Sherlock Holmes C O L L E C T I O

D S o F December 2009 n Volume 13 Number 4 e t 100 Years Ago...Continued from Page 2 i H R e

The New York Times stated that in 1897, Whatever the confusion is regard- canonical Trepoff, the notorious pun- F Dmitri “was shot and badly wounded by ing which Trepoff was shot by which ster John Bennett Shaw wrote an article Vera Sassoulich because he had her fian- Vera, we know that neither father nor in the December 1973 issue of the cé publicly flogged for failing to salute son died in 1887 or early 1888 when Baker Street Journal. The first line of an officer of the gendarmerie.” George Holmes was summoned to Odessa. “Sherlock Holmes was not Russian,” Barton’s statement about the attempted Holmes’s summons there must have was “At least he was hurried in 1887.” murder of Feodor by Vera Zassolic seems been interesting, and the name Trepoff very similar to the shooting of Dmitri by lives on. Michael Kurland uses it in his Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI Sherlock Holmes Vera Sassoulich. The Infernal Device. As for the c o l l e c t i o n s

“Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD) 50 Years Ago...Continued from Page 3

the modern skeptical movement. His in G. K. Chesterton, Gardner wrote a with nods to Doyle and Chesterton. But interest in the fringes of science started review of a pamphlet by Robert Mayer, a there is another interesting tid-bit. There C o n t e n t s The Sign of Four in the 1920s with Hugo Gernsback, edi- rival of Shaw amongst Chesterton collec- is a cameo by Carroll’s White Knight who tor of Weird Tales, and he picked up tors. Published in Baker Street Miscellanea, sings the poem, “When you are tired of t a meeting of the Younger Stamfords of Iowa City, Iowa, a gift was made to the most of Conan Doyle’s Spiritualism books the story is about a meeting of Sherlock virtue.” This poem was written by Vincent The Sign of Four group. Mike Kramme, a member of the Younger Stamfords, presented the society at William Targ’s bookstore in Chicago Holmes and Father Brown. Gardner has Starrett, and when he and Gardner met, 1 with a copy of a script of The Sign of Four. This “remarkable little drama” (ABBE) in the 1930s. In 1975 Gardner pub- written far more about Chesterton than in 1948, Gardner greatly amused Starrett has now been donated to the Sherlock Holmes Collections. 100 Years Ago A lished “The Irrelevance of Conan Doyle” Shaw ever did, including The Annotated by reciting it, and observing that it could in Beyond Baker Street: A Sherlockian Innocence of Father Brown and his new be sung to the tune of “When Irish Eyes 2 Dr. Michael Kramme is president of The Museum of Repertoire Americana. According to its Anthology, a Festschrift in honor of BSI The Fantastic Fiction of Gilbert Chesterton, are Smiling.” website, “The Museum of Repertoire Americana, located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is dedi- Commissionaire Julian Wolff edited by published by the Battered Silicon Dispatch 50 Years Ago cated to the preservation of memorabilia and artifacts of early repertoire theatre. The collec- Michael Harrison (Bobbs-Merrill, 1976). Box, which includes the Mayer review. Martin Gardner has kindly supplied a 3 tion includes numerous painted curtains and scenic pieces; costumes and equipment used by This article combined an attack on Doyle’s sidebar about Shaw to accompany this From the President individual performers and technicians; playbills, show cards, advertising sheets, etc.; and an extreme credulity with a whimsical bit of Finally in 1998 Gardner published the article. A similar article was published in extensive research library of rare scripts, correspondence, tour schedules, production photos Higher Criticism. pastiche Visitors from Oz to celebrate the the Baker Street Journal, December 1990. 4 and other original source materi- centenary of Baum’s original work. It con- Acquisitions als. Of special interest is the large In 1984, because of his abiding interest tains a character named Sheerluck Brown, Dana Richards BSI collection of videotaped interviews 4 with actual ‘troupers’ describing Remembrances An Update from their professional and personal In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons. experiences.” (http://www.thethe- the Collections atremuseum.com/home.html) The In Honor Of From David & Priscilla Hammond Thomas Galbo 5 museum opened on September Francine Kitts Al Gregory 1, 1973, reflecting the long-time Paul Lockwood John Lockwood A Visit to the Collections Julie McKuras Andy Fusco interest of repertoire theatre com- Julie McKuras Robert Katz, MD 5 pany owners and actors Neil and Julie McKuras Bill Vande Water Austin McLean Charles Press Musings Photo courtesy of Michael Kramme Caroline Schaffner. Sherlockian Friends Sandy Kozinn Theatre Museum in Mt. Pleasant Bob & Terry Thomalen Francine and Richard Kitts For any inquiries contact: 5 The Schaffners collected theatrical memorabilia from the 1850s to 1950s, a time when trav- In Memory Of From Timothy J. Johnson, Curator Elmer & Alice Beerman Judith Payne Remembering eling performing companies toured rural areas of the United States. The troupes performed June Berg Stanton Berg 612-624-3552 or “comedy, farce, Broadway hits, adapted classics and suspenseful mysteries in settings that Paul Churchill Andrew Solberg [email protected] John Bennett Shaw Jim Duval Ralph Hall ranged from small-town opera houses to empty-lot tent theatres.” When the museum Joe Fink Dorothy Stix 6 opened on the grounds of the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Association, volunteers Sidney Goldberg Robert Hess Sherlock Holmes Collections catalogued the Schaffners’ collection. Since that time, numerous donations have been Richard Lancelyn Green Allan T. Devitt and Susan Z. Diamond Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library Annual Meeting of the Richard Lancelyn Green Robert Hess received of materials from the more than four hundred touring companies of that time, Richard Lancelyn Green Andrew Malec University of Minnesota Friends of the Sherlock Don Hardenbrook Vincent Brosnan 222 21st Ave. S. from their actors and their families. In addition to the materials listed, the museum holds Allen Mackler Paul and Carole Martin Minneapolis, MN 55455 Holmes Collections newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, dissertations and items from minstrel shows, showboats Allen Mackler Patricia Nelson Joseph & Eleonore Margolin Jerry Margolin Telephone: 612-626-9166 7 and Chautaquas. The museum is also home to the Caroline Schaffner Research Library. Gordon Marlow Bob Price FAX: 612-625-5525 In 1995 work began on a database for interested researchers to access. The Museum Martha McCormack Dorothy Stix E. W. McDiarmid Mike and Julie McKuras My Donation to the produces one of the old repertoire plays each summer. Michael K. Mullaly Michael Kean Mailing list corrections requested— Sherlock Holmes Collections Patricia Nelson Mike and Julie McKuras Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, Alvin E. Rodin Jack Key Dr. Kramme located the duplicate copy of The Sign of Four that was originally part of the Philip Sherman John Pforr we would appreciate being informed of changes 7 collection of Robert J. Sherman of Chicago, who ran a play bureau leasing scripts to these Jan Stauber Al Gregory of address or other corrections. Chris Steinbrunner Russell Merritt Remembrances Continued on page 6 Edith Umansky Dorothy Stix Timothy J. Johnson, Curator 8 8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1 Annual Meeting of the Friends of the true crimes and mysteries, as well as and at the same time, the hearty detes- Sherlock Holmes Collections historical works, including one detail- tation of the people....Vera Zassolic, a ing the work of Catholic nuns during young Nihilist, shot at him while he he annual meeting of The Elmer L. Andersen Director of Archives the Civil War. He died in Philadelphia was seated in his office in the early Friends of the Sherlock Holmes and Special Collections Kris Kiesling in March 1940. part of 1880.” Despite his personal- Collections was held on Thursday, announced that during the next 6-8 100 ity flaws, Trepoff’s detective skills and November 19 in the Givens Suite month period Tim Johnson will move The book includes fifteen chapters instincts enabled him to capture the T of the Andersen Library, and was into a half time position as the E. W. The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections y e ars a g o of true crimes and the police officials potential assassins and prevent the called to order by Dr. Richard McDiarmid Curator of the Sherlock is a quarterly newsletter published by the who solved them. Barton wrote in Czar’s death, which was planned for Sveum, President. During his remarks, Holmes Collections. Tim will continue Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections The True Stories of Celebrated which seek to promote the activities, inter- his introduction, “With the exception March 13, 1887. Dick announced that the 2010 confer- half time in his current role as director of Crimes: Adventures of the World’s ests and needs of the Special Collections of necessary liberties in construction ence, jointly hosted by the Friends, the Special Collections. and Rare Books Department, University of Greatest Detectives Sherlock Holmes Collections and the and a few pardonable embellishments, We know who General Trepoff was, Minnesota Libraries. Norwegian Explorers, has been resched- Tim Johnson presented the state of but who was the Trepoff named in “A Mail editorial correspondence c/o: The contentedly married Dr. Watson uled for August 6-8. the Collections with particular empha- Scandal In Bohemia”? In “Scandalous wrote in “A Scandal in Bohemia” that sis on his travels over the past year. Editor Bohemian Names,” Chapter Seven in his own “complete happiness, and Tim Johnson, Curator of Special Through these travels, he has worked to Julie McKuras Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Sources, Collections, reviewed the current fund build relationships with the libraries of 13512 Granada Ave. the home-centred interests which rise Donald A. Redmond writes of the balances and explained how the money Portsmouth and London, and with the Apple Valley, MN 55124 up around the man who first finds 952-431-1934 Trepoff murder which was the reason is used to acquire and sustain the collec- University of Regina in Saskatchewan. himself master of his own establish- [email protected] for Holmes’s summons to Odessa: tion. Tim also cited the continued valu- Tim was also presented with the Bryce L. ment” had caused him to drift apart able volunteerism of Lucy Brusic, Julie Crawford Award for his article “He Made Editorial Board from Sherlock Holmes. Watson was John Bergquist, Timothy Johnson, Christopher Redmond rejects McKuras, and Dick Sveum. a Journey Abroad,” in the June 2009 aware, though, of one “vague account” Jon Lellenberg, Richard J. Sveum, M.D. the idea of Feodor Feodorovich issue of this newsletter. of his friend’s activities, and that was Julie McKuras reviewed the history of Trepoff, police prefect of St. Holmes’s “summons to Odessa in the the Friends quarterly newsletter which John Bergquist gave the keynote address Petersburg, who was wounded by case of the Trepoff murder.” is now in its thirteenth year and mailed titled The Manuscript of “The Adventure a young woman Nihilist in 1878, Copyright © 2006 to 366 subscribers throughout the of the Three Students” and Its Publication University of Minnesota Library and who died in 1889 — but A Scandal in Bohemia occurred in March world. The election of officers was then in Facsimile. Mark your calendars for apparently not by murder. He sug- conducted by Michael McKuras. Phillip the next Friends meeting to be held on 1888. Twenty-one years later, journal- The University of Minnesota is an Equal gests Feodor Feodorovich’s son, Bergem stepped down from the Board, August 6, 2010. ist and author George Barton’s The True Opportunity Educator and Employer. Dmitri Feodorovich, who in his Tim Reich was elected as a new member- Stories of Celebrated Crimes: Adventures turn became commandant of the at-large, and all other board members Michael McKuras of the World’s Greatest Detectives was Imperial Police. remained in their roles. published by McKinlay Stone and Mackenzie of New York. One true General Trepoff and the Russian Students Dmitri Fedorovich’s obituary in the story Barton recounts is the adventure September 16, 1906 New York Times My Donation to the Sherlock Holmes Collections of “General Trepoff and the Russian these stories may be accepted as a noted that his father, Feodor, was By Russell Merritt BSI Students,” an investigation set in March series of real human documents.” He “a foundling, whose parents were 1887. John Bennett Shaw had a copy of also noted that “It is a fact, neverthe- never known. He was found upon y donation to the Sherlock Joe Franklin’s Down Memory Lane — the — inspiring newcomers and showing this book in his collection. less, that the raw truth often possesses the back doorstep of a German fam- Holmes Collections is meant to whiz kid who later became the network’s them the possibilities of the modern greater human interest than the most ily, by whom he was taken in, and the honor the memory of my friend film programming director. But unof- Sherlockian world. He would have been George Barton was born in 1866 in Chris Steinbrunner, who died ficially he presided over a wide range enthusiastic about what’s being accom- polished fiction.” “General Trepoff and name of Trepphof (German for door- Philadelphia and joined the staff of the M in 1993. Many of you reading of interlocking activities. He organized plished today with the Sherlock Holmes the Russian Students” recounts the step) was bestowed upon him for the city’s Evening Star when he was sev- this didn’t have the opportunity local film series, produced mystery and Collections. story of Trepoff’s investigation into a place where he was found.” Feodor enteen. Within two years he assumed to know this unique man. horror radio dramas; headed the New Nihilist threat to the Czar’s life in the rose to power in the service of Czar the role of city editor. By the age of York chapter of the Mystery Writers of early part of March 1887. Trepoff was Alexander II and died in 1889. His twenty-one, in 1887, he was employed Today I suppose Chris Steinbrunner America; hosted book review programs; “in control of the secret service depart- son Dmitri followed his father’s path would be called a mentor, but in the organized Sherlock Holmes exhibitions, by the Philadelphia Inquirer, serv- ment of the police of St. Petersburg into the police department and was 1950s he seemed to me more like a Pied film screenings, and seances; and found- ing as political editor and legislative during the lawless period extending named Police Master of Moscow and Piper. Sherlockians will best remember ed the Priory Scholars of Fordham scion correspondent. He was active in the from 1875-1880.” Barton describes later Governor General of Moscow. He him as the author of The Films of Sherlock society. I met him in 1957 at a Mystery American Catholic Historical Society, M. Trepoff as “a typical example of the was described as ruthless and so hated Holmes and The Encyclopedia of Mystery Writers of America cocktail party. I was and eventually worked for several Russian policeman — cold, remorse- that even his own relatives tried to kill and Detection. But for those of us who a high school sophomore at the time; he other newspapers as well as secretary knew him he was the urbane whirling was already an award-winning scriptwrit- less, and as inevitable as fate.” He also him. He was only 50 years old when to the collector of customs of the Port dervish who could spin out ideas and er. But as fellow lovers of Conan Doyle, noted that Trepoff was “successful in he died on September 15, 1906 as a of Philadelphia from 1898 to 1913. projects faster than a speeding New York we bonded. In the years that followed no this difficult position because he won result of a “heart affection and asth- He wrote a number of books related to subway. Officially he was a copy writer at one was more encouraging than Chris in the warm commendation of the Czar, matic troubles.” WOR-TV, banging out scripts for Zacherly getting me to write stories, essays, and Photo courtesy of Karen and Bill Palmer Continued on page 8 the Cool Ghoul, Million Dollar Movie, and scripts. This became his stock in trade Chris Steinbrunner 2 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 7 The Sign of Four... Continued from Page 1 touring companies. He also noted: and repeat the plays the following week.” held by the museum. It features the ing Doyle to the table, and Shaw Shaw was now married to the red- “When a company manager leased a canonical characters, with a few mis- Chesterton whom the Notre Dame haired Margaret, who Gardner recalls play, he was sent only one copy of the The Museum’s website includes a list of spellings, and concludes with Holmes’s alumnus admired. They ordered a was every bit as witty as Shaw himself. entire play. This was for the director. This familiar faces who toured in repertoire statement: “You have saved the treasure copy of Vincent Starrett’s Private Life The Shaw household was a meeting is one of those copies. The manager also companies. Those named include Clark Wiggins — and for the woman I love.” of Sherlock Holmes. Gardner wrote to place of the literary and liberal crowds received a set of ‘parts.’ One part for each Gable, Chill Wills, Lyle Talbot, Irene 5y e ars0 a g o Starrett about his claim that the color of of Tulsa. Gardner recalls meeting role. The part had only the individual Ryan, Warner Baxter, Milburn Stone (who Dr. Richard Caplan, BSI (“Dr. Jackson”) Holmes’s eyes was unknown; Gardner William Saroyan there, as well as the actor’s cues and lines rather than the appeared as Captain Vickery in the 1943 wrote that since the Younger Stamfords knew they were grey. No record of this occasional fellow-traveler. Gardner was entire script. This made the memoriza- film Sherlock Holmes Faces Death with Basil have “no archives of any sort, it seemed The Gardner -Shaw Connection correspondence survives, but Shaw not in Tulsa long, going on to Chicago tion of lines much easier and faster. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce), Ralph Bellamy, to me that it might be appropriate once said in an interview that he and and New York, eventually working Many of these companies performed five Red Skelton, and Melvyn Douglas. for the collection at the University of Martin Gardner is a writer known to Gardner often met with Starrett when on the children’s magazine Humpty or six plays in rotation. Typically, they Minnesota, if they didn’t already have many people for his more than 75 they haunted Chicago bookstores Dumpty. would perform the plays during one The Sign of Four is an original, with two one, or one like that.” books on many subjects, from phi- together in the 1930s. (Gardner does week, and then move to the next town copied pages from the primary script losophy to Oziana, mathematics to not recall this, though he does recall Gardner’s first true Sherlockian piece Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI Chesterton, pseudoscience to poetry, other encounters with Starrett.) was “The Missing Walnuts,” a Humpty magic to religion. And he has written Dumpty story that was reprinted in about Sherlock Holmes. Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in 1956. (Frederic Dannay, BSI, “The Remembering John Bennett Shaw In his unpublished memoirs, Gardner, Dying Detective,” was an acquain- By Martin Gardner now 95, writes about a high school tance.) Next was a Sherlockian allu- experience. sion in “The Mysterious Tracks,” My best friend during my high school Irregulars. Decades later, when I lived in English literature, and I was struggling printed in the Arrow Book of Brain days, then and thereafter, was John in Manhattan, Shaw would invite me to survive on occasional sales to little One day an English teacher asked Teasers, 1959 (the justification for this Shaw, the legendary book collector and to the annual Irregular banquets. On magazines. After that we drifted apart, I everyone in class to say what book article). In 1960 he released his best- Sherlock Holmes scholar. I cannot now January 8, 1971, Shaw was the after-din- to Chicago and into the Navy, and to even they had most enjoyed during the selling book, The Annotated Alice, pub- recall how we met. It was an unlikely ner speaker. His talk was titled “To Shelve more years in New York City. past few months. She expected us lished by Clarkson Potter, with whom event because John, a devout Catholic, or To Censor: some disturbing thoughts Gardner had a good relationship. This attended a Catholic school while I, raised about, and disgusting evidence from, the In addition to collecting, Shaw somehow to name such novels as Ivanhoe was the first popular annotated work a Methodist, attended a public school. Sherlock Holmes Canon.” It opened with managed to hold down several jobs in or Vanity Fair, which had been Our paths diverged when I entered the Shaw saying that he had reread the entire Tulsa. Margaret’s family owned a funeral assigned reading, but when it came of literature, and spurred many similar University of Chicago and Shaw enrolled Canon prior to a move to Santa Fe after home. After her father jumped to his to my turn I said The Adventures of works. Gardner knew W. S. Baring- at Notre Dame. the death of Margaret, his first wife. Shaw death out of a hospital window, John Sherlock Holmes. Everyone in the Gould, who worked at Time-Life Inc., said he was profoundly shocked to dis- took over the management of the funeral class tittered except the teacher and introduced him to Potter; in 1962 Chicago is not far from Notre Dame, so cover that the canonical books were satu- home. For a while he even drove the who looked pained. Baring-Gould and his wife, Ceil, pub- there were many happy get-togethers in rated with blatant porn! He would surely home’s ambulance! [hearse?] I remember lished The Annotated Mother Goose. the Windy City. We enjoyed dining at have to keep the books locked way from him telling me about having to take a Gardner was quoted in the Tulsa And of course Baring-Gould went on Chicago’s top restaurants, and exploring his young daughter Hodgie. badly wounded person to the hospital Tribune, when just 12, asserting to do The Annotated Sherlock Holmes the city’s rare bookstores. A heavy-set after a bad traffic accident. Holmes was his favorite! for Potter, published in 1967. man, Shaw nevertheless was light on his What followed in Shaw’s notorious talk The Mysterious Tracks feet, and actually played on Notre Dame’s were dozens of startling quotations. In He also bought and managed Tulsa’s finest Shaw owned a book called Famous tennis team! I attended one match on the “The Red Headed League,” for example, new-books and records shop. My article, While he attended Tulsa Central high Chicago campus when his team won. a dbanker laments the fact that he was “Tulsa’s Fabulous Bookman,” appeared in school, John Bennett Shaw was at a After that summer Gardner and Starrett Single Poems, by Burton Stevenson, forced to miss his usual Saturday night The Tulsan, a local periodical. Shaw also parochial school in Tulsa. Gardner roomed together in New York City, that inspired Gardner’s life-long inter- Shaw’s first major book collection was of rubber. In “The Speckled Band,” Holmes found time to take care of a shallow-oil does not recall how they met, but they when Shaw went to graduate school est in single-poem poets. So when the writings of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, remarks that that morning he knocked drilling company started by an uncle. became fast friends and Shaw was a there. Gardner had dropped out of Gardner produced his Annotated Casey a famous British author we both admired, up Mrs. Hudson, his landlady. And so on. frequent visitor to Gardner’s home. Chicago Theological Seminary and was at the Bat, he returned the favor to especially for his Father Brown mysteries. Although the talk had the audience rolling John’s second marriage was to Dorothy, Gardner’s family could afford a home hoping to break into the free-lance Shaw by including in his book refer- Shaw later gave his collection to Notre in the aisles, it was unsuitable for publica- who had been a clerk at his bookstore. tennis court and Shaw was a fine ten- market. After four months, with his ences to the Kansas town Moorville, Dame. It contains many rare items such tion in the Irregulars’ journal. Happily it She is best remembered in Sherlockian nis player. Oddly, Gardner never met funds depleted, having sold nothing (Mudville) which had been mentioned as a never-published set of drawings was preserved in a fanzine called Shades of circles for her beautiful model of 221B Shaw’s parents. he had written, they parted company, in “The Three Garridebs.” G.K. did for Wilkie Collins’s novel The Sherlock (Vol. 5, No. 2, August 14, 1971). Baker Street, accurate even to its bullet and Gardner returned to Tulsa and to Moonstone. My copy is inscribed “To Martin Gardner holes in the wall and the number of steps Gardner spent 25 years at Scientific who will understand, being a careful to its entrance. As their undergraduate days ended a series of mundane jobs and Navy After G.K., Shaw turned his attention to reader, too. John Bennett Shaw, BSI.” they got together, in 1937, for a sum- service. In 1948 Gardner, still free- American, setting the standard for Sherlock Holmes and soon had one of the After our undergraduate days John and Shaw was often asked if Sherlock Holmes mer of directed reading. Two authors lancing, wrote about Shaw for the Tulsa popular exposition of mathematics. world’s finest collections of Holmesiana. I shared an apartment near Columbia was a real person or just a fictional char- among many they concentrated on Magazine, after Shaw had returned to His tireless efforts against pseudosci- Shaw was active in the Baker Street University where Shaw was taking courses acter. He always answered, “Yes.” were Doyle and Chesterton. At this Tulsa and was operating a successful ence have made him the father of remove Gardner remembers bring- bookstore. Continued on page 8

6 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 3 From the President An Update from the Collections he Friends of the Sherlock The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota Next year’s annual membership meet- He had travelled a good deal in in February and March with fantastic resources; interviews have already been Holmes Collections annual was welcomed as a new member of ing will take place on August 6, 2010 in his time” (VALL) opportunities to explore collections and given to Public Radio’s “Studio 360” membership meeting occurred the Sigerson Society, created to honor conjunction with The Spirits of Sherlock develop new relationships. The year of program and the Associated Press. The on November 19, 2009. As donors who contribute ten thou- Holmes, an international conference at In November I presented my travel was capped off with the delightful University’s Media Relations department “ is also working with us to provide addi- T Mike McKuras noted in his sand dollars in gifts or pledges to The the Andersen Library from August 6- annual “state of the collections” address Doyle symposium at Harvard in May. article about it, officers were re-elected, Sherlock Holmes Collections. 8, 2010 sponsored by the Friends, the to Friends at our annual meeting. Here, tional exposure of the Collections. And, of course, our next conference in 2010 we welcomed Tim Reich as a new board University of Minnesota Libraries and in shortened form, are some highlights The year also saw an increase in the will give us a chance to share more of member and thanked Phil Bergem for John Bergquist, BSI gave the Keynote the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota. from that talk. collections through gifts and purchases. Notable gifts included the estate of the the collections — through exhibit and his many years of dedicated service Address titled The Manuscript of “The This last year has been a time of travel… late Francine Swift, with other important programs — with our Friends and the on the board. It was my pleasure to Adventure of the Three Students” and Its As 2009 comes to an end, please con- to and from the Collections. We saw a donations from Peter E. Blau, David L. public. present Tim Johnson with the Bryce Publication in Facsimile, based on the sider a generous donation of time and number of groups, families, classes, and Hammer, Lee Karrer, Andrew Jay Peck presentation he gave at the Arthur material, not just money. We are thank- L. Crawford, Jr. Award for the best individual visitors to the Library, to see and others. We continue our fruitful In the end, we are in a strong position ful for all our Friends. With your help article in the Friends Newsletter in Conan Doyle symposium at Harvard in exhibits, learn about our holdings, and relationship with Otto Penzler and the in terms of finances, collections, and we will make The Sherlock Holmes 2009. He also delivered the State of the May. The silent auction was a great suc- explore those riches. At the same time, Mysterious Bookshop and enjoy the the continuing dedication of you our Collections Address. cess, with all money going to the E.W. Collections a World Center for research we found ourselves traveling to other local expertise of Steve Stilwell. Friends. We can’t do what we do with- McDiarmid Curatorship Endowment. and study of all things Sherlockian. places — to share our own experiences out you. Through your involvement as and to learn from others working in the And we continue to look for new ways volunteers, board members, newslet- Richard J. Sveum, M.D., BSI same vineyard. Last November found to share the collection with others. Our ter authors and editors, and donors of us in Regina, Saskatchewan, delivering expanding roster of finding aids to archi- money and materials you are moving papers and sharing panel discussions val collections and the upcoming Media us along our way to become the world’s at the University’s Doyle symposium. Repository, to be launched in 2010, will center for the study and appreciation of Acquisitions In January we were in New York and allow us to mount many of the audio- our most famous consulting detective, the annual birthday gathering of the visual resources from the Collections. Sherlock Holmes. Thank you! And best arry Czarnecki donated his issued for the events held October Gayle Lange Puhl sent in holographic Irregulars. The high point of the year We expect that the forthcoming movie wishes for the coming year! original pastel painting of 31st and November 1st of this year. copies of “my 1966 correspondence was my visit to London and Portsmouth Sherlock Holmes will draw further atten- Holmes and Watson, titled Also, John Bergquist donated the with Vincent Starrett,” which included tion to the Library and our Holmes Tim Johnson Sleuths, to the Sherlock printer’s proof for Two Celebrations, two letters from Starrett and a signed L Holmes Collections. Tim edited by Candace Lewis, the race copy of his sonnet “221B.” Johnson accepted it at the December handbook he produced for the Baker A Visit to the Collections 3rd Norwegian Explorers Annual Street Irregulars. Also received: the latest issues Dinner. of Foolscap Document and Three n late November, Associated Press reporter Jeffrey Baenen and photographer Dawn George Hubbs visited the Collections Garridebs flyer; the September 2009 Villella toured the Sherlock Holmes Collections. Baenen interviewed Tim Johnson, on November 16. While there, he Footprints & Lens of the Ribston-Pippins, Dick Sveum and Julie McKuras for a planned article to run in conjunction with the donated two books: The Sign of Four the Sound of the Baskervilles Ineffable release of the movie Sherlock Holmes in December. and a volume containing The Hound Twaddle, The Moor from Sweden’s I Photo by Julie McKuras of the Baskervilles and A Study in Baskerville Hall Club, Prescott’s Press Timothy Johnson, Jeffrey Bainen and Dawn Villella Scarlet. The books are printed in either and Camden House Journal. Musings Russian or Ukranian. e’re pleased to welcome article by John Tierney about Gardner. Steinbrunner as “a good friend - and an four new writers to this Entitled “For Decades, Puzzling People amazing man,” for sharing their photo. Emory Lee donated two items of issue of our newsletter. With Mathematics,” Tierney covered Our other articles feature a new dona- interest to the Sherlock Holmes Dana Richards writes Gardner’s writing history, calling Gardner tion to the Collections as well as the 100 Collections. Emory forwarded the May W about Martin Gardner, in “the world’s best-known recreational Years Ago piece about the mysterious

Photo by Reich Tim 10, 1944 Life magazine issue featur- recognition of Gardner’s 1959 The Book mathematician, [who has] probably General Trepoff. Larry Czarnecki and Tim Johnson ing a long and detailed article titled of Brain Teasers. Dana is working on a introduced more people to the joys of “Sherlock Holmes, The Great Detective biography of Gardner, which will be in math than anyone in history.” The Sherlock Holmes Collections have Susan Diamond contributed several Takes a New Lease on Life” on pages addition to a 350-page bibliography of seen a slight surge in interest with the items of interest prepared for the 50th 77-82 and the Fall 2009 Stanford Gardner’s works. Dana noted that the upcoming release of the film Sherlock Mike McKuras, “partner and confidant” Medicine with an article entitled Sherlock Holmes Collections, which Holmes. Good or bad as it might be, it’s Running of the Chicago Silver Blaze: of the editor, covers the Friends of the number 73 of 111 of her History “Medical Mysteries: Where’s Holmes holds a file of the Shaw/Gardner corre- always a pleasure to see reporters and Photo by Julie McKuras Sherlock Holmes Collections annual spondence, was helpful to him in writ- photographers visiting the library. of the Race, number 49 of 110 of When We Need Him?” exploring sev- George Hubbs and Tim Johnson meeting. Last but not least, Russell ing the biography. Martin Gardner, who Congratulations from Sherlockian Scions, eral medical cases. Merritt writes about his friend Chris turned 95 on October 19th this year, We all hope that everyone has a good and the special commemorative pin Steinbrunner (“The Tankerville Scandal,” has added here his own remembrance of holiday season, and that we’ll see many BSI) and why he chose to make a dona- his friend John Bennett Shaw. My thanks of you in New York next month. tion in his memory. I’d like to thank to Jon Lellenberg who forwarded the Karen and Bill Palmer, who describe text of the October 19th New York Times Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI

4 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 From the President An Update from the Collections he Friends of the Sherlock The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota Next year’s annual membership meet- He had travelled a good deal in in February and March with fantastic resources; interviews have already been Holmes Collections annual was welcomed as a new member of ing will take place on August 6, 2010 in his time” (VALL) opportunities to explore collections and given to Public Radio’s “Studio 360” membership meeting occurred the Sigerson Society, created to honor conjunction with The Spirits of Sherlock develop new relationships. The year of program and the Associated Press. The on November 19, 2009. As donors who contribute ten thou- Holmes, an international conference at In November I presented my travel was capped off with the delightful University’s Media Relations department “ is also working with us to provide addi- T Mike McKuras noted in his sand dollars in gifts or pledges to The the Andersen Library from August 6- annual “state of the collections” address Doyle symposium at Harvard in May. article about it, officers were re-elected, Sherlock Holmes Collections. 8, 2010 sponsored by the Friends, the to Friends at our annual meeting. Here, tional exposure of the Collections. And, of course, our next conference in 2010 we welcomed Tim Reich as a new board University of Minnesota Libraries and in shortened form, are some highlights The year also saw an increase in the will give us a chance to share more of member and thanked Phil Bergem for John Bergquist, BSI gave the Keynote the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota. from that talk. collections through gifts and purchases. Notable gifts included the estate of the the collections — through exhibit and his many years of dedicated service Address titled The Manuscript of “The This last year has been a time of travel… late Francine Swift, with other important programs — with our Friends and the on the board. It was my pleasure to Adventure of the Three Students” and Its As 2009 comes to an end, please con- to and from the Collections. We saw a donations from Peter E. Blau, David L. public. present Tim Johnson with the Bryce Publication in Facsimile, based on the sider a generous donation of time and number of groups, families, classes, and Hammer, Lee Karrer, Andrew Jay Peck presentation he gave at the Arthur material, not just money. We are thank- L. Crawford, Jr. Award for the best individual visitors to the Library, to see and others. We continue our fruitful In the end, we are in a strong position ful for all our Friends. With your help article in the Friends Newsletter in Conan Doyle symposium at Harvard in exhibits, learn about our holdings, and relationship with Otto Penzler and the in terms of finances, collections, and we will make The Sherlock Holmes 2009. He also delivered the State of the May. The silent auction was a great suc- explore those riches. At the same time, Mysterious Bookshop and enjoy the the continuing dedication of you our Collections Address. cess, with all money going to the E.W. Collections a World Center for research we found ourselves traveling to other local expertise of Steve Stilwell. Friends. We can’t do what we do with- McDiarmid Curatorship Endowment. and study of all things Sherlockian. places — to share our own experiences out you. Through your involvement as and to learn from others working in the And we continue to look for new ways volunteers, board members, newslet- Richard J. Sveum, M.D., BSI same vineyard. Last November found to share the collection with others. Our ter authors and editors, and donors of us in Regina, Saskatchewan, delivering expanding roster of finding aids to archi- money and materials you are moving papers and sharing panel discussions val collections and the upcoming Media us along our way to become the world’s at the University’s Doyle symposium. Repository, to be launched in 2010, will center for the study and appreciation of Acquisitions In January we were in New York and allow us to mount many of the audio- our most famous consulting detective, the annual birthday gathering of the visual resources from the Collections. Sherlock Holmes. Thank you! And best arry Czarnecki donated his issued for the events held October Gayle Lange Puhl sent in holographic Irregulars. The high point of the year We expect that the forthcoming movie wishes for the coming year! original pastel painting of 31st and November 1st of this year. copies of “my 1966 correspondence was my visit to London and Portsmouth Sherlock Holmes will draw further atten- Holmes and Watson, titled Also, John Bergquist donated the with Vincent Starrett,” which included tion to the Library and our Holmes Tim Johnson Sleuths, to the Sherlock printer’s proof for Two Celebrations, two letters from Starrett and a signed L Holmes Collections. Tim edited by Candace Lewis, the race copy of his sonnet “221B.” Johnson accepted it at the December handbook he produced for the Baker A Visit to the Collections 3rd Norwegian Explorers Annual Street Irregulars. Also received: the latest issues Dinner. of Foolscap Document and Three n late November, Associated Press reporter Jeffrey Baenen and photographer Dawn George Hubbs visited the Collections Garridebs flyer; the September 2009 Villella toured the Sherlock Holmes Collections. Baenen interviewed Tim Johnson, on November 16. While there, he Footprints & Lens of the Ribston-Pippins, Dick Sveum and Julie McKuras for a planned article to run in conjunction with the donated two books: The Sign of Four the Sound of the Baskervilles Ineffable release of the movie Sherlock Holmes in December. and a volume containing The Hound Twaddle, The Moor from Sweden’s I Photo by Julie McKuras of the Baskervilles and A Study in Baskerville Hall Club, Prescott’s Press Timothy Johnson, Jeffrey Bainen and Dawn Villella Scarlet. The books are printed in either and Camden House Journal. Musings Russian or Ukranian. e’re pleased to welcome article by John Tierney about Gardner. Steinbrunner as “a good friend - and an four new writers to this Entitled “For Decades, Puzzling People amazing man,” for sharing their photo. Emory Lee donated two items of issue of our newsletter. With Mathematics,” Tierney covered Our other articles feature a new dona- interest to the Sherlock Holmes Dana Richards writes Gardner’s writing history, calling Gardner tion to the Collections as well as the 100 Collections. Emory forwarded the May W about Martin Gardner, in “the world’s best-known recreational Years Ago piece about the mysterious

4 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 The Sign of Four... Continued from Page 1 touring companies. He also noted: and repeat the plays the following week.” held by the museum. It features the ing Doyle to the table, and Shaw Shaw was now married to the red- “When a company manager leased a canonical characters, with a few mis- Chesterton whom the Notre Dame haired Margaret, who Gardner recalls play, he was sent only one copy of the The Museum’s website includes a list of spellings, and concludes with Holmes’s alumnus admired. They ordered a was every bit as witty as Shaw himself. entire play. This was for the director. This familiar faces who toured in repertoire statement: “You have saved the treasure copy of Vincent Starrett’s Private Life The Shaw household was a meeting is one of those copies. The manager also companies. Those named include Clark Wiggins — and for the woman I love.” of Sherlock Holmes. Gardner wrote to place of the literary and liberal crowds received a set of ‘parts.’ One part for each Gable, Chill Wills, Lyle Talbot, Irene 5y e ars0 a g o Starrett about his claim that the color of of Tulsa. Gardner recalls meeting role. The part had only the individual Ryan, Warner Baxter, Milburn Stone (who Dr. Richard Caplan, BSI (“Dr. Jackson”) Holmes’s eyes was unknown; Gardner William Saroyan there, as well as the actor’s cues and lines rather than the appeared as Captain Vickery in the 1943 wrote that since the Younger Stamfords knew they were grey. No record of this occasional fellow-traveler. Gardner was entire script. This made the memoriza- film Sherlock Holmes Faces Death with Basil have “no archives of any sort, it seemed The Gardner -Shaw Connection correspondence survives, but Shaw not in Tulsa long, going on to Chicago tion of lines much easier and faster. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce), Ralph Bellamy, to me that it might be appropriate once said in an interview that he and and New York, eventually working Many of these companies performed five Red Skelton, and Melvyn Douglas. for the collection at the University of Martin Gardner is a writer known to Gardner often met with Starrett when on the children’s magazine Humpty or six plays in rotation. Typically, they Minnesota, if they didn’t already have many people for his more than 75 they haunted Chicago bookstores Dumpty. would perform the plays during one The Sign of Four is an original, with two one, or one like that.” books on many subjects, from phi- together in the 1930s. (Gardner does week, and then move to the next town copied pages from the primary script losophy to Oziana, mathematics to not recall this, though he does recall Gardner’s first true Sherlockian piece Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI Chesterton, pseudoscience to poetry, other encounters with Starrett.) was “The Missing Walnuts,” a Humpty magic to religion. And he has written Dumpty story that was reprinted in about Sherlock Holmes. Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in 1956. (Frederic Dannay, BSI, “The Remembering John Bennett Shaw In his unpublished memoirs, Gardner, Dying Detective,” was an acquain- By Martin Gardner now 95, writes about a high school tance.) Next was a Sherlockian allu- experience. sion in “The Mysterious Tracks,” My best friend during my high school Irregulars. Decades later, when I lived in English literature, and I was struggling printed in the Arrow Book of Brain days, then and thereafter, was John in Manhattan, Shaw would invite me to survive on occasional sales to little One day an English teacher asked Teasers, 1959 (the justification for this Shaw, the legendary book collector and to the annual Irregular banquets. On magazines. After that we drifted apart, I everyone in class to say what book article). In 1960 he released his best- Sherlock Holmes scholar. I cannot now January 8, 1971, Shaw was the after-din- to Chicago and into the Navy, and to even they had most enjoyed during the selling book, The Annotated Alice, pub- recall how we met. It was an unlikely ner speaker. His talk was titled “To Shelve more years in New York City. past few months. She expected us lished by Clarkson Potter, with whom event because John, a devout Catholic, or To Censor: some disturbing thoughts Gardner had a good relationship. This attended a Catholic school while I, raised about, and disgusting evidence from, the In addition to collecting, Shaw somehow to name such novels as Ivanhoe was the first popular annotated work a Methodist, attended a public school. Sherlock Holmes Canon.” It opened with managed to hold down several jobs in or Vanity Fair, which had been Our paths diverged when I entered the Shaw saying that he had reread the entire Tulsa. Margaret’s family owned a funeral assigned reading, but when it came of literature, and spurred many similar University of Chicago and Shaw enrolled Canon prior to a move to Santa Fe after home. After her father jumped to his to my turn I said The Adventures of works. Gardner knew W. S. Baring- at Notre Dame. the death of Margaret, his first wife. Shaw death out of a hospital window, John Sherlock Holmes. Everyone in the Gould, who worked at Time-Life Inc., said he was profoundly shocked to dis- took over the management of the funeral class tittered except the teacher and introduced him to Potter; in 1962 Chicago is not far from Notre Dame, so cover that the canonical books were satu- home. For a while he even drove the who looked pained. Baring-Gould and his wife, Ceil, pub- there were many happy get-togethers in rated with blatant porn! He would surely home’s ambulance! [hearse?] I remember lished The Annotated Mother Goose. the Windy City. We enjoyed dining at have to keep the books locked way from him telling me about having to take a Gardner was quoted in the Tulsa And of course Baring-Gould went on Chicago’s top restaurants, and exploring his young daughter Hodgie. badly wounded person to the hospital Tribune, when just 12, asserting to do The Annotated Sherlock Holmes the city’s rare bookstores. A heavy-set after a bad traffic accident. Holmes was his favorite! for Potter, published in 1967. man, Shaw nevertheless was light on his What followed in Shaw’s notorious talk The Mysterious Tracks feet, and actually played on Notre Dame’s were dozens of startling quotations. In He also bought and managed Tulsa’s finest Shaw owned a book called Famous tennis team! I attended one match on the “The Red Headed League,” for example, new-books and records shop. My article, While he attended Tulsa Central high Chicago campus when his team won. a dbanker laments the fact that he was “Tulsa’s Fabulous Bookman,” appeared in school, John Bennett Shaw was at a After that summer Gardner and Starrett Single Poems, by Burton Stevenson, forced to miss his usual Saturday night The Tulsan, a local periodical. Shaw also parochial school in Tulsa. Gardner roomed together in New York City, that inspired Gardner’s life-long inter- Shaw’s first major book collection was of rubber. In “The Speckled Band,” Holmes found time to take care of a shallow-oil does not recall how they met, but they when Shaw went to graduate school est in single-poem poets. So when the writings of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, remarks that that morning he knocked drilling company started by an uncle. became fast friends and Shaw was a there. Gardner had dropped out of Gardner produced his Annotated Casey a famous British author we both admired, up Mrs. Hudson, his landlady. And so on. frequent visitor to Gardner’s home. Chicago Theological Seminary and was at the Bat, he returned the favor to especially for his Father Brown mysteries. Although the talk had the audience rolling John’s second marriage was to Dorothy, Gardner’s family could afford a home hoping to break into the free-lance Shaw by including in his book refer- Shaw later gave his collection to Notre in the aisles, it was unsuitable for publica- who had been a clerk at his bookstore. tennis court and Shaw was a fine ten- market. After four months, with his ences to the Kansas town Moorville, Dame. It contains many rare items such tion in the Irregulars’ journal. Happily it She is best remembered in Sherlockian nis player. Oddly, Gardner never met funds depleted, having sold nothing (Mudville) which had been mentioned as a never-published set of drawings was preserved in a fanzine called Shades of circles for her beautiful model of 221B Shaw’s parents. he had written, they parted company, in “The Three Garridebs.” G.K. did for Wilkie Collins’s novel The Sherlock (Vol. 5, No. 2, August 14, 1971). Baker Street, accurate even to its bullet and Gardner returned to Tulsa and to Moonstone. My copy is inscribed “To Martin Gardner holes in the wall and the number of steps Gardner spent 25 years at Scientific who will understand, being a careful to its entrance. As their undergraduate days ended a series of mundane jobs and Navy After G.K., Shaw turned his attention to reader, too. John Bennett Shaw, BSI.” they got together, in 1937, for a sum- service. In 1948 Gardner, still free- American, setting the standard for Sherlock Holmes and soon had one of the After our undergraduate days John and Shaw was often asked if Sherlock Holmes mer of directed reading. Two authors lancing, wrote about Shaw for the Tulsa popular exposition of mathematics. world’s finest collections of Holmesiana. I shared an apartment near Columbia was a real person or just a fictional char- among many they concentrated on Magazine, after Shaw had returned to His tireless efforts against pseudosci- Shaw was active in the Baker Street University where Shaw was taking courses acter. He always answered, “Yes.” were Doyle and Chesterton. At this Tulsa and was operating a successful ence have made him the father of remove Gardner remembers bring- bookstore. Continued on page 8

6 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 3 Annual Meeting of the Friends of the true crimes and mysteries, as well as and at the same time, the hearty detes- Sherlock Holmes Collections historical works, including one detail- tation of the people....Vera Zassolic, a ing the work of Catholic nuns during young Nihilist, shot at him while he he annual meeting of The Elmer L. Andersen Director of Archives the Civil War. He died in Philadelphia was seated in his office in the early Friends of the Sherlock Holmes and Special Collections Kris Kiesling in March 1940. part of 1880.” Despite his personal- Collections was held on Thursday, announced that during the next 6-8 100 ity flaws, Trepoff’s detective skills and November 19 in the Givens Suite month period Tim Johnson will move The book includes fifteen chapters instincts enabled him to capture the T of the Andersen Library, and was into a half time position as the E. W. The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections y e ars a g o of true crimes and the police officials potential assassins and prevent the called to order by Dr. Richard McDiarmid Curator of the Sherlock is a quarterly newsletter published by the who solved them. Barton wrote in Czar’s death, which was planned for Sveum, President. During his remarks, Holmes Collections. Tim will continue Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections The True Stories of Celebrated which seek to promote the activities, inter- his introduction, “With the exception March 13, 1887. Dick announced that the 2010 confer- half time in his current role as director of Crimes: Adventures of the World’s ests and needs of the Special Collections of necessary liberties in construction ence, jointly hosted by the Friends, the Special Collections. and Rare Books Department, University of Greatest Detectives Sherlock Holmes Collections and the and a few pardonable embellishments, We know who General Trepoff was, Minnesota Libraries. Norwegian Explorers, has been resched- Tim Johnson presented the state of but who was the Trepoff named in “A Mail editorial correspondence c/o: The contentedly married Dr. Watson uled for August 6-8. the Collections with particular empha- Scandal In Bohemia”? In “Scandalous wrote in “A Scandal in Bohemia” that sis on his travels over the past year. Editor Bohemian Names,” Chapter Seven in his own “complete happiness, and Tim Johnson, Curator of Special Through these travels, he has worked to Julie McKuras Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Sources, Collections, reviewed the current fund build relationships with the libraries of 13512 Granada Ave. the home-centred interests which rise Donald A. Redmond writes of the balances and explained how the money Portsmouth and London, and with the Apple Valley, MN 55124 up around the man who first finds 952-431-1934 Trepoff murder which was the reason is used to acquire and sustain the collec- University of Regina in Saskatchewan. himself master of his own establish- [email protected] for Holmes’s summons to Odessa: tion. Tim also cited the continued valu- Tim was also presented with the Bryce L. ment” had caused him to drift apart able volunteerism of Lucy Brusic, Julie Crawford Award for his article “He Made Editorial Board from Sherlock Holmes. Watson was John Bergquist, Timothy Johnson, Christopher Redmond rejects McKuras, and Dick Sveum. a Journey Abroad,” in the June 2009 aware, though, of one “vague account” Jon Lellenberg, Richard J. Sveum, M.D. the idea of Feodor Feodorovich issue of this newsletter. of his friend’s activities, and that was Julie McKuras reviewed the history of Trepoff, police prefect of St. Holmes’s “summons to Odessa in the the Friends quarterly newsletter which John Bergquist gave the keynote address Petersburg, who was wounded by case of the Trepoff murder.” is now in its thirteenth year and mailed titled The Manuscript of “The Adventure a young woman Nihilist in 1878, Copyright © 2006 to 366 subscribers throughout the of the Three Students” and Its Publication University of Minnesota Library and who died in 1889 — but A Scandal in Bohemia occurred in March world. The election of officers was then in Facsimile. Mark your calendars for apparently not by murder. He sug- conducted by Michael McKuras. Phillip the next Friends meeting to be held on 1888. Twenty-one years later, journal- The University of Minnesota is an Equal gests Feodor Feodorovich’s son, Bergem stepped down from the Board, August 6, 2010. ist and author George Barton’s The True Opportunity Educator and Employer. Dmitri Feodorovich, who in his Tim Reich was elected as a new member- Stories of Celebrated Crimes: Adventures turn became commandant of the at-large, and all other board members Michael McKuras of the World’s Greatest Detectives was Imperial Police. remained in their roles. published by McKinlay Stone and Mackenzie of New York. One true General Trepoff and the Russian Students Dmitri Fedorovich’s obituary in the story Barton recounts is the adventure September 16, 1906 New York Times My Donation to the Sherlock Holmes Collections of “General Trepoff and the Russian these stories may be accepted as a noted that his father, Feodor, was By Russell Merritt BSI Students,” an investigation set in March series of real human documents.” He “a foundling, whose parents were 1887. John Bennett Shaw had a copy of also noted that “It is a fact, neverthe- never known. He was found upon y donation to the Sherlock Joe Franklin’s Down Memory Lane — the — inspiring newcomers and showing this book in his collection. less, that the raw truth often possesses the back doorstep of a German fam- Holmes Collections is meant to whiz kid who later became the network’s them the possibilities of the modern greater human interest than the most ily, by whom he was taken in, and the honor the memory of my friend film programming director. But unof- Sherlockian world. He would have been George Barton was born in 1866 in Chris Steinbrunner, who died ficially he presided over a wide range enthusiastic about what’s being accom- polished fiction.” “General Trepoff and name of Trepphof (German for door- Philadelphia and joined the staff of the M in 1993. Many of you reading of interlocking activities. He organized plished today with the Sherlock Holmes the Russian Students” recounts the step) was bestowed upon him for the city’s Evening Star when he was sev- this didn’t have the opportunity local film series, produced mystery and Collections. story of Trepoff’s investigation into a place where he was found.” Feodor enteen. Within two years he assumed to know this unique man. horror radio dramas; headed the New Nihilist threat to the Czar’s life in the rose to power in the service of Czar the role of city editor. By the age of York chapter of the Mystery Writers of early part of March 1887. Trepoff was Alexander II and died in 1889. His twenty-one, in 1887, he was employed Today I suppose Chris Steinbrunner America; hosted book review programs; “in control of the secret service depart- son Dmitri followed his father’s path would be called a mentor, but in the organized Sherlock Holmes exhibitions, by the Philadelphia Inquirer, serv- ment of the police of St. Petersburg into the police department and was 1950s he seemed to me more like a Pied film screenings, and seances; and found- ing as political editor and legislative during the lawless period extending named Police Master of Moscow and Piper. Sherlockians will best remember ed the Priory Scholars of Fordham scion correspondent. He was active in the from 1875-1880.” Barton describes later Governor General of Moscow. He him as the author of The Films of Sherlock society. I met him in 1957 at a Mystery American Catholic Historical Society, M. Trepoff as “a typical example of the was described as ruthless and so hated Holmes and The Encyclopedia of Mystery Writers of America cocktail party. I was and eventually worked for several Russian policeman — cold, remorse- that even his own relatives tried to kill and Detection. But for those of us who a high school sophomore at the time; he other newspapers as well as secretary knew him he was the urbane whirling was already an award-winning scriptwrit- less, and as inevitable as fate.” He also him. He was only 50 years old when to the collector of customs of the Port dervish who could spin out ideas and er. But as fellow lovers of Conan Doyle, noted that Trepoff was “successful in he died on September 15, 1906 as a of Philadelphia from 1898 to 1913. projects faster than a speeding New York we bonded. In the years that followed no this difficult position because he won result of a “heart affection and asth- He wrote a number of books related to subway. Officially he was a copy writer at one was more encouraging than Chris in the warm commendation of the Czar, matic troubles.” WOR-TV, banging out scripts for Zacherly getting me to write stories, essays, and Photo courtesy of Karen and Bill Palmer Continued on page 8 the Cool Ghoul, Million Dollar Movie, and scripts. This became his stock in trade Chris Steinbrunner 2 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 7 D S o F December 2009 n Volume 13 Number 4 e t 100 Years Ago...Continued from Page 2 i H R e

“Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD) 50 Years Ago...Continued from Page 3