Elizabeth Hoffman Honness was born on June 29, 1904 in Boonton, New Jersey. She graduated from Skidmore College in 1926, settling in New York to write advertising copy for Macmillan Company, Century Company, and Shelton Looms from 1927 to 1934. She also worked as the managing editor for the magazine American Girl. She married Jesse Alfred McKaughan in 1936. That same year, she published her first children’s book, The Tale of the Sorry Sorrel Horse. She went on to publish a series of mystery novels, including Mystery of the Diamond Necklace (1954) and Mystery at the Villa Caprice (1969), travelling extensively in order to research the various locations for her books. She also wrote two volumes of Bible stories, People of the Promise (1949) and We are His People (1959). Her final novel, The Spy at Tory Hole (1975) was a work of historical fiction for adults. She died on August 12, 2003.

Bibliography

Something About the Author, vol. 2.

This collection contains typescripts, galley proofs, and engraver's proofs for books by children's author Elizabeth Hoffman Honness (1904-2003), including Mystery in the Square Tower (1957), Mystery of the Secret Message (1961), and Mystery of the Pirate's Ghost (1966). There is also a small amount of correspondence between the publisher and printer regarding reset type for Mystery of the Secret Message.

This collection is arranged alphabetically in three series: 1. Mystery in the Square Tower; 2. Mystery of the Pirate's Ghost; 3. Mystery of the Secret Message. Within each series, materials are arranged in order of probable creation.

The galley proof and page proofs are housed in a box with the galley proofs from the Elizabeth Ripley papers.

Publication Information:

Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection

Finding Aid Author:

Finding aid prepared by Lindsay Friedman, Peter Silvestro, and Laura J. Stroffolino.

Sponsor:

The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.

Access Restrictions:

This collection is open to researchers by appointment. Please contact the Curator for information on access.

Use Restrictions:

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Gift of Elizabeth Hoffman Honness, 1968.

University of Minnesota: Velma Ilsley papers, 1955-1950, CLRC-145.

• Engraver's proofs
• Galley proofs
• Proofs (printed matter)
• Typescripts

• Children's authors--20th century
• Children's literature--20th century