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TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo Lucas County Public Library has established the Nancy Drew Fund, which is dedicated to enhancing and expanding the Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection — the largest public collection of Nancy Drew books and memorabilia in the United States. The collection is a valuable resource for scholars, fans and new readers to explore the series’ history and legacy.
“This is an exciting time for the Toledo Library and for Nancy Drew fans, scholars and collectors across the country,” said Nancy Eames, youth services coordinator at the Toledo Library. “The Nancy Drew Fund helps the Toledo Library support this signature collection and ensures that Nancy Drew continues to inspire readers of all ages.”
Donations to the fund will support the acquisition of rare and missing memorabilia, help complete the collection and enhance its public display through updated cabinetry and digital elements. Promotional efforts tied to the collection will also be supported.
Visit toledolibrary.org/give/our-priorities to make a one-time or recurring donation.
About the Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection
The character of Nancy Drew has a special connection to Toledo. Original ghostwriter Mildred A. Wirt Benson (1905–2002) called the Glass City home for more than six decades. She worked as a journalist at the Toledo News-Bee and later the Toledo Blade, and wrote 23 of the first 30 Nancy Drew books between 1930 and 1953 under the pen name Carolyn Keene.
During the 2019 renovation of Main Library, the Toledo Library recognized an opportunity to highlight Benson’s contributions and Nancy Drew’s enduring appeal. Jennifer Fisher — founder and president of the Nancy Drew Sleuths and a well-known collector, author and consultant — donated her personal collection of Nancy Drew books and memorabilia to the Library. The collection includes more than 5,000 objects and is continuously on view in the Saloff Children’s Library at Main Library.
Signature Collections at the Toledo Library
The Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection is one of the Toledo Library’s signature collections, which also include:
- The Steinem Sisters Collection, the only public library-based feminist collection in the United States,
- The Robert L. and Posy Huebner Collection, featuring more than 240 original illustrations from children’s literature, and
- The Art Tatum African American Resource Center, containing nearly 4,000 print and documentary sources on Black history and culture.
Visit toledolibrary.org/signaturecollections to learn more.
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