Cartographer Royal of The
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December 2002 D S O F N Volume 6 Number 4 E T Musings I H R E ou might notice a slight difference in this issue of the Friends’ newsletter. Our usual practice is to highlight an item or F donation to the Collections as the lead article, and that’s how our planning for this issue began. However, when the deci- sion was made to feature Dr. Julian Wolff’s The Sherlockian Atlas as our 50 Years Ago article, we realized that the author him- Y self deserved at least as much attention as his book. I would like to thank both Jon Lellenberg and John Bergquist for working together to produce a more complete picture of the man who made such an impact in the Sherlockian world and helped shape the future. We also have the good fortune to welcome a new writer to our ever-growing list of prominent Sherlockian contrib- utors. Leslie Klinger, B.S.I., took time from his busy legal and writing efforts to give us the background of The Bookman. John Sherlock Holmes Bennett Shaw had copies of articles in his notebooks, and it looks like we will all soon have the chance to have our own copy of these COLLECTIONS Sherlockian articles in the book that Les is co-editing with Susan Dahlinger. As ever, we have updates from Tim Johnson and Richard Sveum, and the good news that the state of the Collections is very good. “Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD) Steve Doyle, B.S.I., and Pat Ward of Indianapolis and Bob Hasebroock of Omaha were in the Twin Cities for the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections. It was a good opportunity to give these three wandering Sherlockians a tour and let them personally see the Collections that they support. Contents Cartographer Royal of the BSI In addition to giving tours of the Collections to Steve, Pat and Bob, I have had the opportunity this fall of giving tours to a number of By Jon Lellenberg, B.S.I. other visiting Sherlockians. It is always a pleasure to see their reactions as we enter the vast underground caverns, then move to the Cartographer Royal Holmes Collections. At first glance, the room seems somewhat unimpressive but it soon becomes evident what a treasure trove it of the BSI have fallen in with Dr. Julian Wolff,” wrote Edgar W. Smith to Vincent really is. It is kept cool and dark for archival reasons, and the storage method enables the maximum use of the available space. As 1 Starrett on March 7, 1940, “who made a couple of neat little maps of spots in the lights come on and we examine each aisle, we have the luxury of examining a book, perhaps inscribed by the author or bearing the stories about a year ago, and he is doing a bang-up job with London, the bookplate of individuals like John Bennett Shaw, Vincent Starrett or Howard Haycraft, or an original illustration by Frederic Dorr 100 Years Ago England, the Continent and the world — creations that will be well worth Steele. We take the opportunity to see artifacts ranging from pillows to wallpaper to plaques to neckties. And of course everyone “I framing and hanging.” wants to the chance to experience the tactile sensation of holding an original Beeton’s Christmas Annual. 2 In this offhand way, Smith introduced the man who 20 years later would be his succes- If your plans bring you to our locale, I hope you will contact either the Sherlock Holmes Collections or me to schedule a tour. It is 50 Years Ago sor as Commissionaire of the Baker Street Irregulars and editor of the Baker Street with your continued generosity with donations of books, journals, scion society materials, letters, and financial contributions that the 3 Journal. Wolff, a short, balding New York physician born in 1905, was a specialist in Collections continue to grow. work-related injuries, and a bibliophile, sports fan, clubman, and amateur cartographer From the President and herald. Wolff came to Smith’s Julie McKuras, A.S.H., B.S.I. 4 attention, we presume, after order- ing a copy of his Appointment in Acquisitions Baker Street, published the year For any inquiries contact: before. In any event, his map- Remembrances Timothy J. Johnson, Curator 4 making was added to Smith’s next In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made 612-624-3552 or An Update from the product, the Baker Street Gazetteer contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons. [email protected] produced by Smith’s indefatigable Collections combing of the Canon for geo- IN HONOR OF FROM Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 graphic citations. The Hounds of the Internet, 10th Anniversary Laura Kuhn Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library By the end of the year Smith added University of Minnesota Julie McKuras Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. Using the Collections Wolff to the BSI’s ranks in which Margaret Scott Patricia J. Ward 222 21st Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 5 he himself, at that moment, was but the new and not yet well- IN MEMORY OF FROM Telephone: 612-624-7526 FAX: 612-626-9353 Season’s Greetings from known Buttons. “I have added two 9-11-01 Francine and Richard Kitts Julian Wolff, M.D. names to the official membership Marlene Aig, A.S.H. Warren Randall Timothy J. Johnson, Curator list which I inherited from you,” he Bob Kroska Charles Clifford 7 told Christopher Morley on Gertrude Mahoney, A.S.H. Laura Kuhn November 8, 1940, “H. W. Bell . Mailing list corrections requested— Sherlock Holmes Patricia Moran, A.S.H. Warren Randall and Dr. Julian Wolff, whose notable John Henry Cardinal Newman Gerald M. Schnabel Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, and the Law we would appreciate being informed of changes Sherlockian maps qualify him, I Dr. George M. Schuster Carol J. Schuster of address or other corrections. 7 think, beyond any suspicion of a Thomas L. Stix Sr. and Jr. Bill Vande Water, B.S.I. doubt for membership.” Caroline Smerk George M. Smerk Musings The cover of the December 1979 issue of The Baker Street Journal 8 dedicated to Julian Wolff, drawing by Henry Lauritzen. Remembrances Continued on page 6 8 8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1 The Bookman, a magazine occasionally Holmes,” which appeared in the subtitled “A Review of Books and December 1932 issue and was the cen- Season’s Greetings from Julian Wolff, M.D. Life,” was first published in 1895, terpiece of Starrett’s expanded book of when, the public believed, Sherlock the same title published the next year. t is appropriate at this time of year to feature several of the holiday greeting cards Holmes had perished. Conceived as that Dr. Wolff and his wife Eleanor sent to fellow Sherlockians. One of those fea- an American companion to the suc- Although The Bookman was edited over tured was printed for the Wolffs, while the other was produced by The Sherlock its course by nine different editors, HolmesI Society of London, and sent “With the Compliments of the Season.” cessful London Bookman, it was aimed 100 at the general public as well as the two were the major sources of the YEARS AGO book trade and originated the publica- “Sherlockian” elements: Harry tion of “best seller” lists. At one point, Thurston Peck and his “Junior Editor” The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections One hundred years ago, in July 1902, is a quarterly newsletter published by the H. L. Mencken termed it “the best lit- Arthur Bartlett Maurice. As Maurice “The Bound of the Astorbilts,” by Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections erary monthly the U.S. has ever seen.” wrote in a December 1927 essay in which seek to promote the activities, inter- Charlton Andrews, appeared in the The Bookman entitled “Forty Years of ests and needs of the Special Collections pages of The Bookman. While not as and Rare Books Department, University of The Bookman’s first Doylean tidbit Sherlock”: “In the matter of world- memorable as the work it parodied, Minnesota Libraries. appeared in the March 1895 issue, wide popularity never in the long his- the story remarkably appeared within Mail editorial correspondence c/o: which briefly mentioned Dr. Arthur tory of fiction has there been a figure two months of publication of the finalé Editor Conan Doyle as among the most high- comparable to Sherlock Holmes.” Pre- Julie McKuras of The Hound of the Baskervilles in the ly-paid writers in England and the dating Morley’s Saturday Review and 13512 Granada Ave. May 1902 issue of the New York edi- Apple Valley, MN 55124 United States. Included in that elite The Baker Street Journal by many years, tion of the Strand Magazine. Beginning 952-431-1934 company, according to literary agent The Bookman provided the first legiti- 952-431-5965 Fax in July 1901, The Bookman editors had A. P. Watt, were “Mr. Harte, Mr. mate forum for serious and less-seri- [email protected] been among the first to trumpet the Besant, Mr. Haggard, Anthony Hope, ous writing on the Canon and so impending arrival of the serialized Editorial Board Photo by Julie McKuras ...Annie Swan, Olive Schreiner, Mrs. played a significant part in stimulating Photo by Julie McKuras John Bergquist, Timothy Johnson, Hound of the Baskervilles, and, when Clifford, Mrs. Craigie, and Mrs. that popularity in America. This Christmas card produced by the With the Compliments of the Season from Eleanor Jon Lellenberg, Richard J.