Edward Stratemeyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Stratemeyer
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| Born | Edward L. Stratemeyer October 4, 1862 Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | May 10, 1930 (aged 67) Newark, New Jersey, United States |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey, United States 40°41′33″N 74°12′40″W / 40.6925°N 74.211°W |
| Pen name | Victor Appleton, Ralph Bonehill, Franklin W. Dixon, Laura Lee Hope, Carolyn Keene, Roy Rockwood and Arthur M. Winfield |
| Occupation | Publisher, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Adventure, mystery, science fiction |
| Notable works | Creator of the book series: • The Bobbsey Twins • Bomba, the Jungle Boy • The Colonial Series • The Dana Girls • Dave Dashaway • Don Sturdy • The Hardy Boys • Jack Ranger • Nancy Drew • The Rover Boys • Tom Swift |
| Spouse |
Magdalena Van Camp
(m. 1891) |
| Children | 2, including Harriet |
Edward L. Stratemeyer (October 4, 1862 – May 10, 1930) was an American writer and publisher. He created many famous children's book series. You might know The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. He also wrote over 1,300 books himself. His books sold more than 500 million copies! He was one of the most successful writers in the world.
Contents
Early Life and First Stories
Edward Stratemeyer was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was the youngest of six children. His parents were from Germany but he and his siblings spoke English.
As a kid, Edward loved reading adventure stories. These stories were about young Americans who worked hard and became successful. They really inspired him. When he was a teenager, he even had his own small printing press. He used it to print stories and share them with his friends.
After high school, he worked in his father's tobacco shop. But he kept writing! In 1888, when he was 26, he sold his first story. It was called Victor Horton's Idea. He sold it to a popular children's magazine for $76. This was a lot of money back then!
A Career in Writing
In 1890, Edward moved to Newark, New Jersey. He opened a paper store but kept writing stories. He wrote many different types of stories. These included detective stories, westerns, and stories that appeared in newspapers.
In 1894, he published his first full book, Richard Dare's Venture. This book was the first in his Bound to Succeed series. It was similar to the rags-to-riches stories he loved as a kid.
A famous writer named Horatio Alger asked Stratemeyer to help finish one of his books in 1899. Alger was very sick at the time. When Alger passed away later that year, Stratemeyer finished several of his other books.
That same year, Stratemeyer wrote and published The Rover Boys. This series became super popular! It was one of his favorite series to write.
The Stratemeyer Syndicate
In 1905, Edward Stratemeyer started something new. He created the Stratemeyer Syndicate. This was a special company that helped him produce many books. He would come up with ideas for stories and characters. Then, he hired other writers to write the actual books.
These writers were paid a set amount for each book. But Edward Stratemeyer kept the rights to the stories. This meant his company owned the characters and series. All the books were published under pen names, like Franklin W. Dixon for The Hardy Boys or Carolyn Keene for Nancy Drew. The real writers' names were not used.
This way of working helped him create many consistent and long-running book series. He had a team of editors, writers, and assistants. They helped him create a new type of children's fiction.
Some of the famous series he launched include:
- (1899) The Rover Boys
- (1904) The Bobbsey Twins
- (1910) Tom Swift
- (1927) The Hardy Boys
- (1930) Nancy Drew
Family Life
Edward Stratemeyer married Magdalena Van Camp in 1891. They had two daughters: Harriet and Edna. Both of his daughters later took over the Stratemeyer Syndicate.
He loved being outdoors. Every summer, he would take his family on trips. They visited places like the Great Lakes and Yosemite National Park.
Edward was a humble person. He preferred a quiet life with his family. His daughter Harriet remembered their home as a lively and happy place.
Edward Stratemeyer died in Newark, New Jersey, on May 10, 1930, at age 67. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Just two days after he died, the New York Times reported that his Rover Boys series had sold over 5 million copies!
Edward Stratemeyer in Pop Culture
Edward Stratemeyer has even appeared in TV shows! He was a character in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. In the show, he is the father of Nancy Stratemeyer. Nancy dates Indiana Jones in high school. Indiana is shown to be a big fan of Tom Swift books. He even gives Stratemeyer advice for one of his stories!
See also
