TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Typewriters and a desk from the homeof an author who brought a young sleuth
named Nancy Drew to life aregoing up for auction.A lifetime of keepsakes, includingautographed posters and
writing awards, belonging to Mildred Wirt Bensonare to be sold at an auction Sunday in Toledo, where she was
anewspaper reporter and columnist for nearly 60 years before her death adecade ago.Benson wrote more than
130 books, including the 1940sPenny Parker mystery series, but she is best known for the Nancy Drewbooks
that inspired and captivated generations of girls.She wrote23 of the 30 original Nancy Drew stories using
the pseudonym CarolynKeene. Paid $125 per book, she never collected any royalties.Benson died in 2002 at 96
and left her home and possessions to her only daughter, Peggy Wirt, who died in January.AuctioneerJade
Montrie, who is handling the estate sale, said many of the itemscame from Benson’s home office, where she
wrote for decades."When we went into Mildred’s office, it was kind of like a time capsule," he
said.Books,papers, awards, four typewriters and a wooden desk filled the room. Thedesk was where the family
said Benson wrote many of her books andnewspaper columns, Montrie said."It looks like it came
fromanother era," said Lois Kovar, Benson’s great-niece. "The writing roomwas always Millie’s.
That was like her little cove."A typewriterthat Benson used to write the Nancy Drew stories was donated
to theSmithsonian Institution years ago. Her daughter left a collection of hermother’s books to the
University of Iowa, which was Benson’s almamater.Benson was hired in 1930 to write the books based on
plotoutlines written by Edward Stratemeyer, the famed book publisher whoalso was behind the Bobbsey Twins
and Hardy Boys.Most scholarscredit Benson with developing the character of Nancy Drew, who worestylish
cardigan sweater sets while climbing through attics and hauntedmansions in search of clues and catching
jewel thieves and kidnappers.Dozensof ghost writers followed Benson, also writing under the Keene
name.Harriet Adams, Stratemeyer’s daughter, took over and directed writers inthe 1950s to make the stories
shorter and faster-paced. The books arestill in publication, though the main character has evolved with
thetimes since her debut in 1930.Benson was bound by an agreementwith the publisher not to publicly reveal
her identity as the series’original author, but it became known in 1980 when she testified in acourt case
involving Nancy Drew’s publisher.There’s no indicationthat the desk being put up for bid is where Benson
wrote the tales ofNancy Drew, but her family has said that’s where she wrote many of herother books and
columns.Other items being sold include a MysteryWriters of America award, autographed letters and newspaper
clippings,and a copy of "Rediscovering Nancy Drew" that she inscribed for herdaughter. The book
details how the series was created."This is afine account of how my identity as Nancy Drew’s author
became known,"Benson wrote inside the book. She signed it "The ‘real’ Nancy Drew."Copyright
2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
orredistributed.