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The Beverly Gray series is a 26 volume series which was in print from 1934 through approximately 1955. The first publisher was the A.L. Burt company, which printed the first 8 titles from 1934 to 1937. In 1938, the rights to the series were sold to Grosset and Dunlap, which reprinted books 1 through 5, 7, and 8, and printed the new titles as they came out. Volume 6, Beverly Gray at the World's Fair, was dropped when the publisher changed to Grosset and Dunlap because it was felt that the World's Fair would date the book too much. Since Beverly Gray at the World's Fair only went through a couple of printings, the original edition is one of the most sought after of children's books.
When Beverly Gray at the World's Fair was dropped, volume 7, Beverly Gray on a World Cruise became volume 6 just as though World's Fair had never existed. Unfortunately, the events which occur during World's Fair are very significant to the development of the series and are mentioned numerous times throughout the remainder of the series, so the reader feels like he or she has missed something when this volume is skipped. Author Clair Blank was unhappy about the title being dropped and tried several times until at least 1943 to get Grosset and Dunlap to reissue World's Fair to no avail. She was concerned about the continuity of the series and felt that readers would be confused by the missing events which occur in that volume. Blank even offered to write a replacement volume to fill in the gap in the series, but her offer was rejected.
In 1955 the final 10 books in the Beverly Gray series were reprinted by Grosset and Dunlap under the name Clover Books. The Clover Books are inexpensively made shiny picture covers which have not held up well over time. The final volume in the series, Beverly Gray's Surprise, was only issued in the Clover Books format.
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Author Clarissa Mabel Blank Moyer was born on August 5, 1915, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Clair graduated from high school in 1933 and by one year after her high school graduation her first four books in the Beverly Gray series had been published. Clair Blank had accomplished the amazing feat of being a published author at the age of 18. According to Clair's husband, George Moyer, whom she married in 1943, Clair wrote the first four books while still in high school. Two years after her Beverly Gray series was published, Clair wrote the novel The Adventure Girls at the K Bar O and was immediately asked by the publisher for two additional stories so that it could be made into a series. |
Clair Blank with her dog, Rusty, early 1940s |
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#1 Beverly Gray, Freshman |
Beverly Gray arrives at Vernon College with her best friend, Anne White. Beverly is the daughter of Helen Chadwick Gray and John Gray. Helen Chadwick is a legendary figure at Vernon College, and Beverly is determined that no one know that she is the daughter of Helen Chadwick as she wishes to make good on her own.
Beverly and Anne are disappointed when they learn that they will not room together. Anne is to room with Lois Mason, and Beverly with Shirley Parker. Anne gets along fine with her new roommate, but Beverly finds it impossible to get along with Shirley. Beverly tries every approach possible, but Shirley rebukes her. The situation only becomes worse when Shirley reveals that she knows Beverly is Helen Chadwick's daughter and that she thinks Beverly is at the college to make everyone think she is so special. |
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As the school year passes, Beverly goes home over the Christmas holidays and has a very harrowing adventure, nearly losing her life. After the holidays, Beverly finds Shirley meeting a man in secret and tries to prevent Shirley from making a serious mistake, even though she and Beverly are not on speaking terms. Finally, Beverly saves Shirley's life, and Shirley warms to Beverly's friendship and explains why she treated Beverly so terribly. As the school year ends, Beverly and Shirley are finally friends, and the rest of the students know that Beverly is Helen Chadwick's daughter and respect Beverly for her own accomplishments. |
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#2 Beverly Gray, Sophomore |
As Beverly's second year at Vernon College begins, Beverly and her friends Shirley Parker, Lenora Whitehill, Anne White, Rosalie Arnold, and Lois Mason organize the Alpha Delta Sorority and elect Beverly as their president.
Beverly wins a position on the Vernon College newspaper, the Comet, and has been assigned to investigate the strange lights and figures that have been seen in the old Horler Mansion. After Beverly has one strange experience at the old house, she and her friends take turns watching it at night and see several strange occurances. During one of Beverly's visits to the house, she meets a young man named Larry Owens, who seems friendly enough, but she wonders if he is somehow involved in the mysterious occurences around the house.
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Beverly takes a break from the mysterious mansion when she goes with Anne to see a football game in which their special friends Jim Stanton and Tommy Chandler play. Beverly is made uncomfortable when she realizes that Jim wishes to marry her, and she is not certain if she is ready for marriage. During the Christmas holiday, Beverly visits Shirley at her home in New York City. While Shirley and Beverly attend a social tea, Beverly meets Charlie Blaine, a reporter for the Herald Tribune. Since Beverly is interested in becoming a reporter, she accompanies Charlie as he gathers information for a story. Beverly helps Charlie get a big scoop when she traps a jewel thief.
Back at school, Beverly finally discovers what is happening at the old Horler mansion and what role Larry Owens is playing in the mysterious events. Beverly has a series of exciting events when she experiences a plane crash and later must help clear Shirley of an accusation of cheating on an exam. The school year ends with the Alpha Deltas promising to meet again on the first day of the new term of their junior year at Vernon College.
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#3 Beverly Gray, Junior |
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#4 Beverly Gray, Senior |
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