Lenniger Literary Agency

The Lenniger Literary Agency was founded in 1923 by August Lenniger. Its purpose was to place a writer’s books and stories with publishers and to negotiate with the publishers. August Lenniger and Edith Margolis corresponded with hundreds of agency clients. The letters concern editing and sales of manuscripts, requirements and house rules of publishers, the state of the literary market, and personal problems of the writers.

From the guide to the Lenniger Literary Agency records, 1926-1975, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)

Ruth Macleod was born in Hanford, California and educated at the Eugene Bible College, Oregon and the University of California. She wrote romance and true confession stories. MacLeod was managed by the Lenniger Literary Agency.

From the guide to the Ruth MacLeod papers, 1953-1965, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)

Virginia Nielsen McCall (1909-2000) was an author of romantic and confession stories, self-help articles and books, and juvenile literature. McCall sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Virginia Nielsen. She was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and educated at the University of Idaho and University of California extension classes.

McCall began writing for greeting cards companies and short verse for religious publications in 1937. McCall branched out into self-help articles and then onto home-making and child care articles. McCall collaborated with Mrs. Warner on most of her confession stories. Her first agent was Edith Margolis of the Lenniger Literary agency. Later, McCall was the editor of the Columbia Press of Astoria.

McCall won the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 1983.

From the guide to the Virginia Nielsen McCall papers, 1935-1965, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)