December 2007 D S O F N Volume 11 Number 4 E T I H

R E

F COLLECTIONS

“Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD)

Contents From Gillette to Brett II herlockians from England, Canada and all over the US gathered in Indianapolis on From Gillette to Brett II November 18, 2007 for the second From Gillette to Brett conference that was subti- 1 tled, “Sherlock Holmes on Stage, Screen and Radio.” The University of Minnesota S Sherlock Holmes Collections provided material for an Edith Meiser exhibit. Edith Meiser: Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI presented “Edith Meiser, A Fascinating and Beautiful Woman.” A Fascinating and The majority of the material used in her presentation came from the Edith Meiser Beautiful Woman Collection held at University of Minnesota. In 1986, Meiser donated her collection of Sherlockian manuscripts, radio scripts and recordings that aired from October 20, 1930 1 to June 20, 1948. Julie also covered many aspects of Edith Meiser’s career on stage, 100 Years Ago screen and television in addition to her contributions to the Golden Age of Radio. 2 The Indianapolis conference was presented by Wessex Press, directed by Steve Doyle and Mark Gagen. Many Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections were in attendance. 50 Years Ago The audience enjoyed a number of Sherlockian films that are not available on DVD. 3 Richard J. Sveum, MD, BSI Using the Collections 4 Edith Meiser: From the President A Fascinating and Beautiful Woman

4 have the frequent opportunity to visit the Sherlock Holmes Collections. That An Update from brings to mind the old shampoo commercial featuring a lovely young lady and her statement “don’t hate me because I’m beautiful” but in my case it should be “don’t the Collections I hate me because I’m able to appreciate that great Sherlockian treasure trove in per- 5 son.” As a volunteer at the Sherlock Holmes Collections, I select items to feature in this newsletter, help shelve items, and locate others for researchers. It’s always an adventure Musings to walk up and down those aisles and look upon the collections that once belonged to people like Vincent Starrett, John Bennett Shaw, Howard Haycraft, and E.W. McDiarmid, 5 to name just a few. A Gift from the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota Walking down the first row, on the left side and on the lower shelves is a collection that belonged to Edith Meiser. We all know her as the writer for the radio series Sherlock 5 Holmes, which ran somewhat irregularly from 1930 through 1948. There are green bound volumes that contain her scripts as well as a number of archival boxes and Acquistions recordings. 8 Continued on page 6 Remembrances 8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1 To set the scene, the collection of clippings books in first editions, with an autographed begins with portraits of Miss Leckie and copy of ‘Sherlock Holmes.’” I wonder if Sir A. C. Doyle from The Ladies Pictorial. Madame Duprée appreciated them at all. 100 Other contents include engagement Inside the front cover of the scrapbook YEARS AGO announcements, lists of guests, presents, there is the note “Compiled by The music performed, a description of the London Press Cutting Agency” and the sig- wedding cake and a full description and nature of P. Leckie Forbes. Patrick Leckie The Doyle/Leckie Wedding Scrapbook sketches of what the bride and brides- Forbes was a nephew of Jean and it is In London, quite maids wore. Although none of this is of unlikely that he commissioned the clip- literally in the huge importance in the life of Conan pings as he was only 14 years old at the shadow of Doyle, I found it all interesting, including time of the wedding. It is more likely that Westminster the following description: his father, Patrick Lewis Forbes, married to Abbey, is the “The bride was given away by her Jean’s sister Sara, was the person who com- Church of St. father, and wore a dress of silver tissue missioned the collection and that his son Margaret’s. It was with silk lace and embroidered in received it and affixed his signature at a there that a quiet pearls, with a long crepe de chine train later date. Also on the inside front cover is ceremony was turned back at one corner with a large written the price of 63 shillings, or 3 held on September true-lover’s knot in chiffon and a horse- guineas, but no indication of when it was 18, 1907, when shoe of orange blossoms.” available at that price. Arthur Conan They don’t cover weddings like that any Doyle was married Dr. C. Paul Martin, a longtime Norwegian more. Photo courtesy of The Sherlock Holmes Collections. to Jean Leckie. Explorer and supporter of the Sherlock Sir Arthur Conan One of the many Holmes Collections, related a story involv- Doyle and Jean Leckie By reading through the rest of the articles treasures in the ing the scrapbook. In 1994 Austin Doyle on their wed- one can flesh out details of this event and ding day Sherlock Holmes McLean, former curator of the Special bring it to life. It was a 2:00 p.m. wedding Collections is a Collections and Rare Books, showed Paul with only relatives and close friends attend- scrapbook containing newspaper clippings the scrapbook. They both thought it ing the ceremony. Jean’s brother Malcolm of the event. would be something that would interest and Arthur’s secretary Alfred Wood acted as Jean Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur’s daughter. ushers. The wedding was kept a secret This past September, close to the hundredth Paul photocopied a page that indicated from the press to minimize the impact of anniversary of the wedding, I sat down in names of some of the guests and gifts that the paparazzi of the day. A reception was the Elmer L. Andersen Library with the were given and sent it to Jean. Later in the held in the Whitehall Room at the Hôtel scrapbook in front of me. The book itself is year when he was in London he gave Jean Métropol for a larger group of friends total- not much to look at. It is a large sized a call and they talked for quite a while ing between 200 and 300, including a leather-bound booklet with water damage about the scrapbook and the Collections in number of authors and their spouses. to the front cover. Inside, however, it gives a general. After receiving the copy she different impression. The black card pages looked through some of the items she had As this was shortly after Conan Doyle’s are covered with pasted clippings from sev- received from her father and was able to work on the Edalji case, most accounts eral dozen magazines and newspapers that identify several of them, notably one which mentioned George Edalji’s attendance at wrote about the engagement and wedding was a gift from Bram Stoker. She appreciat- the reception. One headline pointedly read of Jean and Arthur. The source of each arti- ed learning about the scrapbook very “The Marriage of ‘Sherlock Holmes’.” cle is written in ink over the pasted clipping, much and stated that she was quite and I noticed that a number of the sources pleased with the fact that it was in the The ceremony and reception did not take were ones that had printed some of Doyle’s Collections at Minnesota. stories. much time because the newly married couple left at 5:00 by train for Paris, Berlin It is wonderful that this treasure has been and Dresden. From there, later accounts The fascinating thing about this scrapbook preserved and is in a location where it can mention, they continued on to Venice, is that it provides an intimate and contem- be viewed by anyone who is interested. It Rome and Istanbul. porary look at the ceremony and the peo- symbolizes one of the purposes of the ple involved. While the wedding is men- library system: to provide a repository for There was one clipping that made me tioned in several biographies on Conan historical items where they can be cared quite envious as a book collector: “Before Doyle, none provide the level of detail that for and made available for use. It also leaving Lady Doyle, with thoughtful solici- we can get from the articles. emphasizes the reason I gladly support the tude for the dressmaker who made her Sherlock Holmes Collections. trousseau, sent her a gift of all Sir Arthur’s 2 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Phillip Bergem ally finished by the time one got constructed almost entirely out of let- home. There was all the journey to ters that he wrote to Edgar Smith—let- do over again the next day. ters chock full of gossip and scholar- ship and love for Edgar and others. The BSI, as I said before, grew out of Towards the end of the 1940s, Chris friendship. Well, friendship and began to, sometimes, sound dismissive hunger. Morley’s mission was to not eat of the BSI and Sherlockians. But this 50 alone. He was forever calling up was his fatigue from physical illness YEARS AGO friends and arranging lunches, whether talking more than anything else. When a deux or en masse. He needed to enjoy he wrote that the many letters from Christopher Morley—Fifty Years On his friends—their talk, their ideas, scions to the BSI needed to be Fifty years ago this past spring the their companionship. Nor were his answered but not by him, he was only Baker Street Irregulars became the Lost friends, by any means, all literary men. speaking the truth. It was Edgar who Boys. The only parent they had ever They included ship’s captains, artists, did all such correspondence; when known died. Christopher Morley— booksellers, reporters, agents, and strangers wrote to Chris about Baker poet, playwright, essayist, and novel- engineers. This being Prohibition, Street matters he usually palmed their ist—had given birth to the BSI during many of these lunches took place in letters off on Edgar. He knew that run- the sort of pastime he most enjoyed: speakeasies and other places where ning an organization wasn’t his being with good friends. Friendship liquor flowed. One could almost say strength nor would it have given him was Chris’s greatest gift, and he trea- that the BSI was, to use one of Chris’s any pleasure. He was happy to be the sured it above all else. This birthright titles, born in a beer garden. public face of the BSI and chair a din- distinguishes the Irregulars from most ner a year, but that was largely it. He other coteries and associations: the BSI Most of those in attendance at the very came up with a constant stream of were not born out of religious, ethnic, first BSI dinner in December 1934 had ideas for others to put into action if national, or even intellectual connec- been his friends for years. Elmer Davis they wished. tions but of the deepest connection of he met in Oxford in 1910 when they all—that special love that is bred by were both Rhodes Scholars; Bill Hall, Though he turned only 60 in 1950, friendship. who was possibly his closest friend Chris was an old man—ill and worn with whom he shared his deepest out. He wrote very little—mostly verse As a boy in the late 1890s, Chris most dreams and desires, he had known and strange, wandering, often self- liked reading adventure fiction—G. A. from at least 1920. Vincent Starrett had indulgent essays that left his editors Henty, Mayne Reid, Jules Verne, Robert sent him a fan letter in 1919 when The unhappy and his readers confused. Louis Stevenson, and, of course, Haunted Bookshop first came out. Though he tried to improve his health . He described his All these men wrote about Chris’s by losing weight, and cutting back on love for these books in his immortal friendship as one of the greatest gifts drink and cigarettes, it had little effect, introduction to the Canon, “In they had ever received. They describe and he had less desire to give up Memoriam: Sherlock Holmes”: his easy ability to talk about most any- either. Fatigued by the 200 stairs—he I then put in two or three years in thing intelligently and to notice every- counted—he had to climb to get from reading everything else of Dr. day details that made just walking Roslyn, Long Island, to his office, he Doyle’s. One walked downtown to down the street with him an adven- quit going into New York except for the old Enoch Pratt Free Library on ture. And he certainly viewed their the monthly meetings of the Book-of- Mulberry Street in Baltimore and friendships as among his dearest trea- the-Month Club judges. He told got out a book—The Firm of sures. Edgar: Girdlestone, or The Captain of the Pole I am sad at heart now hardly ever to Star, or , or A Duet, or In 1944, Chris edited Sherlock Holmes see good old cronies of dear easygo- Round the Red Lamp, or The Stark and Dr. Watson, the first attempt at ing times (and what is the feminine Munro Letters, or The Doings of annotating any of the Canon. It was of cronies? since I miss them too) Raffles Haw. For I specialized chiefly subtitled, fittingly, “a Textbook of but in a way there is a kind of mer- in the lesser known tales. . . . It was Friendship” and was one of the books ciful ease in giving up bravura, at quite a long trudge from Mulberry distributed at “The Trilogy Dinner.” least when it requires two-way- Street to the 2000 block on Park A surprisingly large amount of Chris’s stretch on the ghastly LIRR.. . . . Avenue, and the tragedy often was Sherlockian thoughts first saw paper as He tried his best to get his friends to that, loitering like a snail, almost ideas quickly dashed off to friends. His take over the lease on his studio on like the locomotion of a slowed “Case Notes of a Resident Patient” col- West 47th Street. It was a fourth floor moving picture, the book was actu- umn in the Baker Street Journal was Continued on page 7

Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 3 Using the Collections

ditor’s Note: In October, local Most of us first met in 2006 in an online Tim Johnson was kind enough to set Sherlockian Mary Loving con- Yahoo group which is devoted to dis- aside his afternoon for our visit and it tacted Tim Johnson about a cussing Laurie R. King’s Mary was well worth it! For Holmes fans, it tour of the Sherlock Holmes Russell/Sherlock Holmes novels. We was exciting for us to see the 1887 E Beeton’s Christmas Annual, original illus- Collections. Mary told Tim that she had a discovered a mutual love for all things group of friends who had met through related to Sherlock Holmes and decided trations by Frederick Dorr Steele and annternet site, and that they all would to meet in person. We met in North Sidney Paget, and a manuscript page love to visit the Collections. Carolina in October 2006 and in San from The Hound of the Baskervilles. Antonio, Texas in April 2007. Johnson also gave us a tour of the impressive vaults that preserve thou- When Merrily Taylor sands of books and other materials for found out she would Minnesota libraries. The visit to the be attending a librari- Collections and the vaults was the high- an’s conference in light of our jam-packed weekend and October at Carleton will be discussed and remembered fond- College, we decided to ly by us for some time to come. make Minneapolis our third trip destination. I Until our next get-together, in Austin, had attended the Texas, in May 2008, we’ll have to be Sherlock Holmes con- content with visiting by email and also ference held at the by posting at Andersen Library in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Letters_ July, so when planning Of_Mary/. Should circumstances bring our weekend I sug- us to Minneapolis again, visiting the

Photo by Julie McKuras gested we visit the Sherlock Holmes Collection will defi- Wilhemina Rush, Mary Loving, Alice B. Wright, Timothy Johnson, Collections. Curator nitely be on our “must-do” list! Merrily Taylor and Frances Goodson Mary Loving

From the President

t is with great sadness that I “Meet Me in Bohemia” in Prague, donated The Galactic Sherlock Holmes report two losses. Our Racine, Czech Republic. On September 15, 7.11 and The Great Whimsical Wisconsin, Friend Paul 2007 former Collections Specialist Sherlockian Tour of Oklahoma and Texas. I Smedegaard, BSI (“The Randall Jamie Hubbs married Sarah Shibley in I was proud to hear Julie McKuras pre- Gang” 1977) died on November 14, St. Paul with former Friends President sent “Edith Meiser: A Fascinating and 2007. Paul was an inaugural member George Hubbs as Best Man. The Beautiful Woman,” mentioned in the of the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Hounds of the Baskerville (sic) met in cover story, to many Friends in Collections, and he made the trip from Chicago on October 5, 2007, which Indianapolis on November 18, 2007. Racine for many of our Annual allowed the early U.S. release of Arthur Membership Meetings. Our Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters, edited by I am always glad to see Friends of the Washington DC Friend Francine Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and Sherlock Holmes Collections in my Morris Swift died on October 13, Charles Foley. On October 12–14, travels. I am thankful when they make 2007. Francine was a frequent donor 2007, I attended Divine Providence donations of money and material and to the Holmes Collections and a good with the Wodehouse Society, which make use of the collection material for friend. featured the Senior Bloodstain meeting scholarly presentations. I would ask all of the Clients of Adrian Mulliner, a of you to consider a year-end contribu- Since September I have had a chance crossover group of Sherlockians. On tion of money to help make the to visit with many Friends of the November 10, 2007, I visited Don Sherlock Holmes Collections the Sherlock Holmes Collections. From Hobbs at his home in Flower Mound, World Center for the Study and September 6–8, 2007 the Sherlock Texas, to see his collection of the Appreciation of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes Society of London sponsored Canon in foreign languages. Don Richard J. Sveum, MD, BSI

4 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections An Update from the Collections It is expected that a testimonial of that a change of venue was in order, and so established that same year, the multitype some sort will be presented...as a fitting on Saturday morning, September 15th, we networks serve all types of libraries school, recognition of their services.” (STUD) gathered at the Centennial Showboat public, college and university and special “ (scene of “Sherlock’s Last Case” this sum- libraries in their respective regions. In my last little missive I talked about the mer) for a delicious brunch on the upper Metronet’s region is the seven county met- stories and media opportunities the arose deck followed by my talk in the Showboat ropolitan area including the cities of in connection with our summer confer- theater. Many of those present (as I had Minneapolis and St. Paul. One of the ence, the Showboat theatrical production, been told in advance) were curious about board members, Lynn Wyman, (who rep- our exhibit, and Allen Mackler’s gift. As is how the world’s largest collection of materi- resents public libraries), suggested my par- often the case, this additional exposure of al related to Sherlock Holmes found its way ticipation in the Ramsey County Library the Collections to the public created a cou- to Minnesota. So I fashioned my talk, staff in-service day. So on November 12th ple of additional opportunities to be “out “Sherlock in Minnesota,” on the develop- I made my way to the Maplewood Public and about” talking about Holmes and the ment of the collection, beginning with the Library and presented an inside perspective University of Minnesota’s collections organization of the Norwegian Explorers on working as a special collections librari- and continuing the story up to the present. an, using the Holmes Collections as an The first of these opportunities came In the course of my talk, I emphasized the example. It was a wonderful time and through the good offices of the Hennepin importance of volunteers in the work of the provided other professionals, working in a County Library System. This suburban collection (including the many who have different setting, with a sense of the collec- library system provides services through played a role with this newsletter). It was tions and my work. Like the volunteer twenty-six libraries and consistently ranks a very well-received presentation that event, a number of people came to visit the among the top ten libraries (among those resulted in a number of visits to the collec- Collections after my talk. serving populations of over 500,000) in the tion and a very nice “thank-you” note from country. Each year, in the fall, the library the system’s director, Amy Ryan. Thank you, again, for the many ways you system has a volunteer recognition event support the Holmes Collections. May the whereat over two hundred individuals are The second opportunity arose through my holiday season provide you with moments thanked for their service. Partly as a result service on the Metronet board of directors of cheer, a time to re-read those magnifi- of this summer’s publicity over our events (where I often share Holmes events and cent stories, and an opportunity to say (and partly, I think, out of general curiosity), experiences with the board). Metronet is “thank-you” to those around you who I was invited to be the main speaker at this one of seven state-funded multitype library touch your life. I look forward to seeing year’s volunteer brunch. In the past, this networks created by the Minnesota many of you in New York for the Birthday event had been held at a suburban country Legislature in 1979. Unlike the regional Weekend in January. Season’s greetings club, but this year the organizers decided public library systems, which were also from the Holmes Collections! Musings Tim Johnson

his issue features a report from and to Mary Loving for her note about her From the President column. Indianapolis and From Gillette to tour of the Collections. Mary is a fairly new Another year of The Sherlock Holmes Brett II. I was honored to speak member of The Norwegian Explorers, and Collections newsletter comes to a close, at the symposium, and found she has a whimsical pastiche in the latest and we’ll soon embark on our twelfth year T of featuring items and news from the the research experience at the Collections Norwegian Explorers Christmas Annual. to be a wonder. Thanks to first-time con- Steve Rothman reflects on the 1957 loss of Collections. None of this would be possi- tributors Phil Bergem, who has had a Christopher Morley. Tim Johnson gives us ble without the financial and material sup- long-time interest in the Conan Doyle his update, and Dick Sveum covers a bit of port of all of you. family tree, for his 100 Years Ago article, the Indianapolis conference as well as his Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI A Gift from the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota

he Norwegian Explorers have a long and supportive relationship with The Sherlock Holmes Collections. This December, the Explorers donated $5700 to the Collections to go toward the E. W. McDiarmid Curatorship. The Explorers raised the money through their successful 2007 conference and sales of The Norwegian Explorers Omnibus. Photo by Julie McKuras T Mike Eckman, Tim Johnson and Gary Thaden Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 Edith Meiser... Continued from Page 1

When I heard about the planned con- company and hired Meiser. She order the Sherlock Holmes Canon ference “From Gillette to Brett II,” and worked in the touring company for from England, as the books were out discussed it with Curator Tim Johnson, three years and then moved to New of print in the U.S. The recent death I contacted co-chair Steve Doyle to York. She became a member of the of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle allowed suggest a display of items from the Theatre Guild and acted on the publishers to produce a complete Meiser collection. His response was a Broadway stage before moving to Sherlock Holmes Canon, and with the definite yes, and he made the addition- vaudeville in 1927. The advent of talk- upcoming radio series, Doubleday al suggestion that a presentation about ing pictures prompted her, and her Doran decided to print the Canon Meiser and her Sherlock Holmes radio husband, to look for different careers. again. In the book Dear Starrett/Dear series would be a welcome addition to Radio was new, and as she later wrote, Briggs edited by John Nieminski and the program. I agreed, knowing that “We decided that since no one knew Jon Lellenberg, it’s noted: the collections had those scripts and anything about radio, we knew as recordings, including one with Meiser much as anyone else. So we became Doubleday, Doran commis- herself being interviewed by John radio experts.” sioned Christopher Morley to Bennett Shaw in Minneapolis. write a foreword to its 1930 Little did I know that my review edition of the Canon, and his of those archival boxes would ‘In Memoriam’ rekindled his lead my discussion about Edith own interest in the Great Meiser in a different direction. Detective, leading a few years later to his creation of the I began my research into Baker Street Irregulars. Meiser’s radio work, and before long, realized that the material On October 20th, 1930, in the Meiser collection con- Sherlock Holmes debuted on tained much more than informa- WEAF-NBC with William tion focusing on her radio Gillette as Holmes. The follow- career. Impressive as her reputa- ing week, the series began a tion as the writer for the Holmes weekly run with Richard series might be, it was really Gordon and Leigh Lovell as only a part of what she accom- Holmes and Watson. One of the plished in her life. I made the many interesting things that I decision that the audience for a learned was that while writing symposium about Sherlock the Holmes program over the Holmes on stage, screen and years, Meiser was also writing radio would already know about the scripts for the series Barbara her radio scripts that brought Wayne, Polly Preston, The Island Holmes and Watson into homes Boat Club, Mysteries in Paris, The throughout the United States in Rudyard Kipling Stories, and The Photo courtesy of the Sherlock Holmes Collections the 1930s and ’40s. Maybe that O. Henry Stories, in addition to Edith Meiser, 1942 audience would be as interested working on The Shadow as in the many facets of her career as I script editor. She even hired was. two young cousins to work on The Meiser and her husband Thomas Shadow. Their names were Manfred Lee Edith Meiser was born in Detroit, McKnight formed the production com- and Frederic Dannay, better known to Michigan, in 1898. With the encour- pany McKnight and Jordan. In addi- mystery readers as Ellery Queen. agement and support of her parents, tion to producing radio programs, she attended school in Europe and in Meiser began writing scripts as well. Meiser wrote for the Holmes series 1917 entered Vassar College. It was She proposed a series featuring over the years while juggling acting there that she began her life-long inter- Sherlock Holmes, but it took several appearances on Broadway as well as est in acting and writing and came to attempts before the George out of town performances, several the attention of visiting speaker Jessie Washington Coffee Company agreed to movie appearances, writing a mystery Bonstelle, who ran a summer stock sponsor the program. Meiser had to novel Death Catches Up with Mr. Kluck, (under the pen name Xantippe),

Continued on page 7

6 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Edith Meiser... Continued from Page 6 responsibilities with the Actors Guild, clippings, and recordings to the and eventually television roles. She University of Minnesota in 1986, at the wrote more radio series, including one urging of her friend John Bennett for and—as Bill Nadel, Shaw. Without the “flotsam and jet- radio historian and Meiser friend told sam,” as she termed it, of her long and me—“the non-Will Rogers part of the illustrious career, Sherlockians might Will Rogers show.” know her only as the writer of the The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections is a quarterly newsletter published by the Meiser’s last Sherlock Holmes program Holmes series. That label would be enough for many, but there is much Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections aired on June 20th, 1948, with the which seek to promote the activities, inter- broadcast of “The Adventure of the more to know about Edith Meiser. Her ests and needs of the Special Collections letters and notes on photographs help and Rare Books Department, University of Veiled Lodger.” Six years later she Minnesota Libraries. began a new career writing the scripts reveal just how impressive she truly was. Mail editorial correspondence c/o: for a daily comic strip featuring the Editor Great Detective. Her acting career ran Julie McKuras into the 1970s, and she performed The conference display about Edith 13512 Granada Ave. Apple Valley, MN 55124 with a virtual who’s who of acting Meiser from the University of Minnesota featured items such as a let- 952-431-1934 greats. She traveled overseas well into 952-431-5965 Fax her late eighties, and her interest in ter to Meiser from Denis P. S. Conan [email protected] Holmes never waned. In 1987, she was Doyle, a photo of Meiser with Eve Arden and Vivian Vance from the 1941 Editorial Board officially named “The Woman” by the John Bergquist, Timothy Johnson, BSI. She received the Queen Victoria play Let’s Face It, an inscribed photo of Jon Lellenberg, Richard J. Sveum, M.D. Medal in January 1989 and became a and , member of The Baker Street Irregulars makeup photos of Meiser in Queen for with an investiture of “A Fascinating a Day, a letter from Cole Porter, a note from Julian Wolff, a color proof of the Copyright © 2006 and Beautiful Woman” in 1991. University of Minnesota Library Edith Meiser died in September 1993. Holmes comic strip from March 14, 1964, and the handwritten manuscript She truly was a fascinating and beauti- The University of Minnesota is an Equal ful woman, and I’m grateful that she of “The Adventure of Ricoletti of the Opportunity Educator and Employer. donated her collection of letters, pho- Club Foot.” tographs, , scripts, newspaper Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI

50 Years Ago...Continued from Page 3 walk-up, and Chris found the 71 (not They were long pieces devoted to his moments of disgust. Specially I 17) steps too daunting. He suggested place in the literary life of the nation. wanted to apologize for so many several times to Edgar that the BSI take A few days after his death an ad was unanswered letters through so many over the lease of $53 a month as a placed in both papers’ book review years. Their messages, of whatever headquarters. As he was slowed by a pages per his instruction to his execu- sort, were often in mind. I had so series of strokes, he became physically tors. It was his final message to his many reasons for gratitude, and I unable to attend the annual dinners many friends and read: was grateful.” and presided for the last time in 1951 Christopher Morley, who died Steven Rothman although, even then, he left most of the March 28th, 1957 asked his execu- business to be conducted by others. tors to use this space “to send my Editor’s Note: John Bennett Shaw’s note- unchanged love to many kind and book for 1957 contains newspaper clip- Chris’s death was news. His obituary forbearing friends. Our good adven- pings about Morley’s death. appeared on the first page of both the tures and absurdities were not for- New York Times and the Herald Tribune. gotten, nor occasions of beauty or

Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 7 Acquisitions

nez and John Bergquist donated the newly published Arthur Conan Doyle: alarm. “Oh, that!” she exclaimed—and pro- Meet Me in Bohemia, A Sherlock A Life in Letters. ceeded to give it a kick as well. It had been Holmes Czech Book. The book was done, I learned, by a Spanish painter of no published in 2007 by The Sherlock obvious repute at the commission of the I late Sheldon Reynolds, in order for him to Holmes Society of London on the occasion of the visit to Bohemia by society members. give it to her, at the time when she was in the process of recapturing from him her Don Hobbs donated a DVD of “The Great father’s subsisting U.S. copyrights, and he Whimsical Sherlockian Tour of Oklahoma was trying to cajole her into letting him and Texas.” This documents the August represent her interests. She was having 2005 expedition to Sherlock Texas. He none of that, and none of his gift that had shown up in the mail, either. I rescued it also donated “The Galactic Sherlock Photo by Julie McKuras Holmes,” his CD-ROM bibliography of Daniel Stashower, Dick Sveum, and brought it to the States, thinking that foreign language editions of The Canon. and Jon Lellenberg the story justified its preservation whatever its artistic merits, or lack thereof. And let no Robert Katz donated the October 1997 one repair the damage to it: that was Police News, newsletter of the Curious inflicted upon it by Dame Jean herself. Collectors of Baker Street; the November 1977 article “Sherlock Holmes in New David C. Humphrey donated a copy of Sir Mexico” by Saul Cohen, which was pub- Hugo’s Literary Companions. David, who is lished in New Mexico magazine; and a large Sir Hugo XVIII, edited this anthology of the number of articles, issues of The Wigmore writings of Hugo’s Companions, a Chicago Street Post Office, and a pastiche. Sherlockian society. Photo by Julie McKuras Michael Kean forwarded the 1986 manu- Jon Lellenberg and Dick Sveum script of Sherlock Holmes Saved Golf to the Collections. The book was written by Bob Jon Lellenberg also donated a portrait of Sir Jones, a respected member of the Diogenes Arthur Conan Doyle. With the portrait Club. Bob had a lifelong interest in golf, came the following story from Jon: This played college football, was a retired mem- not-so-good portrait of Conan Doyle would ber of the U.S. Army, and a journalist who not have seemed worth preserving to me covered golf in the Monterey Peninsula. were it not for my having seen it for the The manuscript was donated with the first time being trod upon, deliberately, by Photo by Julie McKuras David Humphrey and blessings of Rita Jones, Bob’s widow. none other than Dame Jean Conan Doyle. Friends Volunteer of the Year Fred Levin Michael also enclosed a copy of Bob’s obit- It was on the floor of her coat closet at her uary and “In Memoriam Bob Jones.” home in Cadogan Square, as we prepared Also received were the latest issues of The Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and to go out for dinner one evening, and when Foolscap Document and The Footprints and Charles Foley donated the British edition of I saw her stepping on it, I cried out in Lens of the Ribston-Pippins.

For any inquiries contact: Remembrances Timothy J. Johnson, Curator 612-624-3552 or In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made [email protected] contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons.

Sherlock Holmes Collections In Memory Of From Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library Betty Jane Kraemer Bruce Aikin University of Minnesota Paul Smedegaard Inez and John Bergquist 222 21st Ave. S. Paul Smedegaard Julie and Michael McKuras Minneapolis, MN 55455 Paul Smedegaard Richard J. Sveum Telephone: 612-626-9166 Francine Morris Swift Sandy Kozinn FAX: 612-625-5525

Timothy J. Johnson, Curator

Mailing list corrections requested— Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, we would appreciate being informed of changes 8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections of address or other corrections.