost of Thornton Hall (2013) The Silent Spy (2013) The Shattered Medallion (2014) Labyrinth of Lies (2014) Sea of Darkness (2015) Midnight in Salem (2019) Mystery of the Seven Keys (2024) Film and television Nancy Drew: Detective (1938 film) Nancy Drew: Reporter (1939 film) Nancy Drew: Trouble Shooter (1939 film) Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939 film) The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977 TV series) Nancy Drew (1995 TV series) Nancy Drew (2002 TV movie) Nancy Drew (2007 film) Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019 film) Nancy Drew (2019 TV series)

v t e The Hardy Boys Stratemeyer Syndicate Franklin W. Dixon Edward Stratemeyer Writers Leslie McFarlane Andrew E. Svenson Harriet Adams Neal Barrett Jr. Susan Wittig Albert Steven Grant George Edward Stanley James D. Lawrence See also Nancy Drew Tom Swift The Dana Girls Books Original The Tower Treasure (1927) The House on the Cliff (1927) The Secret of the Old Mill (1927) The Missing Chums (1928) Hunting for Hidden Gold (1928) The Shore Road Mystery (1928) The Secret of the Caves (1929) The Mystery of Cabin Island (1929) The Great Airport Mystery (1930) What Happened at Midnight (1931) While the Clock Ticked (1932) Footprints Under the Window (1933) The Mark on the Door (1934) The Hidden Harbor Mystery (1935) The Sinister Signpost (1936) A Figure in Hiding (1937) The Secret Warning (1938) The Twisted Claw (1939) The Disappearing Floor (1940) The Mystery of the Flying Express (1941) The Clue of the Broken Blade (1942) The Flickering Torch Mystery (1943) The Melted Coins (1944) The Short-Wave Mystery (1945) The Secret Panel (1946) The Phantom Freighter (1947) The Secret of Skull Mountain (1948) The Sign of the Crooked Arrow (1949) The Secret of the Lost Tunnel (1950) The Wailing Siren Mystery (1951) The Secret of Wildcat Swamp (1952) The Crisscross Shadow (1953) The Yellow Feather Mystery (1954) The Hooded Hawk Mystery (1954) The Clue in the Embers (1956) The Secret of Pirates' Hill (1956) The Ghost at Skeleton Rock (1957) The Mystery at Devil's Paw (1959) The Mystery of the Chinese Junk (1960) Mystery of the Desert Giant (1961) The Clue of the Screeching Owl (1962) The Viking Symbol Mystery (1963) The Mystery of the Aztec Warrior (1964) The Haunted Fort (1965) The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge (1966) The Secret Agent on Flight 101 (1967) Mystery of the Whale Tattoo (1968) The Arctic Patrol Mystery (1969) The Bombay Boomerang (1970) Danger on Vampire Trail (1971) The Masked Monkey (1972) The Shattered Helmet (1973) The Clue of the Hissing Serpent (1974) The Mysterious Caravan (1975) The Witchmaster's Key (1976) The Jungle Pyramid (1977) The Firebird Rocket (1978) The Sting of the Scorpion (1979) Night of the Werewolf (1979) Mystery of the Samurai Sword (1979) The Pentagon Spy (1980) The Apeman's Secret (1980) The Mummy Case (1980) Mystery of Smugglers Cove (1980) The Stone Idol (1981) The Vanishing Thieves (1981) The Outlaw's Silver (1981) The Submarine Caper/Deadly Chase (1981, retitled in 1987) The Four-Headed Dragon (1981) The Infinity Clue (1981) Track of the Zombie (1982) The Voodoo Plot (1982) The Billion Dollar Ransom (1982) Tic-Tac-Terror (1982) Trapped at Sea (1982) Game Plan for Disaster (1982) The Crimson Flame (1983) The Skyfire Puzzle (1985) Fear on Wheels (1991) Crime in the Kennel (1995) Cross-Country Crime (1995) The Search for the Snow Leopard (1996) Eye on Crime (1998) The Caribbean Cruise Caper (1999) The Hunt for the Four Brothers (1999) A Will to Survive (1999) Daredevils (1999) A Game Called Chaos (2000) Training for Trouble (2000) The End of the Trail (2000) Skin & Bones (2000) Crime in the Cards (2001) Past and Present Danger (2001) The Castle Conundrum (2001) Warehouse Rumble (2004) Casefiles Dead on Target (1987) Cult of Crime (1987) Running on Empty (1990) The Last Laugh (1990) River Rats (1997) Other series and titles The Hardy Boys Detective Handbook (1959) The Clues Brothers (1997-2000) Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers (2005-12) The Hardy Boys Secret Files (2010-15) The Hardy Boys Adventures (2013-present) The Hardy Boys Clue Book (2016-present) Crossovers Be a Detective Mystery Stories (1984-85, with Nancy Drew) Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Supermystery (1988-98, with Nancy Drew) Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thriller (1992-93, with Tom Swift) Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery Series (2007-12, with Nancy Drew) Other media Television The Hardy Boys (The Mickey Mouse Club) Hardy Boys (animated) The Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew Mysteries The Hardy Boys (1995) The Hardy Boys (2020) Video games Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon The Creature of Kapu Cave Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys: Super Mystery (cancelled) The Tower Treasure Treasure on the Tracks

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Italy Artists MusicBrainz Other SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harriet Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Adams) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Adams?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.