Edith Kellogg Dunton

Edith Kellogg Dunton
Born(1875-12-28)December 28, 1875
Rutland, Vermont, U.S.
DiedDecember 31, 1944(1944-12-31) (aged 69)
Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery, Rutland, Vermont
Pen nameMargaret Warde
OccupationWriter
RelativesWalter C. Dunton (father)

Edith Kellogg Dunton (December 28, 1875 – December 31, 1944) was the author of a popular series of early 20th century juvenile novels called the "Betty Wales" series, which she wrote under the pseudonym Margaret Warde.

Dunton was born in Rutland, Vermont, the daughter of Walter C. Dunton and Miriam E. Barrett. She graduated from Smith College in 1897.[1][2][3][4][5] The first Betty Wales volume was released in 1904 and published by the Penn Publishing Company. Dunton's identity as the author of the series was not leaked until late 1907, at which time she was also writing under her own name as a critic for The Dial magazine in Chicago.[6][7]

The popularity of the Betty Wales series, which followed the story of the title character from her freshman year at the fictional Harding College through beyond graduation, led to the introduction of a line of "Betty Wales Dresses" in 1915, where each purchase entitled the buyer to a free book from the series.[8] Dunton followed up the Wales series (though a last volume was added in 1917) with the "Nancy Lee" series.[9][10]

Dunton died in late 1944 and was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Rutland.

  1. ^ Smith Alumnae Quarterly (Vol. 36, No, 3), p. 1343 ("Edith Kellogg Dunton Dec 31'44 after a brief illness. One of our most talented members, Edith was the author (under the pseudonym Margaret Warde) of the best seller, "Betty Wales" college ....)
  2. ^ Carpan, Carolyn. Sisters, Schoolgirls, and Sleuths: Girls' Series Books in America, pp. 20-22 (2009)
  3. ^ (December 1905). Book News, p. 300 (reference to release of Betty Wales, Sophomore)
  4. ^ (1 February 1908). Literary Gossip, The Bellman
  5. ^ Leonard, John William (ed.) Woman's Who's who of America, p. 263 (1914)
  6. ^ (11 November 1907). Vermont News, Bennington Evening Banner
  7. ^ (1 March 1911). Ladies' Night at the Booksellers' League, The Bookseller, Newsdealer, and Stationer, Vol. XXXIV, No. 5, p. 136
  8. ^ (18 April 1918). Emery, Douglas (Advertised Specialty "Kidnaps" the Whole Organization, Printers' Ink, Vol. CII, No. 3, pp. 25-32
  9. ^ Jordan, Eloise M. (8 November 1969). Gargoyles on Gothic Cathedrals Are Really Waterspouts, Lewistown Journal
  10. ^ (29 December 1917). Betty Wales Birthday, Bennington Evening Banner