Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books
RBC 00001
Special Collections Research Center
2.5 Linear feet
1933-1943
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.
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the
Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
42 volumes
Wright, Charles G. (Charles Gerald), 1930-
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
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Processing Information note
Processed by Linda Sellars, 2005 October
Encoded by Linda Sellars, 2005 October
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.
Beach, Rex, 1877-1949
Beatty, Jerome
Branner, Martin Michael, b. 1888
Breitigam, Gerald
Byrnes, Gene, 1889-1974
Caniff, Milton Arthur, 1907-1988
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 V. (Frank Victor), b. 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
Big little books
Illustrated children's books
Western
RBC 1 Series 1
0.75 Linear feet
1935-1940
13 volumes
Billy of Bar-Zero /
Marshall, Robert / Akron, Ohio : Saalfield Publishing Company
1
1
1940.
12 cm.
Dan of the Lazy L, a range war story /
Millis, Mark / Akron, Ohio, New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company
1
2
1939.
12 cm.
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
1
3
1938.
12 cm
Lone Ranger and his horse Silver, Big little book no. 1181 / [Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
1
4
1935].
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
Missing title page and other pages before p.9
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
1
5
1939.
12 cm
Lone Ranger and the red renegades, based on the famous radio program, Better little book no. 1489 /
Striker, Fran / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
1
6
1939.
12 cm
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
1
7
1937.
12 cm
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
1
8
1936.
12 cm.
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
2
1
1935.
14.5 cm
Shooting sherriffs of the Wild West, Big little book [no. 1195] /
Morgan, Leon / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
2
2
1936.
12 cm.
Tom Mix plays a lone hand, Big little book no. 1173 /
West, Wilton / Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Company
2
3
1935.
14 cm.
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,
2
4
1937.
12 cm.
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
2
5
1938.
12 cm.
Characters from the Comics
RBC 1 Series 2
0.75 Linear feet
1934-1941
10 volumes
Blondie and Baby Dumpling, based on the famous comic strip, Big little book no. 1415 /
Young, Chic / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
2
6
1937.
12 cm.
Donald Duck off the beam! Better little book no. 1438 /
Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
2
7
1943.
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature
Donald Duck sees stars! Better little book no. 1422 /
Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
2
8
1941.
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature
Mickey Mouse and Bobo the Elephant, Big little book no. 1160 /
Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
3
1
[1935].
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
Missing title page and other pages before p. 25
Mickey Mouse and Pluto the Racer, Big little book no. 1128 /
Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
3
2
1936.
12 cm.
Mickey Mouse in the treasure hunt, Big little book no. 1401 /
Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
3
3
1941.
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
With "Movies" of Pluto flip book feature
Mickey Mouse runs his own newspaper, Big little book no. 1409 /
Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
3
4
1937.
12 cm.
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
3
5
1938.
12 cm.
Popeye in Puddleburg, adapted from the famous newspaper comic series drawn by E.C. Segar /
Akron, Ohio New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company,
3
6
1934.
14 cm.
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
3
7
1938.
12 cm.
War and Military
RBC 1 Series 2
0.5 Linear feet
1935-1943
7 volumes
Allen Pike of the Parachute Squad U.S.A., Better little book no. 1481 /
Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
3
8
1941.
12 cm.
America on guard : Army Navy Marine Corps facts , insignia, uniforms /
Penfield, Thomas / Chicago : Rand McNally & Company
4
1
1941.
17 cm.
Captain Robb of Dirigible ZR-90 and the Disappearing Zeppelin, Better little book no. 1464 /
Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
4
2
1941.
12 cm.
Don Winslow, U.S.N., Big little book no. 1107 /
Martinek, Lieut.-Comdr. Frank volumes / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
4
3
1935.
12 cm.
Keep 'em flying U.S.A. for America's victory, Better little book no. 1420 /
Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
4
4
1943.
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
With flip book feature
Keep 'em flying U.S.A. for America's victory, Better little book no. 1420 /
Winterbotham, R.R. / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
4
5
1943.
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
With flip book feature
Wings for America fighting planes of the U.S.A. /
Penfield, Thomas / Chicago : Rand McNally & Company
4
6
1941.
18 cm.
Adventure
RBC 1 Series 4
0.5 Linear feet
1934-1939
9 volumes
Buck Rogers on the moons of Saturn, Big little book no. 1143 /
Nowlan, Phil / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
4
7
1934.
12 cm.
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
4
8
1937.
12 cm.
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
4
9
1937.
12 cm.
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
4
10
1937.
12 cm.
Tailspin Tommy hunting for pirate gold, Big little book /
Forrest, Hal / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
5
1
1935.
12 cm.
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
5
2
1939.
12 cm.
Terry and the pirates shipwrecked on a desert island, Big little book no. 1412 /
Caniff, Milton / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company
5
3
1938.
12 cm.
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
5
4
1937.
12 cm.
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
5
5
1939.
12 cm
Other
RBC 1 Series 5
0.25 Linear feet
1933-1935
3 volumes
Curley Harper at Lakespur, from the famous newspaper cartoon drawn by Lyman Young /
Breitigam, Gerald / New York, N.Y. : Lynn Publishing Co., Inc.
5
6
1935.
15 cm.
Reg'lar fellers, Big little book no. 754 /
Byrnes, Gene / [Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, ]
5
7
[1933].
12 cm.
Scope and Contents note
Missing title page and pages before p. 11
Story of Will Rogers /
Beatty, Jerome / Akron, Ohio New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company
5
8
1935.
14 cm.