June 2002 D S O F N Volume 6 Number 2 E T Using the Collections I H R E arsha Pollak of San Jose, CA recently visited the Collections while on a short trip to . F She is shown in the accompanying photograph holding the book of BBC Photographs, from John Bennett Shaw’s M collection Sherlock Holmes COLLECTIONS

“Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD)

Contents : The Definitve Illustrator

Frederic Dorr Steele: n the chapter titled “The Evolution of a Profile,” wrote of Frederic The Definitive Illustrator Dorr Steele’s illustrations for the Sherlock Holmes stories: 1 What illustrations they have been! No happier association of author and I artist can be imagined…For Mr. Steele was destined for his task as surely as Watson for his Sherlock Holmes. An ardent lover of the long detective, 100 Years Ago even before he undertook the drawings, his work has been from first to last a labor of affection…Sixty tales, in all, comprise the saga of Sherlock 2 Holmes; and Steele has illustrated twenty-nine. While yet he lives and

photo by Julie McKuras loves, and lifts his pencil, will he not do the other thirty-one? To some Timothy Johnson and Marsha Pollak 50 Years Ago Sherlockian friend among the publishers, one offers the suggestion – a 3 Definitive Edition – with all the stories pictured by Mr. Steele. (183-84.) Starrett wrote this in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, published in 1930. It would be From the President nine years before George Macy of The Limited Editions Club contacted Steele about 4 undertaking these illustrations, thirteen before the commission was approved and twenty For any inquiries contact: years before the first of the Limited Editions Canon was published. Remembrances Timothy J. Johnson, Curator In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made Acquisitions 612-624-3552 or Frederic Dorr Steele was contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons. [email protected] 4 born to an artistic family on August 6, 1873 in IN HONOR OF FROM Sherlock Holmes Collections "An Extraordinarily northern Michigan, and Nathan Patterson Dr. Howard and Margaret Burchell Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library lived in Wisconsin and Christopher and Barbara Roden Laura Kuhn Nasty Reply" Vermont before moving Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. Showsaku Mashimo 222 21st Ave. S. , MN 55455 5 to in 1889. He found IN MEMORY OF FROM Telephone: 612-624-7526 employment in an archi- David W. Bradley Bill Mason FAX: 612-626-9353 Musings tect’s office before mov- W. Clark Russell John Addy 8 Timothy J. Johnson, Curator ing on to Harper’s and Henry Swiggum Phil Swiggum Illustrated American. His Jack Tracy Showsaku Mashimo An Update from the free-lance work through- Bill Williams Laura Kuhn Mailing list corrections requested— Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, Collections out his career was fea- we would appreciate being informed of changes 9 tured in Life, Scribner’s, of address or other corrections. Harper’s, Century, The Using the Collections Metropolitan Magazine, The Delineator, The 12 American Magazine, Redbook, Hearst’s

Remembrances International, Liberty and photo by Julie McKuras 12 McClure’s. Continued on page 10

12 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1 The Bibliography of American Literature began his famous stage portrayal of Continued from Page 3 Sherlock Holmes in 1899, had been a lists it as number 3471 with the differ- 50 Years Ago neighbor of Twain’s in Nook Farm, ence in states of undetermined Hartford, Connecticut. It is known sequence being the end papers and the were published. The first volume was again reprinted in 1971, and the second and that Twain helped pay for Gillette’s location of the highest peak in a three- third volumes in 1972. And Sandglass, the Heritage Club’s monthly early training and got him a part in the paneled picture. The Harper & newsletter also is a collectible: it reprinted (in smaller format and as “Elementary, 1875 production of “Gilded Age.” Brothers Publishers edition had Lucius my dear Watson” and “You know my methods, Watson”) the earlier Limited 100 Both Gillette and Twain were charter Hitchcock’s illustrations with green bor- Editions Club newsletters. YEARS AGO members of the Players Club at 16 ders, which appear with red borders in Gramercy Park in New York when it the first English edition by Chatto & Macy, who received his Investiture (“The Bruce-Partington Plans”) in the Baker The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Street Irregulars in 1951, died in 1956, having brought to press and to the public is a quarterly newsletter published by the was founded in 1888. He had previ- Windus. Bernard Tauchnitz also pub- Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections ously employed detectives in his books lished an edition in 1902 in Leipzig in (well, at least some of the public) an edition that was both attractive and well edit- which seek to promote the activities, inter- his Collection of British and American ed, and Sherlockians are greatly indebted to him. ests and needs of the Special Collections such as Pudd’nhead Wilson (1894) and and Rare Books Department, University of Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896). The pop- Authors vol. 3591. John Bennett Shaw Minnesota Libraries. ularity of Sherlock Holmes in America had collected several early translations There were, eventually, many Sherlockians who wanted to read all those fine intro- ductions, but either couldn’t find or couldn’t afford to buy the Limited Editions Mail editorial correspondence c/o: by way of the original stories, parodies of the story including a 1910 French Editor and stage productions encouraged edition, a 1914 Danish edition and a Club set; Edgar W. Smith reprinted his “Notes on the Collation” and all of the Julie McKuras Twain to write his story. The Mark 1920 Spanish edition. Mark Twain’s A introductions in 350 copies of Introducing Sherlock Holmes in 1959, along with 13512 Granada Ave. other interesting introductions from earlier editions of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Apple Valley, MN 55124 Twain Encyclopedia references Twain’s Double Barrelled Detective Story was 952-431-1934 letter of September 6, 1901 to Henry adapted for the stage by Robert St. Clair 952-431-5965 Fax H. Rogers, in which he writes that he in 1954 and published in a paperback George Macy’s wife Helen had continued his work, but sold the company in 1971, [email protected] when it began a slow and then precipitate decline. Eventually it was rescued and had read the first installment of The edition. Editorial Board Hound of the Baskervilles, which resurrected as the Easton Press, which now is reprinting older titles and publishing John Bergquist, Timothy Johnson, appeared in the Strand Magazine in At the time Twain wrote this story, he new ones. The Easton Press reprinted the Heritage Press edition in 1987 as the Jon Lellenberg, Richard J. Sveum, M.D. and had not yet Complete Sherlock Holmes 100th Anniversary Edition in three leather-bound volumes, Copyright © 2002 August 1901. University of Minnesota Library met. Conan Doyle, along with many with full-color frontispieces by Frederic Dorr Steele. And the Easton Press issued a “Collector’s Edition” in 1996, again in three leather-bound volumes, but with all of The University of Minnesota is an Equal A Double-Barrelled Detective Story is British authors, signed the telegram Opportunity Educator and Employer. really a novella or condensed novel of sent to Twain in 1905 for his 70th the Limited Editions Club introductions (and with a new portrait of Arthur Conan 20,650 words in 10 chapters divided Birthday celebration at Delmonico’s Doyle by Richard Spark as the full-color frontispiece of the first volume). into two parts. It is an outrageous bur- Restaurant in New York City. They lesque using grotesque violence and finally met in England in 1907 and There are, of course, more stories to tell about the Limited Editions Club set, but melodrama concerning revenge and shared an interest in the Congo Reform space for only one. Observant readers will have noted, perhaps, the illustration that accompanies this essay, and recalling that Frederic Dorr Steele began illustrat- Photo from 's Photo Album, from the Philip S. Hench Collection Gillette's Photo Album, from William Photo from (The Sherlock Holmes Collections) spoofing . The double Association. In 1979, Cyril Clemens, Mark Twain barrel of this story is by theme and editor of The Mark Twain Journal, ing the Canon in 1903 in Collier’s, they may be wondering how there can be a structure closer to A Study in Scarlet. reported that Arthur Conan Doyle had Steele illustration for The Hound of the Baskervilles. There were in fact four Steele In April 1902 Mark Twain (Samuel The first barrel is a story of revenge been a member of the Mark Twain illustrations for the story in the Limited Editions Club set, which noted for each Langhorne Clemens 1835-1910) pub- with a man possessing the ability to Society at the end of his life. one that they were “drawn especially for this edition.” lished A Double-Barrelled Detective Story. track like a bloodhound. The second He began writing this burlesque of barrel, also about revenge, makes fun Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. Not quite: two illustrations, including this one, are signed and dated “Steele 1939” Sherlock Holmes in August 1901 and it of Sherlock Holmes’ detective ability. and were drawn for Twentieth Century-Fox, which published them in a full-color appeared in Harper’s Monthly for The final seven chapters are set in References supplement in the Motion Picture Herald (Mar. 18, 1939); the supplement was January and February 1902. Since Hope Canyon, where Andrews, Kenneth R. Nook Farm: available to theaters to publicize the film, and one Boston newspaper used them, 1902 the story has been reprinted in Sherlock Holmes visits his nephew Mark Twain’s Hartford Circle. Cambridge: noting that “if the detective doesn’t bear a very close resemblance to Basil many forms, but it is best known to Fetlock Jones. The story is subtitled, Harvard University Press, 1950. Rathbone, the screen prototype—well, that’s because the fog was so heavy on Dartmoor when Rathbone posed.” Sherlockians for appearing in The “We ought never to do wrong when Baetzhold, Howard G. Mark Twain and John Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes (1944) people are looking.” Chapter 4 con- Bull: The British Connection. Bloomington: edited by . tains the famous purple prose passage Indiana UP, 1970. Frederic Dorr Steele’s original artwork for this illustration, now owned by the Sherlock Holmes Collections, came to the University of Minnesota in the collection with, “far in the empty sky a solitary Dahlinger S.E. “The Sherlock Holmes We of Philip S. Hench, who also owned the two pages of manuscript that describe the Looking back 100 years it is interesting oesophagus slept upon motionless Never Knew.” Baker Street Journal 49.3 to speculate what American influences wing,” which in later reprints was fur- (September 1999): 7-27. scene that Frederic Dorr Steele illustrated. Lew David Feldman assembled the trip- tych for Hench, who framed and displayed it that way. Treasure trove indeed . . . might have affected Twain. His friend ther spoofed with serious footnotes and Lemaster, J.R. and Wilson, James D. eds. The John Kendrick Bangs was the editor of quotes from newspapers. Mark Twain Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Harper’s Weekly until December 1901 Publishing, 1993. Peter E. Blau, B.S.I. and author of the humorous Sherlock The Sherlock Holmes Collections has Rasmussen, R. Kent, Mark Twain A-Z. New Holmes story, The Pursuit of the House- both states of the American first edition York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Boat (1897). William H. Gillette, who of A Double-Barrelled Detective Story.

2 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 11 many fine writers to write prefaces, much of his work for the set undone), Frederic Dorr Steele Continued from Page 1 including George Bernard Shaw for and beautifully designed by W. A. Great Expectations, G. K. Chesterton for Dwiggins. The Adventures of Sherlock spondence, which con- Frederic Dorr Steele Memorial Collection Vanity Fair, Fletcher Pratt for Twenty Holmes was published in three vol- sists of Macy’s originals is available on the Web site for the Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and umes in 1950, with “Notes on the and Steele’s draft copies, University of Minnesota Libraries at Ray Bradbury for The Mysterious Island. Collation” by Edgar W. Smith and an are cited. (These letters http://www.umn.edu/rare/ introduction by Vincent Starrett; The were donated to the 50 There was discussion of a Limited Later Adventures in three volumes in University of Minnesota YEARS AGO Editions Club Sherlock Holmes as early 1952, with introductions by Elmer in 1986 by Steele’s three Julie McKuras, A.S.H., B.S.I. as 1935, and hopeful correspondence, Davis, Fletcher Pratt, and Rex Stout; children.) “I suppose the only way we can keep and in 1943 George Macy announced and The Final Adventures in two vol- References our subscription list complete is to that the Club would publish a five-vol- umes in 1952, with introductions by The Club’s 1944 Malec, Andrew. The Frederic Dorr Steele force our subscribers not to meet each ume set, edited by Vincent Starrett and Anthony Boucher and Christopher prospectus for the Memorial Collection. Minneapolis; University of other,” George Macy wrote a member illustrated by Frederic Dorr Steele. But Morley, and an epilogue by Edgar W. Canon indicated that Minnesota Libraries, 1987. of the Limited Editions Club on Aug. there was a problem. It was a Smith. seventy new illustrations Starrett, Vincent. The Private Life of Sherlock 2, 1930. “I can understand a man mar- dual problem, actually: Denis and by Steele would be fea- Holmes. 1930. New York: The Macmillan rying some girl because she owns our Adrian Conan Doyle. The story of their There were 1500 subscribers to the tured. But as the saying Company, 1934. books; or I can understand a girl mar- campaign against the Sherlockian Limited Editions Club, and thus 1500 goes, time waits for no rying a man for the same reason; but world in general, and against the Baker copies. And, demonstrating as usual man. Frederic Dorr when two people owning our books Street Irregulars in particular, has been that limitation statements should not Steele died on July 6, marry each other, I suspect that there told by Jon L. Lellenberg in his excel- be trusted, there were an additional 15 1944, leaving his pro- are other forces at work. Let me send lent Baker Street Irregulars archival his- stated “presentation copies” of The photo by Julie McKuras ject unfinished but a you hearty good wishes, impersonal as tories, and his Irregular Crises of the Adventures, and 25 stated “editor’s number of new draw- But it was his drawings for Collier’s these are.” Late ‘Forties (1999) includes a detailed copies” of The Later Adventures and The ings as well as reworked illustrations that began and insured his place in account of the trials and tribulations Final Adventures. Completists will also ready for inclusion in The Limited Sherlockian history. His illustrations George Macy was the director of the that George Macy faced and eventually want The Monthly Letter of The Limited Editions Canon. Edgar W. Smith of the Great Detective graced the pages Limited Editions Club, which he had overcame. Editions Club for June 1950 of the magazine for the 1903 –1905 notified the Baker Street Irregulars on founded in 1929 to pub- (“Elementary, my dear series of The Return of Sherlock Holmes. July 8 of Steele’s passing, lish twelve books a year Watson”), which He would eventually illustrate “twenty- stating in a note that was for subscribers who explained in four well- six of the last thirty-three Sherlock reprinted in the Fall 1991 enjoyed well-designed written pages the history Holmes stories for their initial Baker Street Miscellanea, books that were often of the set; and for June American periodical appearances.” “It was Frederic Dorr signed by the illustrators. 1952 (“The Adventure of (Malec) He met and corresponded Steele, and not Sir Arthur The Club’s first book was the Murderous with many of the most prominent Conan Doyle, who gave Gulliver’s Travels (illus- Irishman”), which dealt Sherlockians of the day and attended a to millions of Americans trated by Alexander with Arthur Conan Doyle number of the annual Baker Street their conception of King); some of the more (the Irishman), his deci- Irregulars dinners beginning in 1934, Sherlock Holmes. That interesting, and certainly sion to dispose of as well as maintaining a membership fact, one feels, is all the more collectible, later Sherlock Holmes, and in the Players Club for almost forty monument that Freddie titles were Lysistrata some of the interesting years. Steele would want.” (illustrated and signed by things that Sherlockians Pablo Picasso) and were doing. His career declined during the 1930’s Much has been written Ulysses (illustrated and and a commission for The Limited about Steele. Featured signed by Henri Matisse). George Macy also Editions Club was a promising one. here are several of Steele’s presided over the drawings from the collec- The subscriber who photo by Julie McKuras The Archival History of the Baker Steele's 1939 illustration for The Hound of the Baskervilles Heritage Press and the Street Irregulars, edited by Jon L. tion of Philip S. Hench, received that letter in Heritage Club, which Lellenberg, B.S.I., gives a detailed M.D., that are now a part 1930 was my mother. later published its own three-volume of The Sherlock Holmes account of the years, problems and My father remained a subscriber, of The Limited Editions Club set finally edition of the Limited Editions Club Collections. For more efforts that went into publishing this course, and I grew up in a house appeared in 1950 and 1952, and it cer- set, offering the text and illustrations, information on Steele, edition. In the series, portions of the where books were meant to be read. tainly deserves to be celebrated fifty but only Smith’s “Notes on the Andrew Malec’s The November 1939 – June 1944 corre- Limited Editions Club volumes were years later. There were eight volumes, Collation” and the introduction by wonderful books, and the prefaces edited by Edgar W. Smith, illustrated Starrett. The first volume appeared in were just as interesting as the books. by Frederic Dorr Steele and other 1952 and was reprinted in 1957, Over the years, Macy commissioned artists (Steele had died in 1944, with when the second and third volumes photo by Julie McKuras Continued on page 11

10 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 3 From the President An Update from the Collections

am proud to announce that nizing the invaluable support we The new Walter Library will contain he end of the academic year tant curator, Susan Steven Doyle, B.S.I. (“The receive from groups such as The the Science and Engineering Library brings with it a final flurry of Stekel, from the Western Morning News”) has Occupants of the Empty House who along with the new Digital Technology activity. This year has been James Ford Bell I accepted an invitation to be annually contribute proceeds from Center. The exterior of the Roman T no exception. For the most Library; and a the guest speaker at the annual meet- their auction. In the words of my Renaissance building with red bricks part we enjoy this frenzied pace, keynote welcome ing of The Friends of the Sherlock daughters’ Girl Scout song, “Make new and Bedford limestone trim and colon- although we sometimes catch ourselves and session pre- Holmes Collections. Mark your calen- friends, but keep the old, one is silver naded portico was preserved along coming and going (but hopefully not sentation to a dars for this exceptional program to be and the other gold.” with some interior architectural detail; double-booked) as we move through symposium for held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, the rest is very high tech. If you can’t the springtime days. Some of this year’s library paraprofes- September 19, 2002 at the Elmer L. Theofanis G. Stavrou, President of the visit in person you can visit their web- frenzy is connected with our massive sionals and sup- Andersen Library. University of Minnesota Friends of the site at sciweb.lib.umn.edu . migration to a new integrated library port staff. Library, was honored at the Annual system. I’ve received notice that our photo by Julie McKuras The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Dinner on April 18, 2002. The The University Library’s Capital fiscal-year-end programs ran successful- May continued in Timothy Johnson with the class from the Collections had the opportunity to University Friends of the Library host- Campaign will conclude in 2003. ly. This is a cause for some celebration, the same lively Minnetonka West Middle School recognize and thank our Charter ed the Gala Grand Reopening of The Sherlock Holmes Collections is as this year’s fiscal close came early so fashion, beginning Members with the last Newsletter. Walter Library on June 5, 2002. The encouraging everyone to donate to the that our business office (and the rest of with a visit from Marshall Weber from expert from Indiana on copyright. About one third of current member- Walter Library building was third E.W. McDiarmid Curator Endowment. us) might continue to prepare for the the Brooklyn book artists’ cooperative There was a brief respite for the ship has been with us since 1997 home of the University Library when it With your help we can reach our goal move to the new system scheduled to in Brooklyn, New York. (Is it a good Memorial Day weekend (with some when we started the Newsletter, and was completed in 1924, and the to be the World Center for the study be operational at the beginning of July. sign that these months both began with added days off thrown in) and then an we look forward to maintaining that Arthur Upson Room located in the of Sherlock Holmes. Like any move, this one has been visits from Marshalls?) This was quickly end-of-month lecture by Julian Plante connection. We are always looking to Walter Library was the original home accompanied by a bit of stress. Happily followed by a three-day conference entitled “Documenting the Minnesota increase our membership while recog- of Special Collections and Rare Books. Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. that stress has (and continues to be) involving about 300 archivists, for Book World.” My highlight for June will mitigated by a number of tours, presen- which we played host. Two days later be the opportunity to speak to the tations, conferences, and classes we hosted a reception for Cornell West “Sub-Librarians” at the American through which we have the opportunity as part of the University’s “Great Library Association annual meeting in to talk about the Sherlock Holmes Conversations” series. Two days after Atlanta. Acquistions Collections and in general enjoy work- that we had the double treat of a visit ing in the midst of such a library and during the day with about 60 students You may wonder at this point at the all its wonderful collections. recitation of this end-of-year calendar. avid Hammer continues his ed the idea to the publisher.” Mr. Koch from Minnetonka West Middle School Not all of these events deal with the ongoing donation of his previously donated his referenced (during which we capped our presenta- On April 5th we enjoyed a visit from Sherlock Holmes Collections. That is Sherlockian library to the monograph, privately printed for tion with a view of the Hound manu- Marshall Blankenship and his wife and true. But it is also true that all these D Sherlock Holmes Christmas 1999. script) and an evening lecture by Collections. Mr. Hammer recently for- had the chance to show them the recently retired Bell Library curator events allow me the opportunity to at Andersen Library and the Holmes least mention Holmes in passing and to warded three large boxes to add to John and Margie Pollack donated a Carol Urness. The week ended with the Collections. This was followed a few give the hearer some indication of the those previously received. One of the copy of the playbill from “Sherlock annual Festival of Greek Letters and a days later by a James Ford Bell Library depth and breadth of the world’s largest newly arrived boxes contained manu- Holmes & The Curious Adventure of lecture by Professor Andreas M. public lecture by the noted writer/pro- collection relating to the consulting scripts, papers, ephemera and pam- the Clockwork Prince,” described as “A Kazamias from the Universities of ducer James Burke and an end-of-week detective. And who knows? Maybe phlets and the other two boxes con- Victorian Romp” written by Cleve Wisconsin and Athens.

photo by Julie McKuras meeting in St. Cloud with other librari- among those middle school students tained books. Haubold with music composed by ans on the subject of leadership devel- will come another member of the Don Terras and Richard J. Sveum James Alfred Hitt. The play ran from On May 14th I was the luncheon opment. The following weeks in April Friends and the Norwegian Explorers. The STUD dinner, held on May 4, April 5 thru May 4 this year at the speaker for the St. Paul chapter of the were equally energetic: a visit from Ulf Maybe among those at lectures or 2002 in , was the perfect Hugo Koch donated The Frozen Pirate, Spirit of the North Theater in Duluth, American Association of University Beijbom from the Swedish Emigrant receptions will be another donor who opportunity for Don Terras to present by W. Clark Russell, published by The Minnesota. Women. My topic for the day was the 30th Anniversary poster of the Battered Silicon Dispatch box in 2001. Institute (a colleague from my days “Sherlock Holmes and Minnesota.” The takes an interest in keeping forever working with Swedish materials in green the memory of the Master. What Criterion Bar Association to Friends The book carries the note “This edition Leslie Klinger recently sent the manu- next day I attended a reception at the Chicago); a retirement party for the will the rest of the summer bring? Who President Richard J. Sveum. In addi- is dedicated to the late Cameron script material for The Hound of the Science Museum of Minnesota for the University archivist; a visit from Walter can tell? But we have the sense that tion to the various images of Holmes Hollyer who first introduced the author Baskervilles: The Sherlock Holmes exhibit “Mesopotamia in Minnesota: Hammady of the Perishable Press; a whatever comes it will be both interest- on screen, the poster lists past presi- to the publisher and to Hugo Koch Reference Library. This is the latest in Cuneiform Texts in Twin Cities presentation and tour to a group of ing and relaxing. May this find you well dents and the founders of the society. whose Christmas offering first suggest- the series of Klinger’s reference library. Collections.” We had some of our Twin Cities librarians and media spe- tablets on loan for this exhibit. The fol- in all your summer endeavors. cialists; a presentation to The lowing week I attended an all-day col- Manuscripts Society on the Holmes lection development symposium and Tim Johnson Collections; the wedding of my assis- then a meeting the next day with an

4 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 9 Musings "An Extraordinarily Nasty Reply" Investigated by Jon Lellenberg aving been both a Scout and with that produced by appellee.” Mr. Volume 5, Irregular Crises of the Late a Scout leader, I particularly Nieminski cited reviews which left no ‘Forties ($37.95/ $38.95) remain n March’s newsletter, Richard father only kept it as a curiosity unauthorized publication of those enjoyed Dick Sveum’s refer- question as to the inferior quality of available. Sveum wrote about Barbara and and, since his death, this is what works he considered unworthy, H ence to the Girl Scout song the play, including “…Mr. Fraser has Christopher Roden donating the we, his family, felt about it.1 I see and following his death in 1930 “Make New Friends, but Keep the taken pains to excise every vestige of We are truly pleased to have Peter E. John Bennett Shaw/Jack Tracy that Pierre Nordon refers and his children became even more Old.” I believe we could reword that existing material in the tale and has Blau author our 50 Years Ago article. I correspondence that they acquired which I see you plan to include in protective, aggressively limiting to “Write new articles, but remember formed his play of the uninteresting He brings his extensive personal from the auction of Tracy’s effects by your collection anyway. In view of which of their father’s writings the old ones” to apply to the previous incidents in a crude and unskillful knowledge of The Limited Editions the Nevada county where he died these facts I’m sure you will agree might reach the public. For nearly issue of this newsletter. Two fine fashion.” The March 1976 editorial Club as well as his unique storytelling intestate. I was sorry to see, toward that to publish these works could forty years Sherlockians railed, Sherlockians took time to comment comments gave further credence to the ability to this piece. As you can see the end of the article, Tracy telling hardly be described as “putting helplessly and politely, at these upon different articles from the March merciful cessation of the play. Having from Tim Johnson’s update, Special Shaw that he had written to Dame Jean some (of my father’s) most inter- “recalcitrant heirs,” but recently issue. now read the script, the commentator Collections and Rare Books has been a Conan Doyle about including “The esting work in print at last.” It is the copyrights were sold, and the wrote “…the shade of Thespis assured- busy place this spring. Dick Sveum Stonor Case” (a version of the because they were not worthwhile new proprietors are more open to Andrew Malec, B.S.I. referenced the ly heaved a sigh of gratitude when has given us an overview of the activi- “Speckled Band” stage-play) in his pieces of work that they were not reason. law case brought by Charles Frohman Charles Frohman’s injunction rang ties of the Friends of the Library as book Sherlock Holmes: The Published published in my father’s lifetime. 2 against the producers of “Sherlock down the curtain.” Our thanks to well as the 100 Years Ago article about Apocrypha, and claiming that he had I informed Tracy with some asperity Holmes, Detective: or The Sigh (sic) of Andrew for this information. Mark Twain. What connections we “received an extraordinarily nasty reply, I do not see anything “extraordinarily that the copyright sale to which he the Four” and pointed to the December have in this issue: Mark Twain was a categorically denying permission to nasty” in this reply. referred had in fact occurred seven 1975 and March 1976 issues of The Jon Lellenberg, B.S.I. has also con- neighbor of William Gillette, whose publish.” years before, and was about to be Baker Street Miscellanea. John tributed an article in response to the portrait as Holmes was drawn by In 1978, I was putting together the ancient history — for at that very Nieminski’s December article covered John Bennett Shaw- Jack Tracy letters Frederic Dorr Steele, who illustrated Not everyone knew Jack Tracy or system to recapture the U.S. Conan moment, Jean was in the process of the brief but tumultuous run of the that Christopher and Barbara Roden one of Twain’s works. And all three of Dame Jean Conan Doyle. I knew them Doyle copyrights for Jean under the recapturing her father’s copyrights. play written by John Arthur Fraser. donated to the Sherlock Holmes them belonged to the Players Club. both, and I knew which one was and new Copyright Act in effect that year, Nieminski wrote that “A stock compa- Collections. I would like to thank him which one was not capable of “an and to represent her when recapture I could hear his gasp of dismay all the ny effort presented jointly with a group for his additional clarification as to the Lastly, in doing preliminary research for extraordinarily nasty reply.” It may be took effect. I was also, with misgiv- way from Bloomington, Indiana. But, of vaudeville acts…lasted for but four “good and the bad” aspects for those of this issue, we came upon the 1952 pam- foolish to let something written by ings, informally advising Tracy in his as others can testify, admonishment of its six scheduled performances, all us who did not know Tracy. Also, as phlet The Sherlock Holmes Hoax by Pope Tracy in 1978 annoy me in 2002, espe- editorial plans, including the creation seldom had much effect on Tracy. In in Chicago in May 1901. The run was you will note in both the lead and the Hill, Sr. This short pamphlet was but a cially since both he and Jean have been of his own imprint, Gaslight my files is the subsequent September terminated on May 10 as a result of a 50 Years Ago articles there are refer- piece of his original lengthy manuscript gone for some years. But I knew her Publications. So I corresponded with 12, 1980, letter that I received from court injunction stemming from a suit ences to the BSI History series, edited which apparently was never published. for 20 years, represented her literary both of them frequently. But a check him, in which he wrote: “You’ll be brought by Charles Frohman…The by Jon. The first three volumes of the If anyone has any information about this interests in America, and find it impos- of my letters from Tracy turns up no happy to hear that since we spoke last, Hopkins Amusement Company, archival series are hard to locate. If you missing manuscript, please contact me. sible to let Tracy’s remark stand complaint about Jean’s reply re: “The I’ve received two gracious letters from Fraser’s producers, appealed the Circuit don’t want to go through the agony of We would love to solve the mystery of unchallenged. Stonor Case.” Instead, his letter of Dame Jean about the Apocrypha, and Court action to the First District, but trying to find books you know you what happened to it. June 13, 1980, to Jean, discussing while she sticks to her guns about lost the case in October 1902.” The should have purchased while they were Thanks to Chris Roden, I have a copy Gaslight’s forthcoming Centennial ‘Angels of Darkness’ she doesn’t con- District Court opinion, quoted in the still available, check the web site Julie McKuras, A.S.H., B.S.I. of Jean’s May 8, 1978, letter to Tracy. Series of early Conan Doyle novels, sider the book at all offensive. All your article, states “…it is apparent that the www.bakerstreetjournal.com, where She was answering his of April 17th, in remarked: “Sherlock Holmes: The elaborate doomsaying gone for latter [by Gillette] may suffer in reputa- Volume 4, Irregular Proceedings of the which he informed her of his plans for Published Apocrypha will be published naught.” tion by the production of an inferior Mid ‘Forties (including postage, $31.95 the Apocrypha and asked to include by Houghton Mifflin next month. I play under a name so closely identified U.S./$32.95 outside the U.S.) and “Angels of Darkness” (Conan Doyle’s know you’re not in sympathy with the Jean always acknowledged Tracy’s unfinished play based on the American project, but if you will allow me to devotion to her father’s work. “I’m so episodes in A Study in Scarlet) and “The present you with a copy I’m sure you sorry that Jack Tracy has turned out to Stonor Case.” Jean replied: will find that the approach at least is be rather a disappointment to you,” serious and respectful.” And so it was, she wrote to me on November 5, 1980: There have been several enquiries on the whole — though marred for regarding “The Angels of Jean by some gratuitously spiteful com- He wrote to apologize for the Darkness,” but my father did not ments in Tracy’s introduction: remark in the Apocrypha, indicat- want it published, nor did my ing that he’d had a reprimand brothers, and nor do I. The rea- Sir Arthur was his own worst critic from you. In replying I passed it son is that it was a very early effort — in more ways than one, because off lightly, as I’m all for freedom to and does not fit into what became his self-judgment was not always express one’s opinion, however the Holmes-Watson concept. My good. He bitterly resented the much one disagrees with it — Continued on page 6

8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 "An Extraordinarily Nasty Reply" Continued "An Extraordinarily Nasty Reply" Continued

however, privately I thought it that’s actually the case.” Four days like today’s trend of writing about reflect the admiration you feel for irrefutable proof. My father Thanks to Peter Blau and Christopher revealed his ignorance of the true later he assured his editor at Houghton the recent past — pointed out my father, but however accurately advised me to be sceptical, Roden for the use of letters in their col- facts, insensitivity, and a certain Mifflin that he was “reasonably confi- Brian Garfield’s Paladin as a partic- you may think you are portraying although not antagonistically so, lections. tastelessness. However, I thought dent that we could prevail upon Dame ularly distasteful book. A lot of him, his family life, and his until given proof of the genuine his Afterwords, in both books [the Jean to write an Introduction to the people seem to be claiming to Spiritualistic lecture tours, you powers of a medium. Excellent 1. Tracy quotes from this letter in his introduc- other being the first Conan Doyle new edition.” More worrisome was her speak for Dame Jean these days (I would be bound to get much of it advice. tion to Sherlock Holmes: The Published Apocrypha Centennial Series novel, The Firm dislike of his (also never fulfilled) plan don’t mean you). She speaks completely wrong. How could it From the above you will have (Houghton Mifflin, 1980): “the unpublished Apocrypha remain so. ‘My father did not wish it of Girdlestone], were really splendid to write a novel about her father. rather well for herself, and I think be otherwise when you never gathered that I do not want to be published, nor did my brothers, and nor do I,’ and they were good productions. “Dame Jean hates the idea, of course, I’ll take her at her word. knew him, or us, and were not associated with your book in any Dame Jean Conan Doyle, the last surviving direct I’m very sorry to hear now from which is understandable,” he told Blau around at the time? Of course you way whatsoever, or with the pub- descendent, has written to us.” you that the offensive paragraph on August 5, 1981, “and won’t review So now we see Tracy as Jean’s defender will have had the advantage of lishers, however well intentioned 2. [in the Apocrypha] is now the basis the manuscript, but perhaps she’ll be (and of course, subtly, his own at the reading Our American Adventure your book may be. This letter is In 1997, Dame Jean finally agreed to a BSI of the publisher’s publicity for the soothed when the book comes out and same time). What Jean actually told and Our Second American far longer than I’d intended but I edition of “Angels of Darkness” with a scholarly 3 apparatus that would present the work in con- book. That really is too bad. people tell her it ain’t half bad (unless him, in a July 2, 1981, letter that illus- Adventure, which will have given felt that your past courtesies to me text, and the executors of her Estate, following Lellenberg gets to her first).” By now I trates both her views and her personal- you some of the facts. It’s true, as and the great interest you have in her death at the end of that year, also agreed to Tracy helped make Conan Doyle not was the villain of the piece, but I was- ity, was this: I remember clearly, that the New my father’s works, deserved more the BSI edition that was published this year. only respectable but the focus of seri- n’t the only one telling Tracy that Jean York press was extremely brash, by than a curt denial of any co-opera- 3. ous interest in Sherlockian circles, and wouldn’t care for the idea, judging After all the reasons for thanking British standards at that time, but tion, and of my fundamental “For 40 years the Doyle estate suppressed efforts to anthologize the six pieces, from the Jean was grateful to him for that. from Tracy’s letter to Blau on October you, and having agreed with you the vast crowds which came to the opposition to fictional novels hand of Sir Arthur, collected here for the first “Thank you very much for your letter 5, 1981: over so much, it’s with sadness lectures were not, and my father about my father (which I cannot time,” opened the promotional flyer sent by and the Afterword for The Firm of that I have to tell you that I am was given a wonderful reception overlook) and therefore my per- Houghton Mifflin to Baker Street Journal Girdlestone which I found interesting Your comment about Dame Jean in utterly opposed to your latest ven- wherever he went in public. I sonal distaste for your project. subscribers at the end of September 1980: reading,” she’d written to him on your August 9 card is the second ture — writing a fictional story remember that, as a family, we “For the most part, they are known to only October 6, 1980: time you’ve suggested that she about my father. I’ve always had were very happy on the tour; occa- As Tracy noted, Dame Jean spoke very a handful of Holmes experts — but recently might freeze out me or Gaslight the deepest distaste for this mod- sional controversies were only to well for herself. And the “extraordinar- the copyrights were sold . . . and the new As I wrote to you before — how because she is in disagreement ern innovation — the use of be expected, but both my parents ily nasty reply” he claimed to have proprietors have finally granted permission to make this collected edition possible.” interested, and flattered, my father with some of my projects or state- famous people, living or dead, at felt the tours were immensely suc- received from her evaporates upon would have been to read your crit- ments. Such a thing is utterly for- the centre of works of fiction. The cessful. So many accounts of my examination. icisms. It is a joy to know that eign to everything I’ve ever heard plays about Churchill, for father and Spiritualism, Houdini you, and others, are paying such about her and to my own experi- instance, disgusted me and one etc tell only half the story — writ- Why then did Tracy say such a thing to tribute to his merit as a writer, at ence with her graciousness even was bound to question the author’s ers’ research lacks depth. John Bennett Shaw? People who knew this time. A university “Reader” of after the appearance of the motives. In these times when all I’ve too much on my plate to cor- Tracy probably require no explanation. Literature was here only yesterday Apocrypha. moral standards seem to be slip- respond about Spiritualism, a sub- After a while, most of us who dealt who felt strongly that he had been ping over the horizon, and “to ject which cannot be dealt with in with him shrugged and went our own denied his proper status in the lit- Which is a far cry from the idea of Jean make money” is put before moral a few pages, let alone paragraphs, way; we were able to take the good erary world. It was very hearten- Conan Doyle as a writer of extraordi- considerations, taking such liber- but whenever I hear someone say with the bad, for, whatever his person- ing to hear such opinions, and to narily nasty replies. ties with the characters and lives they do not believe in it, I wonder ality, his work was first-rate, both his read your words. of real people seems to be some- how many years they have spent own writings and his presentation of “I don’t know why people insist on thing that should be resisted. It is in practical investigation. It took other people’s work (including mine). The Centennial Series titles were in the assuming my novel is in any way criti- a dangerous blurring of the margin my father many years before he But you never had to take the bad with public domain in America, but Tracy cal of Spiritualism,” Tracy wrote further between what is true and what is was convinced. He said that if a the good from Jean Conan Doyle, who also pursued projects where Jean’s per- to Blau on October 19, 1981: false. My views may seem very photographer takes a whole roll of was a woman of firm views but also of mission was required. One goal of his old fashioned to you, but I know films and only one comes out the unfailing courtesy, even when she did was to edit and publish an edition of It isn’t. Quite the reverse. Indeed, my father would have despised case for photography is proved; not agree with you. It had not always Conan Doyle’s autobiography Memories Dame Jean has told me the main this type of “literature.” He that it’s the same with Spiritualism, been so among Conan Doyle’s children and Adventures. On February 20, reason she won’t read the book is brought me up to have a deep one may get many false messages — so how fortunate it was for us that 1981, he wrote to Peter Blau about because as a historical novelist I respect for “facts” and for truth, so from the “departed,” come across the last of them was her. seeking a commercial publisher for it, can’t help but get little things it follows that “faction” is an many fraudulent mediums, but remarking that “what’s in Dame Jean’s wrong, and that would disturb anathema to me, as it is to many every now and again there is interest may not necessarily be in her. I don’t think the Spiritualism others, I’m glad to say. Gaslight’s, although I hardly think angle is the issue. She just doesn’t I appreciate your book would

Continued on page 7

6 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 7 "An Extraordinarily Nasty Reply" Continued "An Extraordinarily Nasty Reply" Continued

however, privately I thought it that’s actually the case.” Four days like today’s trend of writing about reflect the admiration you feel for irrefutable proof. My father Thanks to Peter Blau and Christopher revealed his ignorance of the true later he assured his editor at Houghton the recent past — pointed out my father, but however accurately advised me to be sceptical, Roden for the use of letters in their col- facts, insensitivity, and a certain Mifflin that he was “reasonably confi- Brian Garfield’s Paladin as a partic- you may think you are portraying although not antagonistically so, lections. tastelessness. However, I thought dent that we could prevail upon Dame ularly distasteful book. A lot of him, his family life, and his until given proof of the genuine his Afterwords, in both books [the Jean to write an Introduction to the people seem to be claiming to Spiritualistic lecture tours, you powers of a medium. Excellent 1. Tracy quotes from this letter in his introduc- other being the first Conan Doyle new edition.” More worrisome was her speak for Dame Jean these days (I would be bound to get much of it advice. tion to Sherlock Holmes: The Published Apocrypha Centennial Series novel, The Firm dislike of his (also never fulfilled) plan don’t mean you). She speaks completely wrong. How could it From the above you will have (Houghton Mifflin, 1980): “the unpublished Apocrypha remain so. ‘My father did not wish it of Girdlestone], were really splendid to write a novel about her father. rather well for herself, and I think be otherwise when you never gathered that I do not want to be published, nor did my brothers, and nor do I,’ and they were good productions. “Dame Jean hates the idea, of course, I’ll take her at her word. knew him, or us, and were not associated with your book in any Dame Jean Conan Doyle, the last surviving direct I’m very sorry to hear now from which is understandable,” he told Blau around at the time? Of course you way whatsoever, or with the pub- descendent, has written to us.” you that the offensive paragraph on August 5, 1981, “and won’t review So now we see Tracy as Jean’s defender will have had the advantage of lishers, however well intentioned 2. [in the Apocrypha] is now the basis the manuscript, but perhaps she’ll be (and of course, subtly, his own at the reading Our American Adventure your book may be. This letter is In 1997, Dame Jean finally agreed to a BSI of the publisher’s publicity for the soothed when the book comes out and same time). What Jean actually told and Our Second American far longer than I’d intended but I edition of “Angels of Darkness” with a scholarly 3 apparatus that would present the work in con- book. That really is too bad. people tell her it ain’t half bad (unless him, in a July 2, 1981, letter that illus- Adventure, which will have given felt that your past courtesies to me text, and the executors of her Estate, following Lellenberg gets to her first).” By now I trates both her views and her personal- you some of the facts. It’s true, as and the great interest you have in her death at the end of that year, also agreed to Tracy helped make Conan Doyle not was the villain of the piece, but I was- ity, was this: I remember clearly, that the New my father’s works, deserved more the BSI edition that was published this year. only respectable but the focus of seri- n’t the only one telling Tracy that Jean York press was extremely brash, by than a curt denial of any co-opera- 3. ous interest in Sherlockian circles, and wouldn’t care for the idea, judging After all the reasons for thanking British standards at that time, but tion, and of my fundamental “For 40 years the Doyle estate suppressed efforts to anthologize the six pieces, from the Jean was grateful to him for that. from Tracy’s letter to Blau on October you, and having agreed with you the vast crowds which came to the opposition to fictional novels hand of Sir Arthur, collected here for the first “Thank you very much for your letter 5, 1981: over so much, it’s with sadness lectures were not, and my father about my father (which I cannot time,” opened the promotional flyer sent by and the Afterword for The Firm of that I have to tell you that I am was given a wonderful reception overlook) and therefore my per- Houghton Mifflin to Baker Street Journal Girdlestone which I found interesting Your comment about Dame Jean in utterly opposed to your latest ven- wherever he went in public. I sonal distaste for your project. subscribers at the end of September 1980: reading,” she’d written to him on your August 9 card is the second ture — writing a fictional story remember that, as a family, we “For the most part, they are known to only October 6, 1980: time you’ve suggested that she about my father. I’ve always had were very happy on the tour; occa- As Tracy noted, Dame Jean spoke very a handful of Holmes experts — but recently might freeze out me or Gaslight the deepest distaste for this mod- sional controversies were only to well for herself. And the “extraordinar- the copyrights were sold . . . and the new As I wrote to you before — how because she is in disagreement ern innovation — the use of be expected, but both my parents ily nasty reply” he claimed to have proprietors have finally granted permission to make this collected edition possible.” interested, and flattered, my father with some of my projects or state- famous people, living or dead, at felt the tours were immensely suc- received from her evaporates upon would have been to read your crit- ments. Such a thing is utterly for- the centre of works of fiction. The cessful. So many accounts of my examination. icisms. It is a joy to know that eign to everything I’ve ever heard plays about Churchill, for father and Spiritualism, Houdini you, and others, are paying such about her and to my own experi- instance, disgusted me and one etc tell only half the story — writ- Why then did Tracy say such a thing to tribute to his merit as a writer, at ence with her graciousness even was bound to question the author’s ers’ research lacks depth. John Bennett Shaw? People who knew this time. A university “Reader” of after the appearance of the motives. In these times when all I’ve too much on my plate to cor- Tracy probably require no explanation. Literature was here only yesterday Apocrypha. moral standards seem to be slip- respond about Spiritualism, a sub- After a while, most of us who dealt who felt strongly that he had been ping over the horizon, and “to ject which cannot be dealt with in with him shrugged and went our own denied his proper status in the lit- Which is a far cry from the idea of Jean make money” is put before moral a few pages, let alone paragraphs, way; we were able to take the good erary world. It was very hearten- Conan Doyle as a writer of extraordi- considerations, taking such liber- but whenever I hear someone say with the bad, for, whatever his person- ing to hear such opinions, and to narily nasty replies. ties with the characters and lives they do not believe in it, I wonder ality, his work was first-rate, both his read your words. of real people seems to be some- how many years they have spent own writings and his presentation of “I don’t know why people insist on thing that should be resisted. It is in practical investigation. It took other people’s work (including mine). The Centennial Series titles were in the assuming my novel is in any way criti- a dangerous blurring of the margin my father many years before he But you never had to take the bad with public domain in America, but Tracy cal of Spiritualism,” Tracy wrote further between what is true and what is was convinced. He said that if a the good from Jean Conan Doyle, who also pursued projects where Jean’s per- to Blau on October 19, 1981: false. My views may seem very photographer takes a whole roll of was a woman of firm views but also of mission was required. One goal of his old fashioned to you, but I know films and only one comes out the unfailing courtesy, even when she did was to edit and publish an edition of It isn’t. Quite the reverse. Indeed, my father would have despised case for photography is proved; not agree with you. It had not always Conan Doyle’s autobiography Memories Dame Jean has told me the main this type of “literature.” He that it’s the same with Spiritualism, been so among Conan Doyle’s children and Adventures. On February 20, reason she won’t read the book is brought me up to have a deep one may get many false messages — so how fortunate it was for us that 1981, he wrote to Peter Blau about because as a historical novelist I respect for “facts” and for truth, so from the “departed,” come across the last of them was her. seeking a commercial publisher for it, can’t help but get little things it follows that “faction” is an many fraudulent mediums, but remarking that “what’s in Dame Jean’s wrong, and that would disturb anathema to me, as it is to many every now and again there is interest may not necessarily be in her. I don’t think the Spiritualism others, I’m glad to say. Gaslight’s, although I hardly think angle is the issue. She just doesn’t I appreciate your book would

Continued on page 7

6 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 7 Musings "An Extraordinarily Nasty Reply" Investigated by Jon Lellenberg aving been both a Scout and with that produced by appellee.” Mr. Volume 5, Irregular Crises of the Late a Scout leader, I particularly Nieminski cited reviews which left no ‘Forties ($37.95/ $38.95) remain n March’s newsletter, Richard father only kept it as a curiosity unauthorized publication of those enjoyed Dick Sveum’s refer- question as to the inferior quality of available. Sveum wrote about Barbara and and, since his death, this is what works he considered unworthy, H ence to the Girl Scout song the play, including “…Mr. Fraser has Christopher Roden donating the we, his family, felt about it.1 I see and following his death in 1930 “Make New Friends, but Keep the taken pains to excise every vestige of We are truly pleased to have Peter E. John Bennett Shaw/Jack Tracy that Pierre Nordon refers and his children became even more Old.” I believe we could reword that existing material in the tale and has Blau author our 50 Years Ago article. I correspondence that they acquired which I see you plan to include in protective, aggressively limiting to “Write new articles, but remember formed his play of the uninteresting He brings his extensive personal from the auction of Tracy’s effects by your collection anyway. In view of which of their father’s writings the old ones” to apply to the previous incidents in a crude and unskillful knowledge of The Limited Editions the Nevada county where he died these facts I’m sure you will agree might reach the public. For nearly issue of this newsletter. Two fine fashion.” The March 1976 editorial Club as well as his unique storytelling intestate. I was sorry to see, toward that to publish these works could forty years Sherlockians railed, Sherlockians took time to comment comments gave further credence to the ability to this piece. As you can see the end of the article, Tracy telling hardly be described as “putting helplessly and politely, at these upon different articles from the March merciful cessation of the play. Having from Tim Johnson’s update, Special Shaw that he had written to Dame Jean some (of my father’s) most inter- “recalcitrant heirs,” but recently issue. now read the script, the commentator Collections and Rare Books has been a Conan Doyle about including “The esting work in print at last.” It is the copyrights were sold, and the wrote “…the shade of Thespis assured- busy place this spring. Dick Sveum Stonor Case” (a version of the because they were not worthwhile new proprietors are more open to Andrew Malec, B.S.I. referenced the ly heaved a sigh of gratitude when has given us an overview of the activi- “Speckled Band” stage-play) in his pieces of work that they were not reason. law case brought by Charles Frohman Charles Frohman’s injunction rang ties of the Friends of the Library as book Sherlock Holmes: The Published published in my father’s lifetime. 2 against the producers of “Sherlock down the curtain.” Our thanks to well as the 100 Years Ago article about Apocrypha, and claiming that he had I informed Tracy with some asperity Holmes, Detective: or The Sigh (sic) of Andrew for this information. Mark Twain. What connections we “received an extraordinarily nasty reply, I do not see anything “extraordinarily that the copyright sale to which he the Four” and pointed to the December have in this issue: Mark Twain was a categorically denying permission to nasty” in this reply. referred had in fact occurred seven 1975 and March 1976 issues of The Jon Lellenberg, B.S.I. has also con- neighbor of William Gillette, whose publish.” years before, and was about to be Baker Street Miscellanea. John tributed an article in response to the portrait as Holmes was drawn by In 1978, I was putting together the ancient history — for at that very Nieminski’s December article covered John Bennett Shaw- Jack Tracy letters Frederic Dorr Steele, who illustrated Not everyone knew Jack Tracy or system to recapture the U.S. Conan moment, Jean was in the process of the brief but tumultuous run of the that Christopher and Barbara Roden one of Twain’s works. And all three of Dame Jean Conan Doyle. I knew them Doyle copyrights for Jean under the recapturing her father’s copyrights. play written by John Arthur Fraser. donated to the Sherlock Holmes them belonged to the Players Club. both, and I knew which one was and new Copyright Act in effect that year, Nieminski wrote that “A stock compa- Collections. I would like to thank him which one was not capable of “an and to represent her when recapture I could hear his gasp of dismay all the ny effort presented jointly with a group for his additional clarification as to the Lastly, in doing preliminary research for extraordinarily nasty reply.” It may be took effect. I was also, with misgiv- way from Bloomington, Indiana. But, of vaudeville acts…lasted for but four “good and the bad” aspects for those of this issue, we came upon the 1952 pam- foolish to let something written by ings, informally advising Tracy in his as others can testify, admonishment of its six scheduled performances, all us who did not know Tracy. Also, as phlet The Sherlock Holmes Hoax by Pope Tracy in 1978 annoy me in 2002, espe- editorial plans, including the creation seldom had much effect on Tracy. In in Chicago in May 1901. The run was you will note in both the lead and the Hill, Sr. This short pamphlet was but a cially since both he and Jean have been of his own imprint, Gaslight my files is the subsequent September terminated on May 10 as a result of a 50 Years Ago articles there are refer- piece of his original lengthy manuscript gone for some years. But I knew her Publications. So I corresponded with 12, 1980, letter that I received from court injunction stemming from a suit ences to the BSI History series, edited which apparently was never published. for 20 years, represented her literary both of them frequently. But a check him, in which he wrote: “You’ll be brought by Charles Frohman…The by Jon. The first three volumes of the If anyone has any information about this interests in America, and find it impos- of my letters from Tracy turns up no happy to hear that since we spoke last, Hopkins Amusement Company, archival series are hard to locate. If you missing manuscript, please contact me. sible to let Tracy’s remark stand complaint about Jean’s reply re: “The I’ve received two gracious letters from Fraser’s producers, appealed the Circuit don’t want to go through the agony of We would love to solve the mystery of unchallenged. Stonor Case.” Instead, his letter of Dame Jean about the Apocrypha, and Court action to the First District, but trying to find books you know you what happened to it. June 13, 1980, to Jean, discussing while she sticks to her guns about lost the case in October 1902.” The should have purchased while they were Thanks to Chris Roden, I have a copy Gaslight’s forthcoming Centennial ‘Angels of Darkness’ she doesn’t con- District Court opinion, quoted in the still available, check the web site Julie McKuras, A.S.H., B.S.I. of Jean’s May 8, 1978, letter to Tracy. Series of early Conan Doyle novels, sider the book at all offensive. All your article, states “…it is apparent that the www.bakerstreetjournal.com, where She was answering his of April 17th, in remarked: “Sherlock Holmes: The elaborate doomsaying gone for latter [by Gillette] may suffer in reputa- Volume 4, Irregular Proceedings of the which he informed her of his plans for Published Apocrypha will be published naught.” tion by the production of an inferior Mid ‘Forties (including postage, $31.95 the Apocrypha and asked to include by Houghton Mifflin next month. I play under a name so closely identified U.S./$32.95 outside the U.S.) and “Angels of Darkness” (Conan Doyle’s know you’re not in sympathy with the Jean always acknowledged Tracy’s unfinished play based on the American project, but if you will allow me to devotion to her father’s work. “I’m so episodes in A Study in Scarlet) and “The present you with a copy I’m sure you sorry that Jack Tracy has turned out to Stonor Case.” Jean replied: will find that the approach at least is be rather a disappointment to you,” serious and respectful.” And so it was, she wrote to me on November 5, 1980: There have been several enquiries on the whole — though marred for regarding “The Angels of Jean by some gratuitously spiteful com- He wrote to apologize for the Darkness,” but my father did not ments in Tracy’s introduction: remark in the Apocrypha, indicat- want it published, nor did my ing that he’d had a reprimand brothers, and nor do I. The rea- Sir Arthur was his own worst critic from you. In replying I passed it son is that it was a very early effort — in more ways than one, because off lightly, as I’m all for freedom to and does not fit into what became his self-judgment was not always express one’s opinion, however the Holmes-Watson concept. My good. He bitterly resented the much one disagrees with it — Continued on page 6

8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 5 From the President An Update from the Collections

am proud to announce that nizing the invaluable support we The new Walter Library will contain he end of the academic year tant curator, Susan Steven Doyle, B.S.I. (“The receive from groups such as The the Science and Engineering Library brings with it a final flurry of Stekel, from the Western Morning News”) has Occupants of the Empty House who along with the new Digital Technology activity. This year has been James Ford Bell I accepted an invitation to be annually contribute proceeds from Center. The exterior of the Roman T no exception. For the most Library; and a the guest speaker at the annual meet- their auction. In the words of my Renaissance building with red bricks part we enjoy this frenzied pace, keynote welcome ing of The Friends of the Sherlock daughters’ Girl Scout song, “Make new and Bedford limestone trim and colon- although we sometimes catch ourselves and session pre- Holmes Collections. Mark your calen- friends, but keep the old, one is silver naded portico was preserved along coming and going (but hopefully not sentation to a dars for this exceptional program to be and the other gold.” with some interior architectural detail; double-booked) as we move through symposium for held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, the rest is very high tech. If you can’t the springtime days. Some of this year’s library paraprofes- September 19, 2002 at the Elmer L. Theofanis G. Stavrou, President of the visit in person you can visit their web- frenzy is connected with our massive sionals and sup- Andersen Library. University of Minnesota Friends of the site at sciweb.lib.umn.edu . migration to a new integrated library port staff. Library, was honored at the Annual system. I’ve received notice that our photo by Julie McKuras The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Dinner on April 18, 2002. The The University Library’s Capital fiscal-year-end programs ran successful- May continued in Timothy Johnson with the class from the Collections had the opportunity to University Friends of the Library host- Campaign will conclude in 2003. ly. This is a cause for some celebration, the same lively Minnetonka West Middle School recognize and thank our Charter ed the Gala Grand Reopening of The Sherlock Holmes Collections is as this year’s fiscal close came early so fashion, beginning Members with the last Newsletter. Walter Library on June 5, 2002. The encouraging everyone to donate to the that our business office (and the rest of with a visit from Marshall Weber from expert from Indiana on copyright. About one third of current member- Walter Library building was third E.W. McDiarmid Curator Endowment. us) might continue to prepare for the the Brooklyn book artists’ cooperative There was a brief respite for the ship has been with us since 1997 home of the University Library when it With your help we can reach our goal move to the new system scheduled to in Brooklyn, New York. (Is it a good Memorial Day weekend (with some when we started the Newsletter, and was completed in 1924, and the to be the World Center for the study be operational at the beginning of July. sign that these months both began with added days off thrown in) and then an we look forward to maintaining that Arthur Upson Room located in the of Sherlock Holmes. Like any move, this one has been visits from Marshalls?) This was quickly end-of-month lecture by Julian Plante connection. We are always looking to Walter Library was the original home accompanied by a bit of stress. Happily followed by a three-day conference entitled “Documenting the Minnesota increase our membership while recog- of Special Collections and Rare Books. Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. that stress has (and continues to be) involving about 300 archivists, for Book World.” My highlight for June will mitigated by a number of tours, presen- which we played host. Two days later be the opportunity to speak to the tations, conferences, and classes we hosted a reception for Cornell West “Sub-Librarians” at the American through which we have the opportunity as part of the University’s “Great Library Association annual meeting in to talk about the Sherlock Holmes Conversations” series. Two days after Atlanta. Acquistions Collections and in general enjoy work- that we had the double treat of a visit ing in the midst of such a library and during the day with about 60 students You may wonder at this point at the all its wonderful collections. recitation of this end-of-year calendar. avid Hammer continues his ed the idea to the publisher.” Mr. Koch from Minnetonka West Middle School Not all of these events deal with the ongoing donation of his previously donated his referenced (during which we capped our presenta- On April 5th we enjoyed a visit from Sherlock Holmes Collections. That is Sherlockian library to the monograph, privately printed for tion with a view of the Hound manu- Marshall Blankenship and his wife and true. But it is also true that all these D Sherlock Holmes Christmas 1999. script) and an evening lecture by Collections. Mr. Hammer recently for- had the chance to show them the recently retired Bell Library curator events allow me the opportunity to at Andersen Library and the Holmes least mention Holmes in passing and to warded three large boxes to add to John and Margie Pollack donated a Carol Urness. The week ended with the Collections. This was followed a few give the hearer some indication of the those previously received. One of the copy of the playbill from “Sherlock annual Festival of Greek Letters and a days later by a James Ford Bell Library depth and breadth of the world’s largest newly arrived boxes contained manu- Holmes & The Curious Adventure of lecture by Professor Andreas M. public lecture by the noted writer/pro- collection relating to the consulting scripts, papers, ephemera and pam- the Clockwork Prince,” described as “A Kazamias from the Universities of ducer James Burke and an end-of-week detective. And who knows? Maybe phlets and the other two boxes con- Victorian Romp” written by Cleve Wisconsin and Athens.

photo by Julie McKuras meeting in St. Cloud with other librari- among those middle school students tained books. Haubold with music composed by ans on the subject of leadership devel- will come another member of the Don Terras and Richard J. Sveum James Alfred Hitt. The play ran from On May 14th I was the luncheon opment. The following weeks in April Friends and the Norwegian Explorers. The STUD dinner, held on May 4, April 5 thru May 4 this year at the speaker for the St. Paul chapter of the were equally energetic: a visit from Ulf Maybe among those at lectures or 2002 in Chicago, was the perfect Hugo Koch donated The Frozen Pirate, Spirit of the North Theater in Duluth, American Association of University Beijbom from the Swedish Emigrant receptions will be another donor who opportunity for Don Terras to present by W. Clark Russell, published by The Minnesota. Women. My topic for the day was the 30th Anniversary poster of the Battered Silicon Dispatch box in 2001. Institute (a colleague from my days “Sherlock Holmes and Minnesota.” The takes an interest in keeping forever working with Swedish materials in green the memory of the Master. What Criterion Bar Association to Friends The book carries the note “This edition Leslie Klinger recently sent the manu- next day I attended a reception at the Chicago); a retirement party for the will the rest of the summer bring? Who President Richard J. Sveum. In addi- is dedicated to the late Cameron script material for The Hound of the Science Museum of Minnesota for the University archivist; a visit from Walter can tell? But we have the sense that tion to the various images of Holmes Hollyer who first introduced the author Baskervilles: The Sherlock Holmes exhibit “Mesopotamia in Minnesota: Hammady of the Perishable Press; a whatever comes it will be both interest- on screen, the poster lists past presi- to the publisher and to Hugo Koch Reference Library. This is the latest in Cuneiform Texts in Twin Cities presentation and tour to a group of ing and relaxing. May this find you well dents and the founders of the society. whose Christmas offering first suggest- the series of Klinger’s reference library. Collections.” We had some of our Twin Cities librarians and media spe- tablets on loan for this exhibit. The fol- in all your summer endeavors. cialists; a presentation to The lowing week I attended an all-day col- Manuscripts Society on the Holmes lection development symposium and Tim Johnson Collections; the wedding of my assis- then a meeting the next day with an

4 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 9 many fine writers to write prefaces, much of his work for the set undone), Frederic Dorr Steele Continued from Page 1 including George Bernard Shaw for and beautifully designed by W. A. Great Expectations, G. K. Chesterton for Dwiggins. The Adventures of Sherlock spondence, which con- Frederic Dorr Steele Memorial Collection Vanity Fair, Fletcher Pratt for Twenty Holmes was published in three vol- sists of Macy’s originals is available on the Web site for the Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and umes in 1950, with “Notes on the and Steele’s draft copies, University of Minnesota Libraries at Ray Bradbury for The Mysterious Island. Collation” by Edgar W. Smith and an are cited. (These letters http://www.umn.edu/rare/ introduction by Vincent Starrett; The were donated to the 50 There was discussion of a Limited Later Adventures in three volumes in University of Minnesota YEARS AGO Editions Club Sherlock Holmes as early 1952, with introductions by Elmer in 1986 by Steele’s three Julie McKuras, A.S.H., B.S.I. as 1935, and hopeful correspondence, Davis, Fletcher Pratt, and Rex Stout; children.) “I suppose the only way we can keep and in 1943 George Macy announced and The Final Adventures in two vol- References our subscription list complete is to that the Club would publish a five-vol- umes in 1952, with introductions by The Club’s 1944 Malec, Andrew. The Frederic Dorr Steele force our subscribers not to meet each ume set, edited by Vincent Starrett and Anthony Boucher and Christopher prospectus for the Memorial Collection. Minneapolis; University of other,” George Macy wrote a member illustrated by Frederic Dorr Steele. But Morley, and an epilogue by Edgar W. Canon indicated that Minnesota Libraries, 1987. of the Limited Editions Club on Aug. there was a problem. It was a Smith. seventy new illustrations Starrett, Vincent. The Private Life of Sherlock 2, 1930. “I can understand a man mar- dual problem, actually: Denis and by Steele would be fea- Holmes. 1930. New York: The Macmillan rying some girl because she owns our Adrian Conan Doyle. The story of their There were 1500 subscribers to the tured. But as the saying Company, 1934. books; or I can understand a girl mar- campaign against the Sherlockian Limited Editions Club, and thus 1500 goes, time waits for no rying a man for the same reason; but world in general, and against the Baker copies. And, demonstrating as usual man. Frederic Dorr when two people owning our books Street Irregulars in particular, has been that limitation statements should not Steele died on July 6, marry each other, I suspect that there told by Jon L. Lellenberg in his excel- be trusted, there were an additional 15 1944, leaving his pro- are other forces at work. Let me send lent Baker Street Irregulars archival his- stated “presentation copies” of The photo by Julie McKuras ject unfinished but a you hearty good wishes, impersonal as tories, and his Irregular Crises of the Adventures, and 25 stated “editor’s number of new draw- But it was his drawings for Collier’s these are.” Late ‘Forties (1999) includes a detailed copies” of The Later Adventures and The ings as well as reworked illustrations that began and insured his place in account of the trials and tribulations Final Adventures. Completists will also ready for inclusion in The Limited Sherlockian history. His illustrations George Macy was the director of the that George Macy faced and eventually want The Monthly Letter of The Limited Editions Canon. Edgar W. Smith of the Great Detective graced the pages Limited Editions Club, which he had overcame. Editions Club for June 1950 of the magazine for the 1903 –1905 notified the Baker Street Irregulars on founded in 1929 to pub- (“Elementary, my dear series of The Return of Sherlock Holmes. July 8 of Steele’s passing, lish twelve books a year Watson”), which He would eventually illustrate “twenty- stating in a note that was for subscribers who explained in four well- six of the last thirty-three Sherlock reprinted in the Fall 1991 enjoyed well-designed written pages the history Holmes stories for their initial Baker Street Miscellanea, books that were often of the set; and for June American periodical appearances.” “It was Frederic Dorr signed by the illustrators. 1952 (“The Adventure of (Malec) He met and corresponded Steele, and not Sir Arthur The Club’s first book was the Murderous with many of the most prominent Conan Doyle, who gave Gulliver’s Travels (illus- Irishman”), which dealt Sherlockians of the day and attended a to millions of Americans trated by Alexander with Arthur Conan Doyle number of the annual Baker Street their conception of King); some of the more (the Irishman), his deci- Irregulars dinners beginning in 1934, Sherlock Holmes. That interesting, and certainly sion to dispose of as well as maintaining a membership fact, one feels, is all the more collectible, later Sherlock Holmes, and in the Players Club for almost forty monument that Freddie titles were Lysistrata some of the interesting years. Steele would want.” (illustrated and signed by things that Sherlockians Pablo Picasso) and were doing. His career declined during the 1930’s Much has been written Ulysses (illustrated and and a commission for The Limited about Steele. Featured signed by Henri Matisse). George Macy also Editions Club was a promising one. here are several of Steele’s presided over the drawings from the collec- The subscriber who photo by Julie McKuras The Archival History of the Baker Steele's 1939 illustration for The Hound of the Baskervilles Heritage Press and the Street Irregulars, edited by Jon L. tion of Philip S. Hench, received that letter in Heritage Club, which Lellenberg, B.S.I., gives a detailed M.D., that are now a part 1930 was my mother. later published its own three-volume of The Sherlock Holmes account of the years, problems and My father remained a subscriber, of The Limited Editions Club set finally edition of the Limited Editions Club Collections. For more efforts that went into publishing this course, and I grew up in a house appeared in 1950 and 1952, and it cer- set, offering the text and illustrations, information on Steele, edition. In the series, portions of the where books were meant to be read. tainly deserves to be celebrated fifty but only Smith’s “Notes on the Andrew Malec’s The November 1939 – June 1944 corre- Limited Editions Club volumes were years later. There were eight volumes, Collation” and the introduction by wonderful books, and the prefaces edited by Edgar W. Smith, illustrated Starrett. The first volume appeared in were just as interesting as the books. by Frederic Dorr Steele and other 1952 and was reprinted in 1957, Over the years, Macy commissioned artists (Steele had died in 1944, with when the second and third volumes photo by Julie McKuras Continued on page 11

10 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 3 The Bibliography of American Literature began his famous stage portrayal of Continued from Page 3 Sherlock Holmes in 1899, had been a lists it as number 3471 with the differ- 50 Years Ago neighbor of Twain’s in Nook Farm, ence in states of undetermined Hartford, Connecticut. It is known sequence being the end papers and the were published. The first volume was again reprinted in 1971, and the second and that Twain helped pay for Gillette’s location of the highest peak in a three- third volumes in 1972. And Sandglass, the Heritage Club’s monthly early training and got him a part in the paneled picture. The Harper & newsletter also is a collectible: it reprinted (in smaller format and as “Elementary, 1875 production of “Gilded Age.” Brothers Publishers edition had Lucius my dear Watson” and “You know my methods, Watson”) the earlier Limited 100 Both Gillette and Twain were charter Hitchcock’s illustrations with green bor- Editions Club newsletters. YEARS AGO members of the Players Club at 16 ders, which appear with red borders in Gramercy Park in New York when it the first English edition by Chatto & Macy, who received his Investiture (“The Bruce-Partington Plans”) in the Baker The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Street Irregulars in 1951, died in 1956, having brought to press and to the public is a quarterly newsletter published by the was founded in 1888. He had previ- Windus. Bernard Tauchnitz also pub- Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections ously employed detectives in his books lished an edition in 1902 in Leipzig in (well, at least some of the public) an edition that was both attractive and well edit- which seek to promote the activities, inter- his Collection of British and American ed, and Sherlockians are greatly indebted to him. ests and needs of the Special Collections such as Pudd’nhead Wilson (1894) and and Rare Books Department, University of Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896). The pop- Authors vol. 3591. John Bennett Shaw Minnesota Libraries. ularity of Sherlock Holmes in America had collected several early translations There were, eventually, many Sherlockians who wanted to read all those fine intro- ductions, but either couldn’t find or couldn’t afford to buy the Limited Editions Mail editorial correspondence c/o: by way of the original stories, parodies of the story including a 1910 French Editor and stage productions encouraged edition, a 1914 Danish edition and a Club set; Edgar W. Smith reprinted his “Notes on the Collation” and all of the Julie McKuras Twain to write his story. The Mark 1920 Spanish edition. Mark Twain’s A introductions in 350 copies of Introducing Sherlock Holmes in 1959, along with 13512 Granada Ave. other interesting introductions from earlier editions of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Apple Valley, MN 55124 Twain Encyclopedia references Twain’s Double Barrelled Detective Story was 952-431-1934 letter of September 6, 1901 to Henry adapted for the stage by Robert St. Clair 952-431-5965 Fax H. Rogers, in which he writes that he in 1954 and published in a paperback George Macy’s wife Helen had continued his work, but sold the company in 1971, [email protected] when it began a slow and then precipitate decline. Eventually it was rescued and had read the first installment of The edition. Editorial Board Hound of the Baskervilles, which resurrected as the Easton Press, which now is reprinting older titles and publishing John Bergquist, Timothy Johnson, appeared in the Strand Magazine in At the time Twain wrote this story, he new ones. The Easton Press reprinted the Heritage Press edition in 1987 as the Jon Lellenberg, Richard J. Sveum, M.D. and Arthur Conan Doyle had not yet Complete Sherlock Holmes 100th Anniversary Edition in three leather-bound volumes, Copyright © 2002 August 1901. University of Minnesota Library met. Conan Doyle, along with many with full-color frontispieces by Frederic Dorr Steele. And the Easton Press issued a “Collector’s Edition” in 1996, again in three leather-bound volumes, but with all of The University of Minnesota is an Equal A Double-Barrelled Detective Story is British authors, signed the telegram Opportunity Educator and Employer. really a novella or condensed novel of sent to Twain in 1905 for his 70th the Limited Editions Club introductions (and with a new portrait of Arthur Conan 20,650 words in 10 chapters divided Birthday celebration at Delmonico’s Doyle by Richard Spark as the full-color frontispiece of the first volume). into two parts. It is an outrageous bur- Restaurant in New York City. They lesque using grotesque violence and finally met in England in 1907 and There are, of course, more stories to tell about the Limited Editions Club set, but melodrama concerning revenge and shared an interest in the Congo Reform space for only one. Observant readers will have noted, perhaps, the illustration that accompanies this essay, and recalling that Frederic Dorr Steele began illustrat- Photo from William Gillette's Photo Album, from the Philip S. Hench Collection Gillette's Photo Album, from William Photo from (The Sherlock Holmes Collections) spoofing detective fiction. The double Association. In 1979, Cyril Clemens, Mark Twain barrel of this story is by theme and editor of The Mark Twain Journal, ing the Canon in 1903 in Collier’s, they may be wondering how there can be a structure closer to A Study in Scarlet. reported that Arthur Conan Doyle had Steele illustration for The Hound of the Baskervilles. There were in fact four Steele In April 1902 Mark Twain (Samuel The first barrel is a story of revenge been a member of the Mark Twain illustrations for the story in the Limited Editions Club set, which noted for each Langhorne Clemens 1835-1910) pub- with a man possessing the ability to Society at the end of his life. one that they were “drawn especially for this edition.” lished A Double-Barrelled Detective Story. track like a bloodhound. The second He began writing this burlesque of barrel, also about revenge, makes fun Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. Not quite: two illustrations, including this one, are signed and dated “Steele 1939” Sherlock Holmes in August 1901 and it of Sherlock Holmes’ detective ability. and were drawn for Twentieth Century-Fox, which published them in a full-color appeared in Harper’s Monthly for The final seven chapters are set in References supplement in the Motion Picture Herald (Mar. 18, 1939); the supplement was January and February 1902. Since Hope Canyon, California where Andrews, Kenneth R. Nook Farm: available to theaters to publicize the film, and one Boston newspaper used them, 1902 the story has been reprinted in Sherlock Holmes visits his nephew Mark Twain’s Hartford Circle. Cambridge: noting that “if the detective doesn’t bear a very close resemblance to Basil many forms, but it is best known to Fetlock Jones. The story is subtitled, Harvard University Press, 1950. Rathbone, the screen prototype—well, that’s because the fog was so heavy on Dartmoor when Rathbone posed.” Sherlockians for appearing in The “We ought never to do wrong when Baetzhold, Howard G. Mark Twain and John Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes (1944) people are looking.” Chapter 4 con- Bull: The British Connection. Bloomington: edited by Ellery Queen. tains the famous purple prose passage Indiana UP, 1970. Frederic Dorr Steele’s original artwork for this illustration, now owned by the Sherlock Holmes Collections, came to the University of Minnesota in the collection with, “far in the empty sky a solitary Dahlinger S.E. “The Sherlock Holmes We of Philip S. Hench, who also owned the two pages of manuscript that describe the Looking back 100 years it is interesting oesophagus slept upon motionless Never Knew.” Baker Street Journal 49.3 to speculate what American influences wing,” which in later reprints was fur- (September 1999): 7-27. scene that Frederic Dorr Steele illustrated. Lew David Feldman assembled the trip- tych for Hench, who framed and displayed it that way. Treasure trove indeed . . . might have affected Twain. His friend ther spoofed with serious footnotes and Lemaster, J.R. and Wilson, James D. eds. The John Kendrick Bangs was the editor of quotes from newspapers. Mark Twain Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Harper’s Weekly until December 1901 Publishing, 1993. Peter E. Blau, B.S.I. and author of the humorous Sherlock The Sherlock Holmes Collections has Rasmussen, R. Kent, Mark Twain A-Z. New Holmes story, The Pursuit of the House- both states of the American first edition York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Boat (1897). William H. Gillette, who of A Double-Barrelled Detective Story.

2 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 11 June 2002 D S O F N Volume 6 Number 2 E T Using the Collections I H R E arsha Pollak of San Jose, CA recently visited the Sherlock Holmes Collections while on a short trip to Minnesota. F She is shown in the accompanying photograph holding the book of BBC Photographs, from John Bennett Shaw’s M collection Sherlock Holmes COLLECTIONS

“Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD)

Contents Frederic Dorr Steele: The Definitve Illustrator

Frederic Dorr Steele: n the chapter titled “The Evolution of a Profile,” Vincent Starrett wrote of Frederic The Definitive Illustrator Dorr Steele’s illustrations for the Sherlock Holmes stories: 1 What illustrations they have been! No happier association of author and I artist can be imagined…For Mr. Steele was destined for his task as surely as Watson for his Sherlock Holmes. An ardent lover of the long detective, 100 Years Ago even before he undertook the drawings, his work has been from first to last a labor of affection…Sixty tales, in all, comprise the saga of Sherlock 2 Holmes; and Steele has illustrated twenty-nine. While yet he lives and

photo by Julie McKuras loves, and lifts his pencil, will he not do the other thirty-one? To some Timothy Johnson and Marsha Pollak 50 Years Ago Sherlockian friend among the publishers, one offers the suggestion – a 3 Definitive Edition – with all the stories pictured by Mr. Steele. (183-84.) Starrett wrote this in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, published in 1930. It would be From the President nine years before George Macy of The Limited Editions Club contacted Steele about 4 undertaking these illustrations, thirteen before the commission was approved and twenty For any inquiries contact: years before the first of the Limited Editions Canon was published. Remembrances Timothy J. Johnson, Curator In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made Acquisitions 612-624-3552 or Frederic Dorr Steele was contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons. [email protected] 4 born to an artistic family on August 6, 1873 in IN HONOR OF FROM Sherlock Holmes Collections "An Extraordinarily northern Michigan, and Nathan Patterson Dr. Howard and Margaret Burchell Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library lived in Wisconsin and Christopher and Barbara Roden Laura Kuhn University of Minnesota Nasty Reply" Vermont before moving Richard J. Sveum, M.D., B.S.I. Showsaku Mashimo 222 21st Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 5 to New York City in 1889. He found IN MEMORY OF FROM Telephone: 612-624-7526 employment in an archi- David W. Bradley Bill Mason FAX: 612-626-9353 Musings tect’s office before mov- W. Clark Russell John Addy 8 Timothy J. Johnson, Curator ing on to Harper’s and Henry Swiggum Phil Swiggum Illustrated American. His Jack Tracy Showsaku Mashimo An Update from the free-lance work through- Bill Williams Laura Kuhn Mailing list corrections requested— Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, Collections out his career was fea- we would appreciate being informed of changes 9 tured in Life, Scribner’s, of address or other corrections. Harper’s, Century, The Using the Collections Metropolitan Magazine, The Delineator, The 12 American Magazine, Redbook, Hearst’s

Remembrances International, Liberty and photo by Julie McKuras 12 McClure’s. Continued on page 10

12 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1