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

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
Wright, Charles G. (Charles Gerald), 1930-
Size
2.5 linear feet (42 volumes)
Call number
RBC 00001

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.

Biographical/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/content

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.

Arrangement

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

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, RBC 00001, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Source of acquisition

Gift of Charles G. Wright, 2003 October.

Processing information

Processed by Linda Sellars, 2005 October

Encoded by Linda Sellars, 2005 October

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into five principal series:

Western 1935-1940 (RBC 1 Series 1)
Size: 0.75 linear feet

13 volumes

Billy of Bar-Zero / Marshall, Robert / Akron, Ohio : Saalfield Publishing Company 1940.

12 cm.

Box 1, Folder 1
Dan of the Lazy L, a range war story / Millis, Mark / Akron, Ohio, New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company 1939.

12 cm.

Box 1, Folder 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

Box 1, Folder 3
Lone Ranger and his horse Silver, Big little book no. 1181 / [Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1935].

Missing title page and other pages before p.9

12 cm.

Box 1, Folder 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

Box 1, Folder 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

Box 1, Folder 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

Box 1, Folder 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.

Box 1, Folder 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

Box 2, Folder 1
Shooting sherriffs of the Wild West, Big little book [no. 1195] / Morgan, Leon / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1936.

12 cm.

Box 2, Folder 2
Tom Mix plays a lone hand, Big little book no. 1173 / West, Wilton / Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Company 1935.

14 cm.

Box 2, Folder 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.

Box 2, Folder 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.

Box 2, Folder 5
Characters from the Comics 1934-1941 (RBC 1 Series 2)
Size: 0.75 linear feet

10 volumes

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.

Box 2, Folder 6
Donald Duck off the beam! Better little book no. 1438 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1943.

With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature

12 cm.

Box 2, Folder 7
Donald Duck sees stars! Better little book no. 1422 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1941.

With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature

12 cm.

Box 2, Folder 8
Mickey Mouse and Bobo the Elephant, Big little book no. 1160 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company [1935].

Missing title page and other pages before p. 25

12 cm.

Box 3, Folder 1
Mickey Mouse and Pluto the Racer, Big little book no. 1128 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1936.

12 cm.

Box 3, Folder 2
Mickey Mouse in the treasure hunt, Big little book no. 1401 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1941.

With "Movies" of Pluto flip book feature

12 cm.

Box 3, Folder 3
Mickey Mouse runs his own newspaper, Big little book no. 1409 / Disney, Walt / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1937.

12 cm.

Box 3, Folder 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.

Box 3, Folder 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.

Box 3, Folder 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.

Box 3, Folder 7
War and Military 1935-1943 (RBC 1 Series 2)
Size: 0.5 linear feet

7 volumes

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.

Box 3, Folder 8
America on guard : Army Navy Marine Corps facts , insignia, uniforms / Penfield, Thomas / Chicago : Rand McNally & Company 1941.

17 cm.

Box 4, Folder 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.

Box 4, Folder 2
Don Winslow, U.S.N., Big little book no. 1107 / Martinek, Lieut.-Comdr. Frank volumes / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1935.

12 cm.

Box 4, Folder 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.

With flip book feature

12 cm.

Box 4, Folder 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.

With flip book feature

12 cm.

Box 4, Folder 5
Wings for America fighting planes of the U.S.A. / Penfield, Thomas / Chicago : Rand McNally & Company 1941.

18 cm.

Box 4, Folder 6
Adventure 1934-1939 (RBC 1 Series 4)
Size: 0.5 linear feet

9 volumes

Buck Rogers on the moons of Saturn, Big little book no. 1143 / Nowlan, Phil / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1934.

12 cm.

Box 4, Folder 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.

Box 4, Folder 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.

Box 4, Folder 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.

Box 4, Folder 10
Tailspin Tommy hunting for pirate gold, Big little book / Forrest, Hal / Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company 1935.

12 cm.

Box 5, Folder 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.

Box 5, Folder 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.

Box 5, Folder 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.

Box 5, Folder 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

Box 5, Folder 5
Other 1933-1935 (RBC 1 Series 5)
Size: 0.25 linear feet

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. 1935.

15 cm.

Box 5, Folder 6
Reg'lar fellers, Big little book no. 754 / Byrnes, Gene / [Racine, Wisconsin : Whitman Publishing Company, ] [1933].

Missing title page and pages before p. 11

12 cm.

Box 5, Folder 7
Story of Will Rogers / Beatty, Jerome / Akron, Ohio New York : The Saalfield Publishing Company 1935.

14 cm.

Box 5, Folder 8
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, RBC 00001, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.