Mildred Wirt Benson (1905-2002) writing as Carolyn Keene was an American writer and reporter whose contributions to early twentieth-century popular literature, most notably Nancy Drew Mysteries, helped redefine the image of the young female protagonist in American fiction. A graduate of the University of Iowa, where she became one of the first women in the nation to earn a master's degree in journalism, Benson authored dozens of juvenile novels and later enjoyed a long career as a newspaper journalist. Working anonymously for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, she completed the initial manuscripts that introduced a now-iconic girl detective, Nancy Drew, to readers worldwide. Today, her work is recognized for its role in expanding opportunities for young female characters in literature and inspiring new generations of writers and readers.