Helen Corning
Encyclopedia
Helen Archer, also referred to by her maiden name of Helen Corning, is a character in the popular Nancy Drew
mystery series. Helen appeared first in 1930 in The Secret of the Old Clock
. Helen's character appears in a larger role in The Bungalow Mystery
, and is also present in The Mystery at Lilac Inn
. In the earliest 1930 editions, Helen is a friend of Nancy's, but does not actively get involved in her mysteries. Helen is also featured in the 1932 edition of Nancy's Mysterious Letter
, and the 1933 edition of The Password to Larkspur Lane
, and again in 1943's The Clue in the Jewel Box
. Helen only takes an active role sleuthing in Larkspur Lane, which was not ghostwritten by Mildred Wirt Benson. Nancy completes detective work alone in the original versions of the first four volumes. This formula is replaced mostly by a trio using cousins Bess Marvin
and George Fayne
to complement Nancy's personality in 1931's The Secret at Shadow Ranch
, although ghostwriter Walter Karig would re-introduce the character in two of the three volumes he ghostwrote during the 1930s.
In 1959, the original series began revision. Responding to inquiries from series readers over the years, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams developed a way to phase Helen Corning out naturally. Helen is still Nancy's friend, but is three years older than Nancy. In the revised books, Helen becomes engaged privately in The Hidden Staircase
, right after introducing Nancy to relatives with a haunted house, and helps solve the mystery. In volumes three and four, Helen helps investigate, but is also busy planning her wedding. It is to be assumed Helen married shortly after 1961's The Mystery at Lilac Inn
, when she and Nancy are planning to be in another friend's wedding. Helen appears in all following revised volumes as Helen Archer; in the revised version of texts in which she originally appeared, Bess, George, and other characters replace her involvement, or her part is minimized. She is included in the current "Girl Detective" series. Helen plays a role in many of the later books in the original 56 hardcover stories; she and her husband figure prominently in The Invisible Intruder
, where the plot involves investigating different ghostly or bizarre sites.
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
mystery series. Helen appeared first in 1930 in The Secret of the Old Clock
The Secret of the Old Clock
The Secret of the Old Clock is the first volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series written under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. It was first published in April, 1930. Nancy Drew is a eighteen-year-old recent high school graduate, and her father, Carson Drew, is well-known criminal defense...
. Helen's character appears in a larger role in The Bungalow Mystery
The Bungalow Mystery
The Bungalow Mystery is the third volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series written under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. It was the last of three books in the "breeder set" trilogy, released in 1930, to test-market the series...
, and is also present in The Mystery at Lilac Inn
The Mystery at Lilac Inn
The Mystery At Lilac Inn is the fourth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1931 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. Mildred Wirt Benson was the ghostwriter for the 1931 edition...
. In the earliest 1930 editions, Helen is a friend of Nancy's, but does not actively get involved in her mysteries. Helen is also featured in the 1932 edition of Nancy's Mysterious Letter
Nancy's Mysterious Letter
Nancy's Mysterious Letter is the eighth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1932, and was penned by Walter Karig, a replacement writer for Mildred Wirt Benson...
, and the 1933 edition of The Password to Larkspur Lane
The Password to Larkspur Lane
The Password to Larkspur Lane is the tenth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1933 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Walter Karig.-Plot summary - 1933 edition:...
, and again in 1943's The Clue in the Jewel Box
The Clue in the Jewel Box
The Clue in the Jewel Box is the twentieth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1943 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Mildred Wirt Benson....
. Helen only takes an active role sleuthing in Larkspur Lane, which was not ghostwritten by Mildred Wirt Benson. Nancy completes detective work alone in the original versions of the first four volumes. This formula is replaced mostly by a trio using cousins Bess Marvin
Bess Marvin
Elizabeth "Bess" Marvin is a character in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. She is one of Nancy Drew's best friends, along with George Fayne, who is Bess' cousin. Bess and George are introduced to readers in the 1931 novel,The Secret at Shadow Ranch. Bess was originally described as having...
and George Fayne
George Fayne
Georgia "George" Fayne is a character in the popular Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. She is one of Nancy's best friends and cousin of Bess Marvin. Her real name is Georgia, although no one calls her that except her parents...
to complement Nancy's personality in 1931's The Secret at Shadow Ranch
The Secret at Shadow Ranch
The Secret of Shadow Ranch is the fifth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1931 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, and was ghostwritten by Mildred Wirt Benson...
, although ghostwriter Walter Karig would re-introduce the character in two of the three volumes he ghostwrote during the 1930s.
In 1959, the original series began revision. Responding to inquiries from series readers over the years, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams developed a way to phase Helen Corning out naturally. Helen is still Nancy's friend, but is three years older than Nancy. In the revised books, Helen becomes engaged privately in The Hidden Staircase
The Hidden Staircase
The Hidden Staircase is the second volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series written under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, and published in 1930...
, right after introducing Nancy to relatives with a haunted house, and helps solve the mystery. In volumes three and four, Helen helps investigate, but is also busy planning her wedding. It is to be assumed Helen married shortly after 1961's The Mystery at Lilac Inn
The Mystery at Lilac Inn
The Mystery At Lilac Inn is the fourth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1931 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. Mildred Wirt Benson was the ghostwriter for the 1931 edition...
, when she and Nancy are planning to be in another friend's wedding. Helen appears in all following revised volumes as Helen Archer; in the revised version of texts in which she originally appeared, Bess, George, and other characters replace her involvement, or her part is minimized. She is included in the current "Girl Detective" series. Helen plays a role in many of the later books in the original 56 hardcover stories; she and her husband figure prominently in The Invisible Intruder
The Invisible Intruder
The Invisible Intruder is the 46th volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1969 under Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams....
, where the plot involves investigating different ghostly or bizarre sites.