Van Buren, Abigail (1918-...), was the pen name of Pauline Phillips, who wrote a newspaper advice column called Dear Abby. The column, which Pauline's daughter Jeanne Phillips writes today under the same pen name, is published in over 1,200 newspapers in the United States and other countries. It largely consists of responses to reader questions about such subjects as family life, marriage, health, death, and social issues. The writers have often consulted with experts to help answer questions for the column.