Walter S. Rogers

Walter S. Rogers (born 1871) was one of the primary illustrators used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for its children's book series from the 1910s-1930s. For many collectors, Rogers, "with his many wonderful full-color dust jackets," was "a benchmark for a successful series-book illustrator."[1]

Rogers contributed illustrations in part or full for The Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys (Vol. 1-10), Tom Swift, Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue, Six Little Bunkers, Ted Scott Flying Stories, Motion Picture Chums, Motion Picture Boys, Motion Picture Girls, Outdoor Girls, X Bar X Boys, The Rover Boys and others.[2][3] Taking over from artist Henry Richard Boehm after his death, Rogers illustrated about 300 volumes for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, as well as magazines, and a few books for other authors and publishers.[4] Rogers was replaced at Stratemeyer in the 1930s by several other illustrators (Marie Schubert and J. Clemens Gretta, for example) whose work was more modern and "edgy".

Born in Burlington Iowa, Rogers was the third child of Edward Payson Rogers and Clara Elisabeth Harvey Rogers.[5] Earlier in his career, he provided illustrations for the St. Louis Republic newspaper, then in 1896 worked on an illustrated weekly paper published in Peoria, Illinois.[6]

“Our Little Cossack Cousin” by F. A. Postnikov illustrated by Walter S. Rogers 1916 [Public domain].

References
  1. William R. Gowen. “Master of his craft: Frank Thayer Merrill as children’s book illustrator.” Newsboy, The Horatio Alger Society Official Publication. November-December 2010. Number 6. http://www.horatioalgersociety.net/newsboys/newsboys2010-2019/nb10-6corrected.pdf
  2. Timothy Garrett Young. 2007. Drawn to Enchant: Original Children's Book Art in the Betsy Beinecke Shirley Collection. Yale University Press. p. 82
  3. Arthur, Joe. 1991. Hardly boys: An analysis of behaviors, social changes and class awareness hidden in the old text of "The Hardy Boys Stories," 1927-1991. PhD Dissertation, The Ohio State University. p. 74.
  4. James D. Keeline. Edward Stratemeyer, Correspondent and Art Critic: The Illustrators of Stratemeyer Syndicate Books, 1894-1944, p. 6. http://www.keeline.com/articles/PCA2001-Syndicate_Artists.pdf
  5. Joseph Gaston, Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders: In Connection with the Antecedent Explorations, Discoveries, and Movements of the Pioneers that Selected the Site for the Great City of the Pacific, Volume 2, p. 252.
  6. Conway and Shaw. 1899. Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa: Leaders in Business, Politics and the Professions; Together with an Original and Authentic History of the State, by Ex-Lieutenant-Governor B. F. Gue, Volume 2, p. 253.
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