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Home , William Gillette

December 1999 Volume 3 Number 4

"Your merits should be publicly recognizcu (STUD)

Contents Sherlock Holmes, a Centenary Essay by S. E. Dahlinger n November 6, 1899, three quar- ters of the way through the first Centenary Essay Howfortunate are those citizens whose own act of Sherlock Holmes, a tall, slen- 1 birth years made possible the magical experi- der Connecticut Yankee named ence of seeing William Gillette as Sherlock The Hubbs Family, G$t William Gillette walked onto the stage of Holmes at the beginning and again at the end the Garrick Theatre, City; 1 of his career in that part-whof first saw him thence, into legend. In lus finest imperson- as boys whistling in the gallery (that would ation, Mr. Gillette became so thoroughly 100 Years Ago be in 1899) and last saw him (that would be identified with the master detective that for 2 perhaps in 1932) as men of middle age all playgoers on both sides of the Atlantic, he but crying with happiness in their realization became Sherlock Holmes. Musings that they were still boys whose allegiance to 2 their hero never wavered. To help celebrate the centenary of the grand old melodrama, Ms. McKuras has 50 ymys Ago Vincent Starrett, B.S.1. invited me to explore that which is of unique scholarly interest re William Continued on page @dfmib@@Y#mG4 11 lit&% *WVb< L*d&s,*@&, From the President 4 The Hubbs Family Gift Acquisitions n December 2,1999 the Hubbs The Hubbs Family has three generations of 4 Family presented the University of Sherlocluans; father Ronald M. Hubbs, son George J. Hubbs, and grandson James E An Update from Minnesota with the first check of a 0planned three-year joint venture. Hubbs. The late Ronald M. Hubbs was an the Collections The Hubbs Fady dlbe donating early member of the Norwegian Explorers I $150,000 and the University dlmatch it and the Sherlock Holmes Society of with $80,000. The agreement Joe Connors' Crowded signed by George Hubbs and Box Room Thomas Shaughnessy, University 7 Librarian, calls for cataloging the Collections over the next three "A Certain Gracious years and raising additional money Lady " to endow a Collections Specialist. 7 T~Ewill be the largest monetary donation to the Sherlock Holmes "The Historian of Collections and will allow us to

This Bunch " achieve our goal of electronic jam,, HU~F,Margaret HU~~S,George HU~~S,~mJohnson, WC~ reurn, MD Dec 2,1999 access and dedicated personnel. I ' Remembrances , Continued on page 5 8 Fri& @the Sherlock Holrner Collections I P 1 I I I ' though he didn't think it good enough, opened in London, September 9, liked the idea of a Holmes play He 1901, and played through April 12, suggested actor-playwnght William 1902 with a short tour through Gillette for adapter and star. Gillette, England, Scotland and Ireland after- especially in his Civil War plays "Held ward. An additional scrapbook cov- by the Enemy" and "Secret Service", ered the simultaneous tour of the had shown his ability to write and act a show's second company in America, cerebral hero who dominated casually, with Cuyler Hastings as Sherlock by force of intellect. Holmes. These three scrapbooks were acquired by Dr. Philip Hench, In 1899, Holmes' "Final Problem" "May I many Holmes?' Gillette cabled who amassed a formidable Gillette sec- (Strand Maguzine, December, 1893) still Doyle. John Dickson Carr, in his tion in his Sherlockian collections, looked final. had 1949 biography of Doyle, thought the which was donated to the University no thought of writing more about answer should be No, "backed up, if of Minnesota. ( For discussion, see S. Holmes. He was watching the increas- necessary, with a butcher's cleaver." E. Dahlinger's article in this issue). ing tensions between the British and But Doyle said Gillette could marry Boers in South Africa. As of October 1, Holmes or murder him or do anything The popularity of the 1899 play, in the state of war was official. Doyle tried he liked with him. And when Gillette turn, increased the editorial pressure to enlist and was turned down as too arrived in England in May, 1899 with on Doyle to bring Holmes back to life. old. He arranged to go anyway, as a a completed manuscript (with If Holmes had survived Moriarty doctor. His writings about the war (The romance, but without murder), Doyle onstage, then why not in print? Back Great Boer War, 1900, and The War in was delighted with the script. from the Boer War, Doyle brought South Africa: Its Cawe and Conduct, Holmes back as well (The Return 1902) won lum the offer of the knight- Audiences were delighted, too. The opened in , hood he received in August, 1902. play opened for a try-out run in October, 1903): and Holmes Buffalo, NY, October 23, 1899, and remained in the repertoire of both In 1897, Doyle had written a "Holmesl' ran on Broadway, November 6, 1899- Doyle and Gillette for the rest of their play, but it hadn't sold. Beerbohm Tree June 16, 1900, with a tour along the lives. The Casebook of Sherlock was interested, but wanted so many east coast (and in a few large cities to Holmes was published in 1927, and changes (first he wanted to double the the west) in the following fall and Doyle died in 1930. Gillette last roles of Holmes and Moriarty, and then winter. Gillette compiled a scrapbook played Holmes in a radio broadcast in thought Holmes should be in disguise of the play's programs, reviews and 1935, published the text of the play so he could play him in a beard) that articles for this run. A matching the same year, and died in 1937. w Doyle gave it up. But producer Charles scrapbook covered his tour overseas. Frohman had seen Doyle's script, and After a week's try-out in Liverpool, he Ruth Berman

Musings

n The Fairie Queene, written in President Richard J. Sveum, M.D., has Dozen, has written of her recent conver- 1547, Edmund Spenser wrote "But exciting news about the display from the sation with Joe Connors about what it times do change and move continu- Collections that will be featured at the was like to see Wdham Gillette perform. ally" The same adage applies today B.S.I. cocktail party in January, 2000, as and ths issue of the Friends of the well as the recent donation from the It IS an honor to welcome Jon Lellenberg to the Editorial Board, as he is someone Sherlock Holmes Collections Newsletter Hubbs family ' I ' addresses several changes that have who can best be descnbed as a scholar I, affected the Collections. We are proud to have three new contrib- and a gentleman. Jon has written about I utors join our list of guest writers. S. E. the loss of Dorothy Rowe Shaw. The Sherlock Holmes Collections has Dahhger , ASH, has added to her grow- experienced considerable change with ing body of writings on William Gillette And to all, the complments of the the move to the new Elmer L. Andersen with her article. Ruth Berman, Vice- season. w Library Curator Tim Johnson's column President of the Friends of the Sherlock Julie McKuras updates everyone about the progress Holrnes Collections, has given us the made with the relocation. Friends of background of the Gillette play Pj the Sherlock Holmes Collections Doyle, ASH, co-editor of The Baker Street

2 P Friends of the Sherlock Holrnes Collections Gs Co., London, 1923; second illustrat- tioned in the Inventory of the Baker ed edition). The poem is dated late Street Journal, as well as movie stills to 1924, when Holmes was almost 71 actors with requests for signatures, years old. To the great detective's ' such as Raymond Massey and Arthur accomplishments must now be added Wontner. Andrew Peck, B.S.I., that of poet - or at least poetaster. remembers Bengis as collecting every One hundred copies of this first paperback edition of the Canon he separate edition have been printed by could find as well as every and any Mqer M. Dubin, of New York, N. Y,for edition of Sign, including piracies. distribution among the friends of Nathan Although Peck was a teenager when he "Christmas, 1924 L. Bengis at Christmastime, 1949.I' met Bengis, he noted that he was very lund and treated him as a Sherlockian To J. H. W, in fond remembrance: equal. That kindness included the The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam appar- concern Bengis exhibited for his well Awake! though decent folk be still abed. ently inspired Holmes to write his own being when he insisted that Peck only The game's afoot, my friend: need more version to his old friend Dr. Watson. come to visit him when his parents be said? He utilized the genre of poetry known could drive him. There's murder in the air, as the rubaiyat, a four-line quatrain gen- can and who tell erally utilizing an "aaba" rhyming Bengis was a prolific writer, correspon- But ere tonight another vvlll be dead?" scheme. Omar Khayyam, Persian math- dent and bibliographer. He con- ematician and philosopher, wrote his tributed articles and essays to the The quatrain above is the first of the lengthy Rubaiyat in 1120. The English Baker Street Journal, The Illustrious eight that comprise the Baker Street translation best known was published Client's Second Casebook, The Baker Rubaiyat. Contained in a four page by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859. Street Gasogene, and was recorded pamphlet that Nathan L. Bengis print- reading Baker Street Rubaiyat on ed and gave to hscolleagues in 1949. Nathan L. Bengis , B.S.I. ("The Lion's "Voices of Baker Street", the recording the title page states: Mane, 1950), was born in 1906 and of the 1957 Baker Street Irregulars was a New York languages teacher. dinner. He received the Two-Shilling BAKER STREET RUBAIYAT He founded The Musgrave Ritualists in Award in 1975. He passed away on BY 1948 with Morris Rosenblum and April 18, 1979. SWERLOCK HOLMES James Iraldi (whose Sherlockian collec- (With apologies to Edward Fitzgerald) tion, purchased in 1974, was the gene- The Sherlock Holmes Collections has sis ofthe Sherlock Holmes collections three copies of the Baker Street The Baker Street Rubaiyat bibliographi- at the University of Minnesota). Bengis Rubaiyat. Copy Number 23A was cal note supplies the reader with the was a serious collector of his favorite inscribed to John Bennett Shaw. Copy following information: canonical story, , Number 9, also from the Shaw "The foreging parody by Sherlock "three whole shelves of them" (Sherlock Collection, is inscribed to Jay E Christ Holmes was &overed neatly Holmes by Gas-Lamp, Editor Philip A. "in admiration of his profound inscribed on the inside of the front Shreffler, 1989, p. 390) and variant edi- Sherlockian scholarship". Copy cover of a beautiful copy of Edward tions. According to Peter Blau, B.S.I., Number 29A, from the Bill Rabe Fitz@rald's immortal classic OJethuen Bengis sent off for everything men- Collection, contains an inscription to Bill and Ann Rabe. w

Julie McKuras

Friends of the Sherlock Holrnes Collections P 3 From the President

s President of the Friends of South, New York City Michael E As we start our fifth year of Friends the Sherlock Holmes Whelan, "Wiggins" of the Baker Street activities, I want to thank everyone Collections, it is always Irregulars, stated that "John would be who has supported our work with ! rewarding to pass on good pleased that a large number of folks at their gifts of materials, funds and news to our members, especially at the Cocktail Party will have the oppor- advice. Our newsletter is now three this time of year. We wish to extend tunity to see some of his treasures." years old, and has been well received. our gratitude to the Hubbs Family for This is the first opportunity many peo- Our special thanks are extended to their most generous donation. The ple will have to see some of these those who have helped contribute to Friends group will also help meet the wonderful treasures. this success. v- Hubbs Family challenge to endow RichardJ. Sveum, M. D. Collection personnel. Mark your calendars for the Gala SveumOOl @tc.umn.edu Opening on April 8,2000 of the On January 15, 2000 select and very Elmer L. Andersen Library. We are rare items from the John Bennett Shaw also planning a Friends of the Sherlock Collection of Sherlock Holmes will be Holmes Collections gathering on that on display from 3 to 5:30 pm at the day Details of the planned meeting National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park will be in the next newsletter.

Acquisitions

t the recent Sherlock Holmes 1) The uncorrected proof of "Sherlock 6) A tape of the November 11, 1999 Festival in London, a com- Holmes and the Rune Stone Mystery" program "The World", submitted by ment was voiced that seems from Larry Millett. Tim Johnson, Jill Fritz, technical director at Public appropriate for the Sherlock Curator, accepted this at the October Radio station KPBS in San Diego. This Holmes Collections. Beryl Kolafa , a 19, 1999 meeting of the Norwegian program included the segment "Mon resident of Seattle, Washington and Explorers. Cher Sherlock". v- member of the Noble and Most Sacred Order of the Blue Carbuncle, The 2) "The Infernal Holmes: Dante in Julie McKuras Stormy Petrels, and The Sound of the Baker Street1', signed and sent to Baskervilles, stated, "If you had a 'sin- the Collections by author Dr. gular' item of Sherlockian interest, you Pasquale Accardo. would naturally send it to John 3) Number 18 of The Young Bennett Shaw because you knew that Swiss Messenger, the Irregular this was the one place where it would Newsletter of The Reichenbach be both enthusiastically received and Irregulars, edited by Michael well taken care of. " Meer and forwarded by Margritl That same care and enthusiasm that Geisser. Shaw embodied is the guiding interest 4) The Return of Sherlock Holmes of the Sherlock Holmes Collections. program, from the Sherlock Recent donations and acquisitions ~o&esFestival in London, held I have made the move to the new home L - Sept. 21 - 26, 1999 -Y of Special Collections and Rare Books -3 at the Elmer L. Andersen Library. 5) Materials from "Holmes Under 9" -0 Among the items received are: the Arch", conference held in St. 2a

4 P Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections I An Update from the Collections

y the time you receive th~~ We are also very pleased to announce a ' In early January we will be mounting an newsletter and read these words donation of $150,000 from the Hubbs &bit featuring the work of Derham our Collections should be com- Famdy that dlprovide monies to catalog Grove's architectural students. As a part B fortably housed in the new our collections. Both the donation and of their course work, students are asked Elmer L. Andersen Library. Most of the cataloging work will be spread out over a to design a conemporary late 20th centu- matenals were carefully moved into the three year period; cataloged items dlbe ry house for one of the following indvid- underground caverns at the end of accessible through the University of uals: , Jonas Oldacre, Peter October and the remaining items were Minnesota LibrarieS ohecatalogue Carey, or Nathan Garrideb. The exhibit, 1 scheduled to be moved shortly before the MNCAT. The cataloging of the whch is scheduled to run from mid- end of the semester and holiday break. Collections has been a long-term goal of January to rnid-March, 2000, dlshow- The move has been well organized and both the University Libraries and the case a number of models produced by the the large crew of movers has made sure Friends of the Sherlock Holmes students along with drawings and other that everydung has made it safely to the Collections and we are extremely grateful graphcs. new destination. The above-ground to the Hubbs Famdy for th~~gift. A cata- "superstructure"containing the offices, loging work team is now being organized Finally, word has reached us as hs readmg rooms, efibition space, and con- and work dlbegm in earnest shortly newsletter is going to press of the passing ference rooms was scheduled to be com- after the new year. As a part of hdona- of Dorothy Rowe Shaw. I met her during pleted in mid-December. Staff will be tion, the University Libraries has also my first B. S. I. weekend in New York last moving into their new offices sometime committed itself to raising a quarter mil- year and dlmiss her presence hyear. in early January The goal is to have lion dollars to create an endowed position She was a dear fnend of our Collections. everyone and everythmg in place by the for the Collections. T~Efund-raising Peace to her memory w ~I begmmng of the second semester. effort is part of the University's new capi- tal campaign. Timothy 1. Johnson, Curator

The Hubbs Family Gift Continued horn Page 1

London. He wrote "Holmes: The him. He is remembered by hs family as 1995 to July 1999. He was first a mem- Potential Entrepreneur" in the 1978 a voracious reader, book collector and ber of the Bootmakers of Toronto, join- Cultivating Sherlock Holmes. Ronald creative storyteller. ing the Norwegian Explorers in 1983 exemplified those important qualifica- and serving as Vice President from 1995 tions of an entrepreneur; he was George J. Hubbs remembers attending to 1997. He is now attending graduate President and Chairman of the Board of Norwegian Explorers meetings and dis- school in Library Science. the St. Paul Companies, and was active cussing the potential of the library. in cultural and phlanthropic affairs. He From his business travels, he knew that Margaret S. Hubbs is proud of her hus- received the St. Thomas Aquinas Medal Sherlock Holmes is a worldwide phe- band, son and grandson and their devo- from the University of St. Thomas, nomenon. His desire to see the tion to the Master and the life of the where he is honored with a named lec- Collections used by more people lead to mind, books and learning. We honor ture. The Ronald M. Hubbs Center for starting the Friends group in July, 1995. and thank this "singular set of people" Lifelong Learning in St. Paul, an adult For the last three years, he has lived in for their generous gift. w Savannah, Georgia, still traveling as a literacy program, and the Ronald M. Richard]. Sveum, MD Hubbs Reference Room in the business consultant. Minnesota Historical Society also honors James E Hubbs is well known to the X Friends as Collections Specialist from

Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 Sherlock Holmes, a Centenary Essay Continued from Page 1 cat-in-residence to a saucer of milk and of stills from the lost 1916 movie ver- half a sandwich. When Mr. Gillette was sion of Sherlock Holmes by Essanay If around, there was always a cat-in-resi- the Hench Collection ever shows signs dence! of bursting into flames, thwould be the Gillettiana to rescue. It is simply not If it was Mr. Gillette who lent his face replaceable. Two of the scrapbooks and figure to the Great Detective, it was contain the most complete documenta- (1873-1944), who tion of the early critical response in fixed Gillette permanently in the public America and England to Sherlock consciousness as the living embedment Holmes, plus feature articles written of Holmes, in a series of idealized por- about Gillette and his fellow cast mem- traits and breathtalung color covers in bers during the first years in which he Collier'sfor The Return of Sherlock played the title role. The third of the Holmes. As Andrew Malec, B.S.I., wrote, scrapbooks is devoted to the career of "...onewas left with the impression that Cuyler Hastings, who toured the circuit if Sherlock Holmes did not "really" of America's secondary theatres during resemble Steelek illustrations or William the early days of the play Gillette in the Wilson Library's Special Gillette, he should have done so, and it someof the rare stills from the Essanay Collections department --'a treasure was his loss that he did not." film are shown in The Shaw Festival's trove wherein important ana related to The third man we must consider is "Sherlock Holmes" by William Gillette [Being the Acting Edition performed at the script, its author, the illustrator who Vincent Starrett (1886-1974), who edit- The Shaw Festival, 19941, General made him immortal, and the editor of ed the script in close collaboration with Editors George A. Vanderburgh and the Doublelday Doran trade book edi- Mr. Gillette, preparatory to the tion of Sherlock Holmes happily coincide. Doubleday Doran trade book edition of Denis Johnston, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library and University of Sherlock Holmes (1935). Together, they When Mr. William Gillette (1853-1937) Minnesota Libraries, 1994. There are created "an intelligent blend or fusion stepped onto the stage of the Garrick other stills as yet unpublished; notably, of the previous texts, blending the best Theatre in 1899, he wore a black dress some show the now old-fashoned light- of each."3. Mr. Starrettk classic coat and trousers, a white dress vest, ing arrangement on the set. In his day, Sherlocluan text, The Private Life of black silk socks, black patent leather Mr. Gillette was known for innovative Sherlock Holmes was the first and most shoes, and a break collar with the cor- lighting and sound effects. The script of famous biography of the Great ners folded. He carried a cane in ~LS Sherlock Holmes as played at the Shaw Detective, as well as Starrett's most right hand and a hat and gloves in his Festival differs somewhat from the enduring work. He had first inter- left hand. As he entered, he moved a Doubleday Doran or even the Samuel viewed Mr. Gillette in the early years of trifle up center on talang off his over- French acting versions of the play and the century and formed an epistolary coat, to get properly into the line of the edition is valuable to a serious friendship with the aristocratic actor, sight. He then moved to a seat left ten- Gillette researcher chiefly for the essay which led to their c~llaboration.~ ter, not far from the door, and sat with a by Christopher Redmond, MBt, B.S.I., languid air. His cane remained in his By a delightful coincidence, some of the entitled "The Man Who Made Sherlock right hand and his blue eyes dreamily world's most important ana of the three Holmes Famous".6 faced front. The music stopped and the Sherlochan giants who produced the Other items in Mott's offering were an game was afoot. trade edition of Gillette's script are in the original pen and ink sketch of Gillette as Wilson Library. Three and a half hours later, having ' Holmes, a large quantity of portrait secured the Faulkner "papers",escaped The most interesting of the Special postcard of Gillettes, an envelope of death in the Stepney Gas Chamber, Collections holdings about Gillette came "Ghost Reviews1'from which "catch thwarted Moriarty and gotten the girl, by way of the late Howard S. Mott, a lmes" had been used for ads,' a 1900 Mr. Gillette returned to his dressing- Massachusetts dealer in rare books, first watercolor by J. Meyer, an elephant folio room, where he was helped into a editions and autographs. He offered en poster ,8 an oriplpen and mk carica- dressing-gown and slippers by his bloc, among other treasures, three scrap- ture of Gillette apparently used in the Japanese valet Osaki. Once his makeup books of clippings, souvenir programs, New YorkJournal-American newspaper, a was off and the last visitor was waved etc., of Gillettek theatrical career, mostly large number of photographs, and out the door, he probably treated the as Sherlock Holmes, and two envelopes Gillette's Christmas cards with Sherlochan themes. Continued on page 8 6 Friends ofthe Shedock Holmes Collections Joe Connors' Crowded Box Room

ach Sherlockian maintains a per- the great actor. Joe thought it an odd ' sonal collection of memories production with a "little guy" in the role tucked away more securely than of Billy the page, made famous by E any array of books, manuscripts . One particular image or other ephemera related to the world remains distinct: a scene where light of the Master Detective. Included will played upon the famous profile as the be a favorite adventure accompanied by detective observed, "Billy, you're a good The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections recollections of the first introduction to boy" Less impressive was the "fellow is a quarterly newsletter published by the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections that tale as well as one's earliest who played Moriarty in a gi-aylsh wig which seek to promote the activities, inter- encounter with Holmes himself. that made him look rather like a ests and needs of the Special Collections prophet of the Old Testament." and Rare Books Department, University of Few, however, can match the personal Minnesota Libraries. adventure of Nonvepn Explorer Joe The Metropolitan Theater stood on Mail editorial correspondence c/o: Connors. In recent conversation,Joe, Marquette Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in Minneapolis. Though it was who is Emeritus Professor of English at 13512 Granada Ave. the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, already in decline in 1932, Joe surmises Apple Valley, MN 55124 vividly recalled & encounter with that Gillette played those boards in the 612-431-1934 1890's when both actor and stage were 612-431-5965 Fax Sherlock Holrnes, as portrayed by [email protected] William Gillette. When asked to recall in more pristine shape. Joe first became the event, he harkened back to 1932, and aware of Holmes at about age 4, and his Editorial Board early reading experiences at age 7 or 8 Timothy Johnson, Jon Lellenberg, the Metropolitan Theater in Minneapolis. Bmce Southworth, Dr. Richard Sveum, It was there, as a teenager, that Joe sat in involved the Canon. Joe is a specialist in Victorian studies and co-authored Copyright 0 1999 the "shabby, rickety balcony.. .of the old University of Minnesota Library Cultivating Sherlock Holmes with Bryce theater" and watched a then-apg Gillette The University of Minnesota is an Equal perform in Sherlock Holmes. Crawford, B.S.I. ("The Solitary Cyclist"). Opportunity Educator and Employer. Additional recollections on Holmes can He clearly describes the actor in "tight- be found in Joe Connor's essay that fitting, reddish wig" mesmerizing the accompanies EMPT in The Baker Street audience. Joe recalls that the play itself Dozen. w was "weak" but that it served as a fine vehcle for the tableau, which featured Pj Doyle "A Certain Gracious Lady"

orothy Rowe Shaw died on Minnesota. She was guest of honor at Santa Fe, New Mexico to see the collec- November 24th, 1999, of renal the 1995 conference at the U. of MN. tion that is now at Minnesota. She was failure, surrounded by her fami- Library when the collection of John able to attend the B.S.I. weekend in ly in Milwaukee. Mrs. Shaw Bennett Shaw was formally dedicated. New York last January, and will be supported her husband John Bennett She was "The Woman" of the Baker missed by many Sherlockians around Shaw in his Sherlochan collecting, and Street Irregulars at the 1974 annual din- the entire world. w continued collecting after his death. ner of the B.S.I., and was a gracious She created the miniature of 221B Baker hostess to innumerable guests and pil- Jon Lellenberg Street, that is at the University of grims who came to the Shaws' home in "The Historian of This Bunch"

e are pleased to announce investiture, "Rodger Prescott of evil mem- tributed numerous writings and intro- that Jon Lellenberg, B.S.I. has ory", in 1974, The Two-Shilling Award in ductions for books and journals, includ- joined the Editorial Board for 1988, and the Morley- Montgomery ing "Holmes for the Holidays". His the Friends of the Sherlock Award in 1999. He is the author of five advice and scholarship have been and Holmes Collections Newsletter. In volumes so far about the &tory of the will continue to be welcome. w January, 1998,Jon was named Baker Street Irregulars, the most recent of "Thucydides",the official historian of the which, Irregular Crises of the late 'Forties, Julie McKuras Baker Street Irregulars. He received lus came out in August. He has also con-

Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections P 7 Sherlock Holmes, a Centenary Essay Continued rm page 6

Mr. Mott notes that IS one-page list was and an article for The Col~phon.~ subjects for the last 30 years, Susan's 'Ijust a brief resume of the content of the work has been in The Baker collection, whch was unique and hghly Finally, the library owes the material in Street Joumal, The Baker Street personal, a great many of the pieces The Vincent Starrett Library at least Miscellanea, Canadian Holmes, The being annotated by William Gillette." obliquely to Peter Stem, then of Pepper Sherlock Holmes Gazette and several He went on to say that it is "an irre- & Stem, Rare Books, who was asked by anthologes. She is a Friend of both the placeable source for the biographer or Starrett's literary executor Michael Sherlock Holmes Special Collections theatrical historian. As testimony to the Murphy to manage the disposition of and the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, immortality of a fictional character (sic) Starrett's massive collection of books Toronto. Susan is a member of a num- it cannot be rivaled." He asked $350.00 and papers. When Peter Stem ber of societies, most notably The for the collection, which was ultimately announced the availability of the Starrett Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes, The bought by Dr. Philip S. Hench. collection, it seemed appropriate that Bootmakers of Toronto, and The Arthur the bibliographic remains of the Dean of Conan Doyle Society Her current pro- Much of the material in the University American Sherlocluana should enrich ject is a book about William ~illette, Collections' Mary Kahler and Philip S. the University's Sherlochan holdings. A Vincent Starrett, and Sherlock Holmes. w Hench Arthur Conan Doyle Collection generous gift from John E. Andrus 111 Unpublished typescript draft of an address in honor of William relating to Frederic Dorr Steele was made the acquisition possible in 1988.1° Gillette's 100th birthday (1953). Stowe Foundation, Hartford, CT This is the major repository of the Gillette family papen. donated by Mary Kahler Hench in Andrew Malec. The Other Master: Frederic Dorr Steele, a December, 1978. In 1986, the library As a researcher in Special Collections, I Commemorative Essay Special Collections Gallery. 0. Meredith was much gratified by the professional- Wlkon Library, University of Mmesota for The Adventures of acquired The Frederic Dorr Steele Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota, September 28-29, 1984, Memorial Collection of letters, manu- ism and dispatch with whch my needs MinneapolB. were addressed by Jamie Hubbs. He ' Vincent Starrett, ed. "ANote on the Text," Sherlock Holmes, a play, scripts, photographs, printed and graph- by William G~ilette.W~th an Introduction by Vlncent Starrett. guarded me like a dragon during my Preface tot his edition by W~mGillette. Reminiscent Notes by ic materials and other memorabilia Frederic Dorr St.e.de, and line drawings by Frederic Dorr Steele. devoted to the life and career of the visit and did everything he could to see Garden City NY Doubleday Doran, 1953. 191 pp. great illustrator. The Collection was that I made an efficient, and ultimately Vincent Starrett. The Private LJe oJoflock Homes. NY useful, set of notes. I would like to Mamillan, 1933., 214 pp., ill. generously donated by Steele's children, S E Dahlnger, The Sherlock Holmes We Never Knew. Ile Baker Anne Steele Marsh, Zulma Steele Grey thank Andrew Malec, B.S.I., who has StreetJmmal, September 1999. been of unfailing cheer and helpfulness 6The essay would be more valuable still lI the volume had includ- and Robert G. Steele. Among the ed Mr. Redmond's carefully prepared foomotes, citing the articles important Sherlocluan materials are sev- during the beginning stages of my forth- to which he had access. Fortunately. I still have access to Mr coming book on Gillette and Sherlock Redmond, who has been Idndness itselt eral of his later sketches, hs own anno- ' A similar coUection is in the d~ppmgsfile of the New York Public Holmes. If these remarks have any Library's Performing Arts Collection and is similarly maddening for tated copy of the Doubleday Doran edi- rarely ciung date, page or publicauon. Holmes m~ghthave figured tion of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, value, it is entirely due to my walhng it out from typefaces, but it is beyond my abilities. hspersonal copies of Gillette's play, most carefully in his footsteps. This is an extremely large poster, suitable for advettising display Andrew Malec. The Other Master Frederic Dorr Steele (1984) Starrett's 221 B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes, and The Frederic Dorr Steele Memorial CoUecnon (19871, Special Bio: S.E. Dahlinger writes for the Collections and Rare Books, University of hesota Libraries, two carbons of Steele's "Veteran Artist much-admired series, The Case Files of Minneapolis Goes Reminiscent,"showing the piece in 'O~usunJ. McLean, Curator. An Exhibit from the Vncent Stamett Sherlock Holmes, Calabash Press. A Library (September 1 - October 12, 1989), Spenal CoUect~ons, two states: as a talk for the Grolier Club scholarly, witty speaker on Sherlochan Whon Lbrary. Umvers~tyof Minnesota, Minneapolis

i For any inquiries contact: Remembrances j Timothy J. Johnson, Curator In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made contributions j 612-624-3552 or either in honor or in memory of special persons. j [email protected] IN HONOR OF FROM : Sherlock Holmes Collections Dr. Howard Burchell Richard M. Caplan, MD 466 Wilson Library Joe Eckrich Julie McKuras j 309 19th Avenue South Ralph Edwards John Pforr j Minneapolis, MN 55455 Austin McLean Charles Press Amanda Rubeli Francine and Richard Kitts j Telephone: 612-624-7526 Bob Thomalen Paul Singleton i FAX: 612-626-9353 i Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 IN MEMORY OF FROM i Timothy J. Johnson, Curator Charles Altamont and Mary Josephine Doyle Phillip Bergem lean Conan Doyle lean U~ton kileen Hartsoe ~atz kott 60nd and Sherry Rose-Bond j Mailing list corrections requested- John Bennett Shaw Ray Betzner i Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, John Bennett Shaw Anders Wiggstrom we would appreciate being informed of changes of address or other corrections. 8 P Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections