D S O F September 2009 N Volume 13 Number 3 E T 50 Years Ago...Continued from Page 3 I H R E letters to her, written over a period of The myth of “The Ma’am” stuck and is 1. Quoting second-line English novelist Horace F Annesley Vachel to that effect. fifty-four years, have a modest “dearest with us still, the sort of social-climb- 2. See “Adrian’s Picture Book and the BSI,” pp. 67- Mam” as their salutation instead, or the ing Conan Doyle deplored and never 70 in this writer’s “Certain Rites, and Also Certain Duties” (Hazelbaker & Lellenberg, 2009). even more colloquial “Dear Mammie.” indulged in himself. One suspects 3. Donald A. Redmond, “Scholarship Translated Adrian was in possession of those let- that he would have been appalled and into Popular Biography,” in The Quest for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, edited by Jon Lellenberg ters in 1948 and 1959, and knew that, angered by the Centenary Album. But (Southern Illinois University Press, 1987), pp. but claimed otherwise in this book, while the public showed little interest 123-35. According to Jock Murray of John Murray Ltd., in a personal communication to Sherlock Holmes captioning a photograph of one let- in it, biographers turned to it repeat- this writer, it had been his decision, and one that ter (on p. 52) a “Letter to The Ma’am” edly, and have passed Adrian’s exagger- initially displeased Adrian, who wanted an uncut COLLECTION S translation of Nordon’s book as published in despite its first page being clearly head- ations and deceptions along to several France. ed “My dearest Mam” in his father’s generations of their own readers.7 4. See Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters, edited “Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD) by Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and Charles handwriting, and actually falsifying (on Foley (Penguin Press, 2007), pp. 162, 165. p. 47) another letter’s excerpt, repro- Editor’s Note: The Sherlock Holmes 5. Letters in the University of Minnesota Library’s duced in type this time, by adding to Collections has several copies of the Sherlock Holmes Collections. “A very strange, brilliant and eccentric man who had a deep influ- C o n t e n t s it the salutation “My dearest Ma’am” Arthur Conan Doyle Centenary Album, ence on my father in his early years,” Adrian said Mr. Shaw Comes to Minneapolis when the photocopy of the letter’s orig- including both the John Murray and of Dr. Waller in a letter to Baring-Gould dated January 20, 1966. By Timothy Johnson inal in my possession shows that it was Doubleday editions. 6. “This ‘influence’ was invented entirely by Hesketh Mr. Shaw Comes to yet another of Conan Doyle’s “dearest Pearson, and is typical of his tripe,” Adrian said he note came, as so many do these days, by e-mail. The subject line in the mes- in the same letter: “Pearson was naturally drawn Minneapolis Mam” letters to his mother. to Budd for their characters had much in com- sage read “The Sherlock Holmes Collection – John Shaw.” Either one of those mon, both being charlatans.” For more about this, see the author’s Nova 57 Minor (Gaslight 1 subjects, Holmes or Shaw, get my attention pretty quickly, but when I glanced Publications, 1990). at the opening lines of the note I knew something special was in store. I was 7. The text of the letter in question appears in full T on pp. 592-93 of Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in not disappointed. Letters. See also p. 5n’s editorial note on Conan 100 Years Ago Doyle’s actual way of referring to his mother. 2 The note began “My name is Pat Shaw; John was my father.” That was enough to give me pause. John Bennett Shaw, as most of you know, was a giant in the Sherlockian world and a good friend 50 Years Ago to many. Unfortunately, I came on the scene after Remembrances 3 John departed so never In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made had the opportunity to meet the man. But I am contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons. From the President surrounded by him, his In Honor Of From 4 collection, and dare I Max McKuras Mike and Julie McKuras say, his spirit, every day. So I gladly jump at any In Memory Of From Acquisitions chance to meet and talk E. W. McDiarmid Mike and Julie McKuras 4 with someone who knew E. W. McDiarmid John Bergquist For any inquiries contact: John. And I count it a E. W. Ziebarth John Bergquist Timothy J. Johnson, Curator special privilege to meet Allen Mackler Gary Thaden 612-624-3552 or Musings a member of John’s fam- Photo by Johnson Tim ily and to share some Arthur Byron Sveum Richard J. Sveum [email protected] Flo Hatcher and Pat Shaw 4 memories together. Sherlock Holmes Collections Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library This was the second time in almost as many years that I had the pleasure of a visit University of Minnesota Using the Collections from one of John’s children. In June 2007 John’s daughter, Hodgie Bricke, visited the 222 21st Ave. S. 5 Collections while in town for a conference. (See Volume 11, Number 2 of this newslet- Minneapolis, MN 55455 ter for a brief report and photograph of Hodgie’s visit; an online version of the newslet- Telephone: 612-626-9166 ter is available at http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/newsletter/v11n2.pdf.) Like his sister FAX: 612-625-5525 An Update from before, Pat was going to be in town during the fourth week of July on business. He is an attorney specializing in labor law and Associate Secretary for the American Association Mailing list corrections requested— the Collections Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, of University Professors (AAUP). The AAUP’s annual Summer Institute was at Macalester we would appreciate being informed of changes 7 College in St. Paul and Pat would be in attendance as an instructor. In his note Pat wrote of address or other corrections. that he “would dearly love to spend a little [time] in the stacks that house my dad’s col- lection.” I responded to his note and we set a date for a Wednesday afternoon visit. Remembrances Timothy J. Johnson, Curator 8 Continued on page 6 8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1 An Update from the Collections night before, he offered a gem-stud- Atkey’s nephew was the mystery writer e live in an electronic uni- ded drinking cup as a prize in the golf Philip Atkey (Barry Perowne 1908- verse with the result that The Repository is an important addi- competition. But the next morning, he 1985), known for continuing the A.J. much more of our work tion to the online resources that are found the valuable trophy had disap- Raffles series after the death of E.W. W is being done “online.” currently available. On the Holmes peared! Holmes visits the scene. He is Hornung, Conan Doyle’s brother-in- This online environment Collections web page you’ll find 100 told of members found lying on the law. includes access to indexes a number of items that may assist Y E ars A GO floor at evening’s end, and he finds an and full text, reference and referrals, you with your Sherlockian research. The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections astonishing number of empty liquor Like Conan Doyle, Atkey was said to and audio/visual materials such as still Foremost among these is the online is a quarterly newsletter published by the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections and champagne bottles. He quickly be a natural story teller, but with less images, video and audio files. As was version of The Universal Sherlock Bertram Atkey’s “Sherlock Holmes in which seek to promote the activities, inter- concludes the trophy was knocked memorable outcomes. Between the noted in the lead article in this issue, Holmes bibliography produced ests and needs of the Special Collections the Case of the Drugged Golfers” onto the floor. A half drunken servant early 1900s and 1950 the Bertram the University Libraries is preparing to by Ronald De Waal and George and Rare Books Department, University of Minnesota Libraries. swept it away into his pantry with the Atkey byline appeared in many of the launch its new Media Repository. This Vanderburgh. In addition, you’ll find By Charles Press trash. high paying large circulation maga- resource will allow us to mount audio/ a multi-volume supplement to The Mail editorial correspondence c/o: zines of England and the U.S. His sto- visual materials in the online world for Universal and links to other signifi- “Holmes,” said I, as I was looking out Editor This short summary doesn’t do justice ries are remembered for touches of you to discover and use. The Holmes cant collections, societies, organiza- Julie McKuras of our window one morning, “here is a to the number of Sherlockian touches humor or dramatic incident. Collections include a rich assortment tions, and resources. One of the latest 13512 Granada Ave. madman coming!” Apple Valley, MN 55124 throughout. The parody is brief, as a of photographs and audio tapes and resource links we’ve added is Randall 952-431-1934 good parody should be, well written He wrote an early science fiction we plan on converting a number of Stock’s Conan Doyle manuscripts [email protected] My friend slipped the fully loaded with many light humorous touches.