Guide to the Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, 1933-1943

Collection Number RBC 1

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Collection Information
Abstract:

Big Little Books and Better Little Books published, 1933-1943, by Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, and books of similar format published, 1934-1941, by the Saalfield Publishing Company, Engel-van Wiseman and Rand McNally.

Charles G. Wright is Professor Emeritus of Entomology at North Carolina State University. Big Little Books were inexpensive children's books about 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 1 1/2" in size. They were first published in 1932 by Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin. There was a captioned picture opposite each page of text. Most of them were based on radio, comic strips, or motion pictures. Other publishing companies which produced similar books were Dell, Engel-van Wiseman, Fawcett, Goldsmith, Lynn, Ottenheimer, Saalfield, Waldman, and World Syndicate.

Contact Information:
Special Collections Research Center
NCSU Libraries
Campus Box 7111
Raleigh, North Carolina
27695-7111 USA
Phone: (919) 515-2273
Fax: (919) 513-1787
URL: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/
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Processed by
Linda Sellars
Encoded by
Linda Sellars

Descriptive Summary

Repository

North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center

Creator

Wright, Charles G. (Charles Gerald), 1930-

Title

Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, 1933-1943

Call Number

RBC 1

Extent

2.5 linear feet, 42 v.

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.

Language of Material

English

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information

Gift of Charles G. Wright, 2003 October.
Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, RBC 1, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice

The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Historical Note


Charles G. Wright, Professor Emeritus of Entomology at North Carolina State University, was born on 1930 June 12 in Boynton, Pa. He received an B.S. in 1951 and M.S. in 1953 from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in entomology from North Carolina State University in 1958. Wright was employed as an entomologist with Wilson Pest Control from 1958 to 1963 and then by North Carolina State University from 1963 until his retirement.

In 1932 Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin began publishing small, fat books they called Big Little Books. Most Big Little Books were about 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 1 1/2" in size. There was a captioned picture opposite each page of text. These inexpensive books for children originally sold for a dime. Most of them were based on radio, comic strips, or motion pictures. In 1938, Whitman changed the name of its series to Better Little Books. The last Better Little Book was published in 1949. Other publishing companies which produced similar books were Dell, Engel-van Wiseman, Fawcett, Goldsmith, Lynn, Ottenheimer, Saalfield, Waldman, and World Syndicate.

Scope and Content Note


Big Little Books and Better Little Books, illustrated children's books published, 1933-1943, by Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, and books of similar format published, 1934-1941, by the Saalfield Publishing Company, Engel-van Wiseman and Rand McNally.

Organization of the Collection


The collection is organized into five series: Western, Characters from the Comics, War and Military, Adventure, and Other.

Online Catalog Terms

Personal Names

  • Beach, Rex, 1877-1949.
  • Beatty, Jerome.
  • Branner, Martin Michael, b. 1888.
  • Breitigam, Gerald.
  • Byrnes, Gene, 1889-1974.
  • Caniff, Milton Arthur, 1907- .
  • Curwood, James Oliver, 1878-1927.
  • Disney, Walt, 1901-1966.
  • Forrest, Hal.
  • George, Gerry.
  • Grey, Zane, 1872-1939.
  • Hess, Sol, b. 1885.
  • Marsh, Norman.
  • Marshall, Robert.
  • Martinek, Frank Victor, 1895- .
  • Millis, Mark.
  • Morgan, Leon.
  • Nowlan, Phil.
  • Penfield, Thomas.
  • Segar, E.C. (Elzie Crisler), 1894-1938.
  • Striker, Fran, 1903-1962.
  • West, Wilton.
  • Winterbotham, R.R. (Russell Robert), 1904-1971.
  • Young, Chic, 1901-1973.
  • Young, Lyman.

Subjects

  • Big little books.
  • Illustrated children's books.

Detailed Description of the Collection


  • RBC 1 Series 1:Western, 1935-1940


    0.75 linear feet, 13 v.



    • Billy of Bar-Zero / Marshall, Robert / Akron, Ohio : Saalfield Publishing Company, 1940.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 1]
    • Dan of the Lazy L, a range war story / Millis, Mark / Akron, Ohio, New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company, 1939.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 2]
    • Junior Nebb on the Diamond Bar Ranch, based on the famous newspaper strip "The Nebbs," Big little book no. 1422 / Hess, Sol / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1938.
      12 cm       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 3]
    • Lone Ranger and his horse Silver, Big little book no. 1181 / [Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1935].
      12 cm.
      Missing title page and other pages before p.9
      		 [RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 4]
    • Lone Ranger and the black shirt highwayman with Silver and Tonto, based on the famous radio adventure program, Better little book no. 1450 / Striker, Fran / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1939.
      12 cm       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 5]
    • Lone Ranger and the red renegades, based on the famous radio program, Better little book no. 1489 / Striker, Fran / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1939.
      12 cm       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 6]
    • Lone Ranger and the secret killer with Silver and Tonto, based on the famous radio adventure series by Fran Striker, Big little book no. 1431 / Wilson, Buck / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 7]
    • Lone Ranger and the vanishing herd with Silver and Tonto, based on the famous radio adventure series by Fran Striker, Big little book no. 1196 / Wilson, Buck / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1936.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 1 , Volume 8]
    • Rex, king of wild horses in "Stampede" based on the motion picture "Wild Horse Stampede," a Columbia picture / Gerry, George / New York, New York : Engel-van Wiseman Incorporated, 1935.
      14.5 cm       		[RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 1]
    • Shooting sherriffs of the Wild West, Big little book [no. 1195] / Morgan, Leon / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1936.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 2]
    • Tom Mix plays a lone hand, Big little book no. 1173 / West, Wilton / Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Company, 1935.
      14 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 3]
    • Zane Grey's King of the Royal Mounted and the great jewel mystery, based on the famous newspaper strip, Better little book no. 1486 / Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 4]
    • Zane Grey's King of the Royal Mounted gets his man, based on the famous adventure strip, Big little book no. 1452 / Grey, Zane / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1938.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 5]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • RBC 1 Series 2:Characters from the Comics, 1934-1941


    0.75 linear feet, 10 v.



    • Blondie and Baby Dumpling, based on the famous comic strip, Big little book no. 1415 / Young, Chic / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 6]
    • Donald Duck off the beam! Better little book no. 1438 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1943.
      12 cm.
      With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature
      		 [RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 7]
    • Donald Duck sees stars! Better little book no. 1422 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1941.
      12 cm.
      With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature
      		 [RBC 1 Box 2 , Volume 8]
    • Mickey Mouse and Bobo the Elephant, Big little book no. 1160 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, [1935].
      12 cm.
      Missing title page and other pages before p. 25
      		 [RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 1]
    • Mickey Mouse and Pluto the Racer, Big little book no. 1128 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1936.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 2]
    • Mickey Mouse in the treasure hunt, Big little book no. 1401 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1941.
      12 cm.
      With "Movies" of Pluto flip book feature
      		 [RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 3]
    • Mickey Mouse runs his own newspaper, Big little book no. 1409 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 4]
    • Perry Winkle and the Rinkeydinks get a horse, based on the famous comic strip, "Winnie Winkle the Breadwinner," Better little book no. 1487 / Branner, Martin / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1938.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 5]
    • Popeye in Puddleburg, adapted from the famous newspaper comic series drawn by E.C. Segar / Akron, Ohio New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company, 1934.
      14 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 6]
    • Wimpy the hamburger eater, based on the famous comic strip "Thimble theatre starring Popeye," Big little book no. 1458 / Segar / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1938.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 7]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • RBC 1 Series 2:War and Military, 1935-1943


    0.5 linear feet, 7 v.



    • Allen Pike of the Parachute Squad U.S.A., Better little book no. 1481 / Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1941.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 3 , Volume 8]
    • America on guard : Army Navy Marine Corps facts , insignia, uniforms / Penfield, Thomas / Chicago : Rand McNally & Company, 1941.
      17 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 1]
    • Captain Robb of Dirigible ZR-90 and the Disappearing Zeppelin, Better little book no. 1464 / Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1941.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 2]
    • Don Winslow, U.S.N., Big little book no. 1107 / Martinek, Lieut.-Comdr. Frank V. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1935.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 3]
    • Keep 'em flying U.S.A. for America's victory, Better little book no. 1420 / Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1943.
      12 cm.
      With flip book feature
      		 [RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 4]
    • Keep 'em flying U.S.A. for America's victory, Better little book no. 1420 / Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1943.
      12 cm.
      With flip book feature
      		 [RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 5]
    • Wings for America fighting planes of the U.S.A. / Penfield, Thomas / Chicago : Rand McNally & Company, 1941.
      18 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 6]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • RBC 1 Series 4:Adventure, 1934-1939


    0.5 linear feet, 9 v.



    • Buck Rogers on the moons of Saturn, Big little book no. 1143 / Nowlan, Phil / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1934.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 7]
    • Dan Dunn Crime Operative 48 and the Crime Master, based on the famous newspaper strip, Big little book 1171 / Marsh, Norman / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 8]
    • James Oliver Curwood's Kazan in "Revenge of the North," the story of a great dog, Big little book 1105 / Curwood, James Oliver / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 9]
    • Rex Beach's Jaragu of the jungle, adventures among the Indians of Central America, Big little book no. 1424 / Beach, Rex / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 4 , Volume 10]
    • Tailspin Tommy hunting for pirate gold, Big little book / Forrest, Hal / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1935.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 1]
    • Terry and the pirates and the giant's vengeance based on the famous adventure strip, Better little book no. 1446 / Caniff, Milton / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1939.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 2]
    • Terry and the pirates shipwrecked on a desert island, Big little book no. 1412 / Caniff, Milton / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1938.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 3]
    • Tim Tyler's luck, adventures in the ivory patrol, based on the famous adventure strip, Big little book no. 1140 / Young, Lyman / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1937.
      12 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 4]
    • Tim Tyler's luck, the plot of the exiled king, based on the famous adventure strip, Better little book no. 1479 / Young, Lyman / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, 1939.
      12 cm       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 5]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • RBC 1 Series 5:Other, 1933-1935


    0.25 linear feet, 3 v.



    • Curley Harper at Lakespur, from the famous newspaper cartoon drawn by Lyman Young / Breitigam, Gerald / New York, N.Y. : Lynn Publishing Co., Inc., 1935.
      15 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 6]
    • Reg'lar fellers, Big little book no. 754 / Byrnes, Gene / [Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, ][1933].
      12 cm.
      Missing title page and pages before p. 11
      		 [RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 7]
    • Story of Will Rogers / Beatty, Jerome / Akron, Ohio New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company, 1935.
      14 cm.       		[RBC 1 Box 5 , Volume 8]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]