The Schoolgirls' Weekly

The Schoolgirls' Weekly was first published in 1922 by the Amalgamated Press as a companion paper to the School Friend and Schoolgirls' Own. It was of a slightly larger size than those two and over the years it featured the usual array of girls stories with as usual the vast majority of them written by men under female aliases. In January 1933 came "That Amazing Room Of Clocks" written by J.W. Bobin as Adelie Ascott, the first tale of Valerie Drew the 18 year old intrepid girl detective, doting daughter of an ex-Scotland Yard Chief Commissioner. "The Secret Of The Old Clock" written by Mildred Wirt as Carolyn Keene was published in America in 1930 and concerned Nancy Drew the 16 year old intrepid girl detective, whose doting father Carson Drew was a famous criminal lawyer cum detective. In Valerie's adventures over the next 7 years she was ably assisted by Flash, an alsation dog who acted almost human at times, and was more useful than Ned Nickerson was to Nancy. Both Nancy and Valerie were also well seasoned teenage motorists (at 18 Nancy was even a qualified pilot), their common sense and innate decency went almost unbelievably deep. The stories were always concise, entertaining, never heavy or heavy-going, and a charming if often melodramatic window on the world of the 1930's from an allegedly young female point of view. Unlike the Noel Raymond detective series running in the Girls' Crystal it was nearly always obvious who the guilty party was. Bobin died in 1935 and for years the saga was anonymously written, until taken up again in 1937 by Isobel Norton who was most likely Reginald Kirkham. The SW closed down in May 1939 and Valerie transferred to the Schoolgirl for her last year until thanks to the Wartime paper shortage was abruptly ended in the middle of an uncompleted series in May 1940. Nancy Drew didn't stop, and with occasional lulls is still having adventures today.

For the June 1993 Collectors' Digest Dennis Bird wrote an article providing some background to Valerie Drew - you can read it here.

Thanks to Gary for the introduction and the list of issues based on the works of Ray Hopkins.

Issue				Valerie Drew - Schoolgirls' Weekly
533	Jan	07	1933	That Amazing Room Of Clocks
542	Mar	11	1933	The Problem Of The Red-Haired Girl
550	May	06	1933	Her Quest On The Ship Of Secrets
	Issue 557 24th Jun 1933			Valerie Drew's Dilemma
573	Oct	14	1933	Valerie Drew's Frightened Visitor
577	Nov	11	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	1/17
578	Nov	18	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	2/17
579	Nov	25	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	3/17
580	Dec	02	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	4/17
581	Dec	09	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	5/17
582	Dec	16	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	6/17
583	Dec	23	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	7/17
584	Dec	30	1933		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	8/17
585	Jan	06	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	9/17
586	Jan	13	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	10/17
587	Jan	20	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	11/17
588	Jan	27	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	12/17
589	Feb	03	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	13/17
590	Feb	10	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	14/17
591	Feb	17	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	15/17
592	Feb	24	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	16/17
593	Mar	03	1934		Valerie Drew - Schoolgirl Detective	17/17
	Issue 594 10th March 1934			Valerie Drew And The Haunted Theatre
	Issue 596 24th March 1934			The Case Of The Nine Columbines
	Issue 598 7th April 1934			Flash Finds Mystery
	Issue 600 21st April 1934			Detective Flash
	Issue 602 5th May 1934			Clues In Queer Places
603	May	12	1934	The Case Of The Broken Vase
604	May	19	1934	That Weird House Of Waxworks
605	May	26	1934	When Flash Turned On The Wireless
606	Jun	02	1934	The Case Of The "Aerial Marvels"
607	Jun	09	1934	The Whispering Cavalier
608	Jun	16	1934	The Trail Of The Oriental Beads
609	Jun	23	1934	Parted From Flash
610	Jun	30	1934	Missing From The Chalet
611	Jul	07	1934	The Girl In The Red Scarf
612	Jul	14	1934	When Valerie Was Bridesmaid
	Issue 613 21st July 1934			The Case Of Queerholme Cottage
614	Jul	28	1934	The House Of Minarets
615	Aug	04	1934	The Pigeon Problem
616	Aug	11	1934	Valerie Drew - Arrested
617	Aug	18	1934	The Spanish Dancer
618	Aug	25	1934	The Purple Pierrots
619	Sep	01	1934	Valerie Drew's Double
620	Sep	08	1934	Lady O' The Crinoline
621	Sep	15	1934	Flowers Of Fortune
622	Sep	22	1934	Clues Of Gold
623	Sep	29	1934	Valerie's Hectic Holiday
624	Oct	06	1934	Carnations For Mystery
625	Oct	13	1934	The Little Dutch Girl
626	Oct	20	1934	The "Wanted" Girl Detective
627	Oct	27	1934	A Bogus Invalid
628	Nov	03	1934	"Nursemaid" Flash
629	Nov	10	1934	Valerie Drew - Cloakroom Attendant
630	Nov	17	1934	Valerie Meets A Phantom
631	Nov	24	1934	The Persian Rug-Seller
632	Dec	01	1934	When Valerie Vanished
633	Dec	08	1934	The Clue Of The Holly Leaf
634	Dec	15	1934	The 13th Snowman
635	Dec	22	1934	The Card That Came Too Late
636	Dec	29	1934	The Viking Who Whispered
637	Jan	05	1935	The Clue Of The Red Tassel
638	Jan	12	1935	That Amazing Punch And Judy Problem
639	Jan	19	1935	Flash For Sale
640	Jan	26	1935	The Melody Of Mystery
641	Feb	02	1935	The Case Of The Forbidden Frock
642	Feb	09	1935	The Skater In Scarlet
643	Feb	16	1935	When Flash Was Kidnapped
644	Feb	23	1935	The Case Of The Ruined Portraits
645	Mar	02	1935	The Clue Of The Flashing Lanterns
646	Mar	09	1935	Flash's Birthday Mystery
647	Mar	16	1935	That Strange Blue Light
648	Mar	23	1935	Suspicion In The Circus
649	Mar	30	1935	The White Girl Of The Jungle
	Issue 650 6th April 1935			The Dancers Who Disappeared
651	Apr	13	1935	Valerie Leads The Silent Six
652	Apr	20	1935	The Kidnapped Sea Lion
653	Apr	27	1935	The Sandbanked Ship
	Issue 654 4th May 1935			Red Hearts Meant Danger
	Issue 655 11th May 1935			Little Miss Flash
	Issue 656 18th May 1935			Guard It, Flash!
	Issue 657 25th May 1935			The Case Of The Dark Tower
	Issue 658 1st June 1935			The Clue Of The Satin Slipper
	Issue 659 8th June 1935			Ruined Roses
660	Jun	15	1935	The Phantom Houseboat
661	Jun	22	1935	The Clue Of The Cuckoo Clock
662	Jun	29	1935	The Girl Who Lost Her Voice
663	Jul	06	1935	Arrows Of Mystery
664	Jul	13	1935	The Clue Of The Red Stone
665	Jul	20	1935	The Fortune-Teller's Warning
666	Jul	27	1935	The Girl With Golden Hair
667	Aug	03	1935	The Pool Of Problems
668	Aug	10	1935	The Case Of The Stolen Fruit
669	Aug	17	1935	The Climber Who Vanished
670	Aug	24	1935	When The Box Was Opened
671	Aug	31	1935	Symbol Of Secrets
672	Sep	07	1935	The Case Of The Cardboard Key
673	Sep	14	1935	Footprints In The Dust
674	Sep	21	1935	The Clue Of The Plaid Skirt
675	Sep	28	1935	The Sign Of The Blue Spider
676	Oct	05	1935	Lucky Sixpence
677	Oct	12	1935	The Green Parrot
678	Oct	19	1935	Strange Signals
679	Oct	26	1935	The Phantom Feast
680	Nov	02	1935	Flash On His Own
681	Nov	09	1935	Valerie Drew - Beware!
682	Nov	16	1935	Hat-Shop Of Mystery
683	Nov	23	1935	The Doll That Talked
684	Nov	30	1935	Spanish Gold
685	Dec	07	1935	Valerie Drew Guilty
686	Dec	14	1935	Father Christmas Valerie
687	Dec	21	1935	The Case Of The Burgled Xmas Tree
688	Dec	28	1935	Ghost Of The Silent Belfry
689	Jan	04	1936	Robbery From The Clouds
690	Jan	11	1936	The Wild Bear Of The Snows
691	Jan	18	1936	The Case Of The Phantom Fairy
692	Jan	25	1936	The Silent Smithy
693	Feb	01	1936	Peril At The Rink
694	Feb	08	1936	Diamond Of Danger
695	Feb	15	1936	The Secret Of Hermit's Folly
696	Feb	22	1936	When Flash Failed
697	Feb	29	1936	The Song With A Secret
698	Mar	07	1936	The Dummy Without A Name
699	Mar	14	1936	Riddle Of The Red Arrows
700	Mar	21	1936	The Ghost Of Odd Cottage
	Issue 701 28th March 1936			The Case Of The Vanished Film Star
702	Apr	04	1936	That Problem In Paint
703	Apr	11	1936	The League Of The Golden Mask
704	Apr	18	1936	The Trail Of The Screen Star's Photo
705	Apr	25	1936	That Amazing House Of Magic
706	May	02	1936	The 13th Dancer
707	May	09	1936	The Girl From Hollywood
708	May	16	1936	The Clue Of The Mauve Moccasin
709	May	23	1936	The Wraith Of Raven House
710	May	30	1936	Cave Of Amazing Music
711	Jun	06	1936	The Haunted Camp
712	Jun	13	1936	The Girl Water-Walker
713	Jun	20	1936	Matches Of Mystery
714	Jun	27	1936	The Girl With Half A Home
715	Jun	04	1936	The Threat Of The Tolling Bell
716	Jul	11	1936	Ship Of Secrets
717	Jul	18	1936	Puzzle Of The Palm-Trees
718	Jul	25	1936	Beads Of Warning
719	Aug	01	1936	The Clue Of The Icing Sugar
720	Aug	08	1936	The Walking Waxworks
721	Aug	15	1936	The Phantom Hound
722	Aug	22	1936	Captives Of The Hidden Room
723	Aug	29	1936	Flash On Guard
724	Sep	05	1936	Clocks That Stopped In The Night
725	Sep	12	1936	The Clue Of The Walnut Shells
726	Sep	19	1936	The Highwayman Of Hickling
727	Sep	26	1936	The Moonlight Trapezist
728	Oct	03	1936	The Stolen Princess
729	Oct	10	1936	Spectre Of The Mountains
	Issue 730 17th October 1936			The Case Of The Haunted Chimneys
731	Oct	24	1936	The House Of Disappearances
732	Oct	31	1936	Driven From The Derelict
733	Nov	07	1936	The Phantom Of Felsea Pier
734	Nov	14	1936	Robin Hood's Revenge
735	Nov	21	1936	The Problem Of The Pets
736	Nov	28	1936	The Case Of The Curio Shop
737	Dec	05	1936	The Menace Of Rook House
738	Dec	12	1936	Captives Of Mystery Castle
739	Dec	19	1936	The Whispering Monk
740	Dec	26	1936	The Statue That Changed Positions
741	Jan	02	1937	Silent Clock Of Disaster
742	Jan	09	1937	Robbery At The Studio
743	Jan	16	1937	The League Of The Ivory Statues
744	Jan	23	1937	Seen In A Glass Screen
745	Jan	30	1937	The Case Of The Gipsy Symbol
746	Feb	06	1937	The Van Of Invisible Folk
747	Feb	13	1937	The Phantom Frock
748	Feb	20	1937	Flames Of Mystery
	Feb	27	1937	The Riddle Of The Wax Model
750	Mar	06	1937	The Menace Of The Golden Crescent
751	Mar	13	1937	Castle Of Fear
752	Mar	20	1937	Footprints Of Mystery
753	Mar	27	1937	The Case Of The Moving Paintings
754	Apr	03	1937	The Witch Of Weirholme Castle
755	Apr	10	1937	Clues From The Past
756	Apr	17	1937	The Case Of The Chinese Lantern
757	Apr	24	1937	Valerie Drew's Blunder
758	May	01	1937	Marcelle Meets Her Match
759	May	08	1937	Cloud Over The Carnival
	May	15	1937	A Princess Comes To Town
761	May	22	1937	The House Of Suspects
762	May	29	1937	Challenged - By Marcelle
763	Jun	05	1937	The Secret Of The Swimming Pool
764	Jun	12	1937	The Camp Of Queer Happenings
765	Jun	19	1937	After Hours
766	Jun	26	1937	The Case Of The Curious Keys
767	Jul	03	1937	The Flying Phantom
768	Jul	10	1937	The Mystery Of The Green Arrow
769	Jul	17	1937	Wedding Bells Thanks To Valerie
770	Jul	24	1937	Valerie's World-Wide Quest		1/13
771	Jul	31	1937	Her Masquerade In Marseilles		2/13
772	Aug	07	1937	On Mystery's Trail In Madeira		3/13
773	Aug	14	1937	The Menace Of Marcelle		4/13
774	Aug	21	1937	On The Trail In New York		5/13
775	Aug	28	1937	Valerie Joins The Circus		6/13
776	Sep	04	1937	The Danger Trail		7/13
	Sep	11	1937	The Hoaxer Of Hollywood		8/13
778	Sep	18	1937	The Hunchback Of Tahiti		9/13
779	Sep	25	1937	The Tragedy Of Marcelle		10/13
780	Oct	02	1937	The Foe Turned Friend		11/13
781	Oct	09	1937	Valerie's World-Wide Quest		12/13
782	Oct	16	1937	The Menace Of Colonel Mars		13/13
783	Oct	23	1937	The Case Of The Crimson Thumb-Print
784	Oct	30	1937	Where Great Ships Gather
	Issue 785 6th November 1937			Peril At The Pottery
	Issue 786 13th November 1936			Hermit Of Haunted Valley
787	Nov	20	1937	The Strange Case Of Jacques Daudain
788	Nov	27	1937	Rich Man, Poor Man
789	Dec	04	1937	The Monster Of Mardsea
790	Dec	11	1937	If Valerie Failed …
	Issue 791 18th December 1937			The Secret Of The S.S. "Santa Claus"
792	Dec	25	1937	She Came Back At Christmas
793	Jan	01	1938	The Clue Of The Circle Of Light
794	Jan	08	1938	Valerie Drew's Rival
795	Jan	15	1938	The Mystery Of The Miniature
796	Jan	22	1938	Aid From An Enemy
797	Jan	29	1938	Valerie Joins The Raiders
798	Feb	05	1938	The Stolen Statuette
799	Feb	12	1938	Valerie The Venturesome
800	Feb	19	1938	Robbery - "At Rehearsal"
801	Feb	26	1938	Black Watcher Of The White House
802	Mar	05	1938	The Man Who Found Out
803	Mar	12	1938	Caught By A Castaway
804	Mar	19	1938	On The Night Of The Full Moon
805	Mar	26	1938	"Hide And Seek" In The Circus
806	Apr	02	1938	The Locked Library
807	Apr	09	1938		The School On Haunted Island	1/15
808	Apr	16	1938		The School On Haunted Island	2/15
809	Apr	23	1938		The School On Haunted Island	3/15
810	Apr	30	1938		The School On Haunted Island	4/15
811	May	07	1938		The School On Haunted Island	5/15
812	May	14	1938		The School On Haunted Island	6/15
813	May	21	1938		The School On Haunted Island	7/15
814	May	28	1938		The School On Haunted Island	8/15
815	Jun	04	1938		The School On Haunted Island	9/15
816	Jun	11	1938		The School On Haunted Island	10/15
817	Jun	18	1938		The School On Haunted Island	11/15
818	Jun	25	1938		The School On Haunted Island	12/15
819	Jul	02	1938		The School On Haunted Island	13/15
820	Jul	09	1938		The School On Haunted Island	14/15
821	Jul	16	1938		The School On Haunted Island	15/15
822	Jul	23	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	1/15
823	Jul	30	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	2/15
824	Aug	06	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	3/15
825	Aug	13	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	4/15
826	Aug	20	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	5/15
827	Aug	27	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	6/15
828	Sep	03	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	7/15
829	Sep	10	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	8/15
830	Sep	17	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	9/15
831	Sep	24	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	10/15
832	Oct	01	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	11/15
833	Oct	08	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	12/15
834	Oct	15	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	13/15
835	Oct	22	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	14/15
836	Oct	29	1938		The Menace Of The Masks	15/15
837	Nov	05	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	1/15
838	Nov	12	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	2/15
839	Nov	19	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	3/15
840	Nov	26	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	4/15
841	Dec	03	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	5/15
842	Dec	10	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	6/15
843	Dec	17	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	7/15
844	Dec	24	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	8/15
845	Dec	31	1938		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	9/15
846	Jan	07	1939		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	10/15
847	Jan	14	1939		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	11/15
848	Jan	21	1939		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	12/15
849	Jan	28	1939		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	13/15
850	Feb	04	1939		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	14/15
851	Feb	11	1939		To The "Snow Queen's" Aid	15/15
852	Feb	18	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	1/14
853	Feb	25	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	2/14
854	Mar	04	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	3/14
855	Mar	11	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	4/14
856	Mar	18	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	5/14
857	Mar	25	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	6/14
858	Apr	01	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	7/14
859	Apr	08	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	8/14
860	Apr	15	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	9/14
861	Apr	22	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	10/14
862	Apr	29	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	11/14
863	May	06	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	12/14
864	May	13	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	13/14
865	May	20	1939		House Of Hidden Peril	14/14