Category: Member News

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The New Member Festival Continues!

Buttons is working hard to keep up with the new Charter Members of the Society. Over the past two days, we have six new members and will do our best to assemble their biographies as they are received. Here are four:

Kieran McMullen

Mr. McMullen joins the Society from his home in Georgia. He writes:

“I am a triple retiree: Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired sheriff and retired volunteer fireman. I have had five books published by MX Publishing: Watson’s Afghan Adventure, Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Boer Wagon, Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Rebels, and The Many Watsons (a compilation of my blogs with all money going to the Undershaw Preservation Trust). The first three books have been republished as Holmes and Watson: The War Years. I also have cooperated with Dan Andriacco on The Amateur Executioner and we will be having another Enoch Hale mystery coming out this fall. In addition there will be a new mystery about Watson before Christmas.

The Society welcomes another prolific and interesting writer and looks forward to Kieran’s future contributions to our journal. Please join in extending our Societal welcome to new members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”


Stuart Nelan

Mr Nelan joins the Society from Texas, and writes:

“I’ve been involved with Sherlock Holmes for over forty years now, primarily collecting books.  I’ve gone to the last five BSI Weekends in NYC, and my wife and I are planning to go to The Norwegian Explorer’s Conference in Minnesota later this
month.

I belong to the two Dallas-area Sherlock Holmes societies — The Crew of the Barque Lone Star, and The Diogenes Club of Dallas (although after our recent civil war, the former has now absorbed the latter).

I am also a member of The Sound of the Baskervilles (for which I am the volunteer webmaster — http://www.soundofthebaskervilles.com/), The Norwegian Explorers, and The Sherlock Holmes Society of London.  I also subscribe to
several Sherlockian publications.

I’m looking forward to being involved with the John H. Watson Society!”

And the Society very much looks forward to the pleasure of your active involvement, Stu. Please join in welcoming Stu Nelan to membership with our member greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

Don Hobbs

The Society is pleased to have the well-known Sherlockian, Mr Don Hobbs, join as a Charter Member. Don has been a devotee of the Watsonian and Sherlockian worlds for many years and is quite active in various clubs and organisations. He is an invested Baker Street Irregular, “Inspector Lestrade,” and can, doubtless, advise us all as to the proper pronunciation of the Inspector’s name.

He writes:

“I have been a Sherlockian for more than thirty years. Most of that time I have
concentrated on collecting foreign language translations of the Canon. Currently,
there are 98 languages with at least one Canonical translation. I was co-founder of Sherlock Peoria and write a blog “Inspector Lestrade’s Blotter Page.” I am the editor of The Galactic Sherlock Holmes, the complete Electronic Bibliography of the Foreign Language Translations of the Canon. I am an Applications Specialist for Radiology software company. My job allows me to travel extensively, which in turn allows me to meet up with other Sherlockians around the world.”

Mr. Hobbs’s other memberships include:

» The Diogenes Club of Dallas
»  The Maniac Collectors
» The Crew of the Barque Lone Star
» The Fortescue Scholarship Program  (B.S.S., A.M.S. & Sh.D.)
» The STUD Sherlockian Society
»  The Beacon Society
» The Torists International, S.S.
» The Curious Collectors of Baker Street
» The Hansom Cab Clock Club
» Le peloton des cyclistes solitaires

Please extend a warm welcome to Don Hobbs and join in our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

Steven Rothman

We are honoured to welcome Mr. Steven Rothman, BSI “The Valley of Fear,” as a Charter Member of the Society. Mr. Rothman is known to Sherlockians, Holmesians and Watsonians worldwide as the long-time Editor of the Baker Street Journal and a devoted scholar and pre-eminent Sherlockian.

His memberships include:

» The Baker Street Irregulars (The Valley of Fear)
» The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
» Le Cercle de Sherlock Holmes

The Society very much looks forward to and welcomes Mr. Rothman’s contributions to our scholarship, our journal and our mission. Please welcome him with our special greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Our First Member from India, living in Dubai, UAE

The Society warmly welcomes Mr. Kumar Bhatia to Charter Membership. Kumar lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He writes:

“I am from Bombay, India , but live and work in Dubai U.A.E. I am a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India and have been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson since the age of 13, when my very own Stamford, my late uncle, introduced me to the Canon, with a birthday present of the ” Memoirs.”

We look forward to Mr Bhatia’s contributions to the Society, the journal and to the international views of the world’s Watsonians.

Please join in welcoming him and extending the Society’s traditional welcome:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive,” and perhaps literally in Kumar’s experience.

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A Marathon of New Charter Members

The Society is honoured to welcome five new Charter Members this Fourth of July, 2013. Please join in extending a warm welcome, en mass, to these new members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

CHARLES PRESS

Charles Press, PhD, JHWS, “Rofer.” Dr Press a is Pofessor Emeritus in the journalism department at Michigan State University and a long-time (50-year) member of the Greek Interpreters of East Lansing. He lives in Grand Rapids and has published a number of books on the subject of Holmes.

HUGH ASHTON

Hugh Ashton, M.A., JHWS “Clancy” is a prolific professional writer and author of Sherlock Holmes adventures.

Hugh Ashton was born in the UK in 1956. After graduating from the University
of Cambridge, he worked in a variety of jobs, including security guard, publisher’s assistant, and running an independent record label, before coming to rest in the field of information technology, where he assisted perplexed users of computers and wrote explanations to guide them through the problems they encountered.
A long-standing interest in Japan led him to emigrate to that country in 1988, where he has remained ever since; writing instruction manuals for a variety of consumer products, assisting with IT-related projects at banks and financial institutions, and researching and writing industry reports on the Japanese and Asian financial industries. Some of the knowledge he has gained in these fields forms the background for At the Sharpe End, his second novel.
Hugh currently lives with his wife Yoshiko in the old town of Kamakura to the
south of Tokyo, where he is working on future novels and stories.

Publications
He has recently published five volumes of Sherlock Holmes mysteries with
Inknbeans Press of Los Angeles: Tales from the Deed Box of John H. Watson
MD, More from the Deed Box of John H. Watson MD, Secrets from the Deed Box of John H Watson MD, The Darlington Substitution, and Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The three “Deed Box” collections have been collected and printed together in a handsome hardback edition–The Deed Box of John H.Watson MD.
Inknbeans Press has also published his collection of short stories set in Japan, Tales of Old Japanese, featuring the culture and habits of the older generation of Japanese.
His first published novel, Beneath Gray Skies, is an alternative history set in a “past that never happened”, where the Civil War was never fought.
His second novel, At the Sharpe End, features an expatriate consultant living in Tokyo, Kenneth Sharpe, who finds himself thrust into a world of violence and high finance that takes him by surprise.
The third novel, Red Wheels Turning, takes some of the characters of Beneath Gray Skies, and sets them in the background of Tsarist Russia, where a battle of wits takes place to control the secret Russian wonder weapons that could win the war for the Allies.

MARGIE DECK

Margie Deck, JHWS “Gwen” joins us from Spanaway, Washington where she is a long-time member of The Sound of the Baskervilles. Margie is an enthusiastic Sherlockian cross-word puzzle maker known as “The Pawky Puzzler” and she is a devotee of our beloved Dr Watson. We hope to see Margie’s cross-word creations in The Watsonian.

RON LIES

Ron Lies, JHWS “Chips” joins the Society from Denver, Colorado where he has been an active member of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients since 1972.

Ron writes:

“I am at present Transcriber of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients. I have been a past Staff Surgeon, past Chief Surgeon and member since 1972. I am a member of: The Sherlock Holmes Society of India; a member of The Sydney Passengers, The Sherlock Homes Society of Australia; and co- founder of The Sons of Shaw, a society honoring the memory of John Bennett Shaw.

I have had a overwhelming interest in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson since seventh grade when I read “The Speckled Band” in my class’s Catholic Weekly Reader. I have always identified with Dr John Watson and now feel I am where I belong with The John H. Watson Society.”

So do we, Ron. Welcome!

DAN ANDRIACCO

Dan Andriacco, D.Min., JHWS “Dutch” is a well-known author of Sherlockian works who discovered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories at about the age of nine. Not long after, he became acquainted with such greats of the Golden Age of detective fiction as Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Rex Stout, John Dickson Carr, Earle Stanley Gardner, and many more.
His earliest career goal was to become a mystery writer. He eventually did, while holding down day jobs at The Cincinnati Post as a reporter and editor (1973-1997) and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as communications director (1997-present). From 1977 to 1982, he wrote a monthly mystery review column for
The Post. He also taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction and mystery writing.
He has been a member of the Tankerville Club, a Cincinnati-based scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, since 1981. He is the author of Baker Street Beat: An Eclectic Collection of Sherlockian Scribblings and five published mystery novels with Sherlockian overtones. The most recent is The Disappearance of Mr.
James Phillimore, the latest in his Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody series. He has also been a mystery reviewer and taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction. He once won a bet with a colleague that he could write a novella in less time than it took her to read one of his novels
Mr Andriacco’s Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody mystery series, set in a small town in Ohio, is very much in the tradition of his Golden Age favorites. “McCabe is a great detective in the classic mode,” Andriacco said. “By that I mean he is a polymath amateur sleuth. He’s a college professor at a small Catholic college, but he’s also a mystery writer, a magician, and a linguist. I would love to meet the man, but I’m not sure I’d want to be his best friend. His ‘Watson,’ Jeff Cody is not only his best friend, but also his brother-in-law and the public relations director for the college where Mac teachers. These multiple relationships carry multiple tensions, which I hope is a source of humor. These books are supposed to be fun and funny. Judging by reviewers, they seem to hit that mark for most readers.”
Dan Andriacco, known to friends as “Doctor Dan,” holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia. He was born in 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Ann. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.

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Welcome to the Society’s First Student Member: Alena Mueller

In the Watsonian and Sherlockian worlds, today is an historic day. The Society has welcomed into Charter Membership our first student member: Alena Mueller.

Alena writes:

“I live in Iowa City, IA and attend West High School. I first got interested in Sherlock when a friend forced me to watch BBC Sherlock. I have now become obsessed with all things Sherlockian and Watsonian.”

The Society is very honoured to have our first student member. Alena represents the future of Watsonian and Sherlockian scholarship and enthusiasm. Her explorations will be different from many of ours and will extend The Game into new pathways.

We welcome Alena with the warmest of our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” And, of course, this is the first observation of Sherlock Holmes ever made and spoken to our beloved Dr Watson at their first meeting in A Study In Scarlet.

This historic moment allows us to muse and ponder a bit on our purpose. Imagine, if you will, Scion branches of The John H Watson Society in high schools across the country. Each branch “Consultation Room” having, say, three or more students and a faculty advisor studying and researching the Sacred Canon and producing articles, papers, films, and a great variety of work furthering the Watsonian and Sherlockian corpus. Imagine, if you will, a vibrant parent Society supporting those branch “Consulting Rooms” and encouraging, along the way, good scholarship by bright students.

We could do that.

Interesting, is it not?

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Welcome to Andrew Fusco, JD, JHWS “Topper,” BSI to Charter Membership

The Society is delighted to welcome the long-time Sherlockian, Andy Fusco, to Charter Membership. Andy is a lawyer residing in Morgantown, West Virginia. He is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, “Pondicherry Lodge,” and a number of other clubs.

We look forward to Mr. Fusco’s contributions to the Society and to The Watsonian.

Please join in extending our greeting to Andy:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Andree and Chuck Youngson as Charter Members: “Belle” and “Jeeves”

The Society is delighted to welcome long time, loyal members of the Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H., Andree and Chuck Youngson, as Charter Members.

Andree, JHWS “Belle,” was born in the Panama Canal Zone and is a resident of Napa, CA. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Mary’s College of Moraga, and M.S. in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco. Andree is a retired chemist and an Anglophile. Buttons has it on good authority that Andree is an expert in Canonical (and perhaps other) poisons. Her interests include playing the bodhran in the Pickle Creek String Band and in the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers. Andree really likes ravens and crows and, of course, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.

We will post Chuck’s, JHWS, “Jeeves,” biography when received. Until then, please extend a warm welcome to the Youngsons with our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Nuno Robles, JHWS “Oakley,” our first Charter Member from Portugal

Please join in welcoming Mr Nuno Robles, JHWS “Oakley,” SHSL to Charter Membership. Nuno is the first member of the Society from Portugal. He writes:”I worked at Sony for 20 years but I left the company in late 2010 and now I’m a Wine Producer, with my own family company “Quinta do Falcao”. Our Wines are prestigious and we’ve won several national and international awards. The latest has been the International Wine Challenge with our Paço dos Falcoes Red Wine. I’m a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and also subscribe to the Baker Street Journal.”

We would draw Nuno’s attention to By-Law #5 and assure him that he is joining a Society with members having a particularly deep and discerning appreciation for the grape and, generally, Spiritus Fermenti in most forms.

Please join in a very warm welcome and out traditional greeting to a Fellow Watsonian and follower of Bacchus:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive. . . . and your tongue appears to be purple.”

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Our Own Benoit Guilielmo, JHWS “Cicero” to Present Paper at  University of London

Charter Member Benoit Guilielmo of Nice, France will present “The Birth of a Textual Community: Early Sherlockiana (1927-1934)” at the upcoming conference Sherlock Holmes: Past and Present at the Institute of English Studies of the School of Advanced Study, University of London. Congratulations!

The programme is described here: http://www.ies.sas.ac.uk/ies-events/conferences/SherlockHolmes

As one reads the various topics, it becomes clear this is a major academic gathering with serious papers being presented that indicate the Holmesian genre as written by Dr Watson has entered an age of mainstream academia. Note, for instance, “Sherlock Holmes: Modern Literary Virgil,” and “The Spatial Code in Sherlock Holmes Stories.”

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Welcome to Melissa Anderson JHWS, “Faith” to Charter Membership

The Society extends a very warm welcome to Melissa Anderson of Peoria, Illinois to Charter Membership.

A Sherlockian since age 13, Melissa is a former Instructor of English Literature and Writing Composition at Bradley, University. She has most recently written and produced a play featuring Sherlock Holmes and is completing a novel of Watson and Holmes titled The Mystery of That Woman.”

Melissa also has the distinction of being the winner of the 221B Cellars essay contest on the topic “Beeswing.” Her entry is an absolute gem of concision and insight packed into 400 words. She won the prize and her essay will be published in the forthcoming inaugural issue of The Watsonian in October. She has also received an offer from another scion group for its later publication.

When not writing about Dr Watson and Mr Holmes, Melissa is a Ministry Assistant at a Peoria church. She is a member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London and The Hansoms of John Clayton.

Please welcome Melissa with our traditional warmth and Canonical greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Joseph Kruth, JHWS “Marlowe”

The Society is pleased to welcome Mr Joseph Kruth as a Charter Member. Joe has been corresponding regularly and has sent along his delightful biography:It was quiet. No radio or TV allowed on the ward floor.  As I was drifting in and out of a swirling yellow fog, a smartly turned-out young women in a crisp Red Cross uniform was approaching – book cart in tow.  Maybe a book would clear my head.  The book cart had many well-thumbed books including one Sherlock Holmes book. Sadly, I neither remember the book title nor the stories. This was in my adventurous year of 1969.  Three years later, in a library, I came across William S. Baring-Gould’s two volume Sherlock Holmes Annotated and spent several hours paging through this weighty tome.  Yes, I was hooked. Within a few days I purchased my own Baring-Gould set for about $50 – no small amount of money at the time. However, money well spent.

Through the years, I have endeavored to keep-up on all things Sherlockian:

Seven 3-ring binders containing 526 newspaper clippings, advertisements, book excerpts, etc. Please note: my collection is hard copy-print media. No internet searches.

Also, my main Sherlock Holmes index appropriately sub-titled “Behold the Fruits of Laborious Days and Pensive Nights,” contains 324 entries ranging from books, tapes, DVDs and miscellany.

And, in August 1996, Classic Specialties was gracious enough to publish my small unworthy monograph “I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.”

In August 1998, I corresponded with the Franco-Midland Hardware Company based in England. After a little time, I passed the 200 question exam and received my Certificate in Holmesian Studies (CHS).  I am no longer in contact.

Lastly, it was the Peter Blau newsletter of April 2013 that alerted me to your august John H. Watson Society.

It is time to end with a non-canonical, but appropriate, exit:

“Holmes Again? Always Holmes…Until the End.”  Recognize the line?

Thank you.
Joe.

And, Joe, we all warmly welcome you to the Society with our also most appropriate greeting:  “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” 

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Welcome to Richard J. Sveum, MD, JHWS “Marco,” BSI, “Dr Hill Barton” to Charter Membership

The Society extends a warm welcome to Dr Richard Sveum, President of the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection at the University of Minnesota Library. Among his many Sherlockian credentials and memberships are:

» The Maiwand Jezails
» The Baker Street Irregulars (Dr. Hill Barton)
» Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections (President)
» The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota
» The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis
» The Elusive Bicyclists (The Rattle of our Wheels)
» The Speckled Band of Boston
»  The Hounds of the Baskerville (sic)
» The Bootmakers of Toronto
» The Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
» The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
» The  STUD Sherlockian Society

Please join in welcoming Dr Sveum to our Society and extend to him a warm traditional welcome:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Michael Proudfit, JHWS “Skippy,” to Charter Membership

The Society welcomes Mr Michael Proudfit to Charter Membership. Michael is a long-time member of the Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H. and the Scowrers and Molly Maguires of San Francisco. He was a close friend of Col. Ted Schulz, an Emeritus Founding Member, and he has a near-infallible knowledge of things Canonical.

Please join in extending a very warm welcome to our colleague and friend, Michael Proudfit, with the Society welcome:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Frank Mentzel, JHWS, “Merridew” to Charter Membership

The Society welcomes heartily Mr. Frank Mentzel to Charter Membership.

Frank writes:

I first encountered Sherlock in the summer before Junior High School.  I have been a Sherlockian since but only had it become active about 20 years ago.   Upon retirement in 2001, the interest became a mania.  I am active in several scion societies (which I will list at  the end) and have for the past 5 years been teaching “Appreciating Sherlock Holmes,” a Life Enrichment class for a local community college.  The course was created in 1989 by the late Phil Sherman (2 Shilling BSI).  I have always been know for my bad memory and always tell the class and my fellow Sherlockians that because of that I can enjoy a new Sherlock every time I read a story.  I love Sherlock in every form and have a large collection of pastiches and videos as well as a room full of collectibles.

I am active in (in time sequence):

The Six Napoleons of Baltimore
Watson’s  Tin Box
The Denizens of the Bar of Gold
The White Rose of York
The Society of the Naval Treaty
The Carlton Club
The Red Circle
The Diogenes Club of Washington, D.C. (in formation)

And we now welcome Frank with the greeting of the Society to members:  “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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A Warm Welcome to a New Charter Member: James C. O’Leary, JHWS “Pippin,” SBB, PSI

The Society is very pleased to welcome our first Praed Street Irregular (PSI) to Charter Membership, an individual who is a charming writer and an enthusiastic Sherlockian: Mr. James C. O’Leary, “Pippin.”Here is the engaging biography he sends along:

“Growing up I had seen Daffy Duck and Bullwinkle J. Moose wear the Holmes’ deerstalker and Porky Pig and Mr. Magoo wear Watson’s bowler, but my first introduction to the detective was in the sixth grade (then the last grade of elementary school) when the class had to read The Hound of the Baskervilles in Scholastic Books “Easy Eye” edition–dark green type on light green, glare-free paper. I will admit that there were a few things that went over my head, such as Holmes’ dry wit (“You saw me, perhaps, on the night of the convict hunt, when I was so imprudent as to allow the moon to rise behind me?”) and Watson’s wonderful word-pictures (“Again the agonized cry swept through the silent night, louder and much nearer than ever. And a new sound mingled with it, a deep, muttered rumble, musical and yet menacing, rising and falling like the low, constant murmur of the sea.”)

In junior high, I sought out Holmes for my own pleasure and the school library had a copy of The Adventures and The Memoirs bound in one volume. When I came to last page with Watson’s stirring epitaph of Holmes, I could believe that the stains on the old and well-worn paper were the tears of past generations of readers.

It wasn’t until high school that I discovered that the Canon didn’t end at “The Final Problem” and that there was a whole world of scholarship and pastiche to help slake an unquenchable thirst. That was the beginning of the Great Boom of the seventies and there always seem to be something new at the bookstore. I found Pinnacle Books paperback editions of the Solar Pons Canon and was made a member of the Praed Street Irregulars by Luther Norris; I subscribed to the Baker Street Miscellanea ($4.00 a year for four issues of incredible scholarship); The Sherlock Holmes Journal and then The Baker Street Journal.

For over thirty years I’ve considered myself a Sherlockian, but it has always been a solitary pursuit. It wasn’t until I went on to the internet in 2010 and discovered Scott Monty and Burt Wolder’s I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere podcast that I was inspired to seek out others. I became a member of the Speckled Band of Boston in 2012 and corresponded electronically with wonderful and generous Sherlockians.”

Thanks,

James

And thank you, James, for this delightful, nostalgic and poignant recalling of our own similar first encounters with Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and the adventures that have filled our lives.

Please extend a welcoming and warm greeting to our new friend and fellow Watsonian, James C. O’Leary:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Michael Dirda, PhD, JHWS “Alex,” BSI “Langdale Pike”

The Society wishes to extend its warm welcome to Michael Dirda, PhD., JHWS, BSI “Langdale Pike.”

Mr. Dirda’s impressive biography reads:

I am an invested member–as Langdale Pike–of The Baker Street Irregulars and write or lecture frequently about literary subjects, including the works of John H. Watson. My most recent book,  On Conan Doyle, received the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Award–for the best biographical/critical work of the year–from the Mystery Writers of America.

For a quarter century I was a staffer at The Washington Post Book World and for the last decade have been a weekly book columnist for The Washington Post. My earlier books include the memoir An Open Book and  four collections of essays: Readings, Bound to Please, Book by Book and Classics for Pleasure.  As I live by my pen, I’m a regular contributor  to The New York Review of Books, an occasional reviewer and essayist for the Times Literary Supplement, a columnist for the online Barnes and Noble Review, and a frequent reviewer for several other  literary periodicals, as well as an occasional lecturer and college teacher (most recently at the Bread Loaf School of English and the University of Maryland).  Years ago, I earned a Ph.D. in comparative literature (focusing on medieval studies and European romanticism) from Cornell University and before that graduated with Highest Honors in English from my beloved alma mater, Oberlin College. I grew up in the working-class steel town of Lorain, Ohio and have lived in the Washington DC area since 1975.

My work has been  lucky enough to be short-listed for the Los Angeles Times Book Award (in current affairs for Bound to Please) and for this year’s Marfield Prize for Arts Writing and to have won the Ohioana Book Award for nonfiction (An Open Book), the Boydston Essay Prize (from the Association of Documentary Editing for an article  in the New York Review of Books comparing two editions of The Wind in the Willows),  and the Pulitzer Prize in criticism for my reviews and essays.  Besides the BSI, I’m a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, the Mystery Writers of America, the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, The Friends of Arthur Machen, The Ghost Story Society, and the North American Jules Verne Society.

I live in Silver Spring, Maryland with my wife Marian Peck Dirda, a prints and drawings conservator for the National Gallery of Art. We have three sons, now in their twenties: Christopher, Michael and Nathaniel.

My current research focuses on popular fiction between, roughly, 1865 and 1930, and some day I hope to write a book about this “Great Age of Storytelling.”

Please join in welcoming Dr. Dirda to the Society with our collegial greeting to members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Julie McKuras, BSI “The Duchess of Devonshire,” ASH “The Compliments of the Season.”

The Society is most pleased to welcome the distiguished Sherlockian, Julie McKuras, to Charter Membership. Mrs. McKuras writes:

“I’m married to Michael McKuras and have two children, both married, and two soon to be three grandchildren. On two of our excursions with the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, my Mike has been Vamberry the Wine Merchant.

I am a former ICU/CCU Nurse, having worked in both Fort Wayne Indiana and Minneapolis, MN; degrees from Purdue University and the University of Minnesota.

I am a member of the Norwegian Explorers since 1993 and president of that august group for nine years. I’ve co-chaired and worked on all of the Explorers’ triennial conferences since 1998.

Also, I am a member of the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Board. I’ve worked on their newsletter since the inception in 1997 and have been editor of this quarterly publication since 1999 as well as frequent contributor.

I’ve had articles in the Baker Street Journal,The Sherlock Holmes Society of London Journal and The Serpentine Muse. I’ve had essays published in Violets and Vitriol, ed. by S. E. Dahlinger, and Sherlock Holmes in the Heartland, edited by Steven T. Doyle.

I’ve been a speaker at a number of Sherlockian conferences including ones held in St. Louis, London and Indianapolis.

With Susan Vizoskie, I co-edited and wrote the introduction to Sherlockian Heresies by the late Leo Sauvage, BSI which was published by Wessex Press.

In addition to the Norwegian Explorers, I’m a member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London, The Hounds of the Baskerville (sic), ASH (“The Compliments of the Season”), The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis and the BSI (“The Duchess of Devonshire”).

Please join in extending a warm welcom to Julie as a Charter Member and greeting her with our traditional welcome:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Harrison D. Hunt, JHWS “Dash” to Charter Membership

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The Society is delighted to welcome Mr. Harrison D. Hunt, M.A., to Charter Membership in The John H Watson Society.

Mr. Hunt writes:

“I have an M.A. in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown (NY) Graduate Program.  After a long career in history museums and historic preservation, I retired a few years ago from the Nassau County (NY) Department of Parks, where I was Senior Curator of History and Supervisor of Historic Sites.  One of the sites I was responsible for was The Knothole, Christopher Morley’s writer’s retreat.

I have a particular interest in the American Civil War and have authored two books about the struggle, Hallowed Ground and Heroes of the Civil War.

Following up on a longstanding interest in Sherlock Holmes, I became an active Sherlockian after the Baker Street Irregulars’ 75th anniversary excursion to The Knothole in 2009.  Since then, I have been an active member of several scions in the Northeast, including the Sons of the Copper Beeches and The Three Garridebs, and have had articles published in The Baker Street Journal and Prescott’s Press.

Most recently, my wife Linda and I founded a scion celebrating Christopher Morley, The Grillparzer Club of the Hoboken Free State.

I have a particular interest in John H. Watson, in part because I do Civil War reenacting as a Union Army Surgeon.  I have written several papers about him, which is not surprising for someone who has DRWATSON plates on his car.

I  am delighted that this Society has been established to honor his
accomplishments.”

Please join in welcoming Mr. Hunt to the Society with our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Nick Utechin, BSI “The Ancient British Barrow,” SHSL, JHWS

The Society welcomes Mr. Nick Utechin, BSI, as a Founding Member. Mr. Utechin is among the world’s most well-regarded Sherlockians and is a prolific scholar, author and keeper of knowledge concerning the Sacred Canon and the Holmesian dialogue.

Nicholas Utechin joined The Sherlock Holmes Society of  London in 1966, aged 14, and ended up editing The Sherlock Holmes Journal from 1976-2006.   He is an invested Baker Street Irregular (1976) with the title ‘The Ancient British Barrow’.   Nick has contributed to Sherlockian scholarship for many years and enjoys sharing the fact that he is related to Basil Rathbone with those who may or may not be
interested..

In another life, he is a freelance radio broadcaster/producer and was on the staff of the BBC for many years. Other interests include the films of D.W.Griffith (he was once privileged to interview Lillian Gish, at the Savoy Hotel in London) and buying what fine wines he can afford in these ludicrously expensive times.

Please join in welcoming Nick with the Society’s greeting to members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Susan R. Capell, JHWS “Heather,”  M.A.

The Society extands its warm welcome to long-time Sherlockian and Watsonian, Susan R. Capell of Virginia. Susan has a Master’s in Instructional Systems Technology (Library Science) from Indiana University.

In her delightful letter to the boy in buttons, she writes of her over 400 book collection of Sherlockiana, as well as her extensive collection of scion club publications, and VCRs, DVDs and CDs of all things Holmesian and Watsonian.

She relates two highlights of her years as a Sherlockian: 1) being piped from a conference at the University of Minnesota Sherlock Holmes Collections; and 2) meeting John B. Shaw and touring his home Sherlockiana library in Sante Fe.

Susan has belonged to An Irish Secret Society in New York and to The Game’s Afoot in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Her Cat is named “Irene.” Need we say more?

Please join in a warm welcome and a rousing rendition of the Society’s greeting to members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Harold and Theodora Niver, BSI, to Charter Membership; AKA “William and Helen Gillette”

The Society has gained not two distinguished Sherlockians, but four, as Charter Members. Harold E. Niver, BSI “The Man on the Tor” and his bride, Theodora Niver, BSI “Carmina” also embody the famous Sherlockian actor and his bride, William and Helen Gillette.

Tyke and Teddie Niver, as they are known by many Sherlockian friends around the world, have played the famous actor and his wife in presentations at Gillette Castle in Connecticut for many years. They also have appeared on stage around the world in their theatrical program re-creating William Gillette playing Sherlock Holmes. Here are two of the many rave reviews:

“Harold and Teddie Niver – as the Gillettes – are truly the First Couple of Baker Street; and, as intriguing as Gillette Castle is by itself, its heart truly beats when the Nivers are there.”
Henry Zecher, Author of “The Masque of Sherlock Holmes, The Extraordinary Life of William Gillette”

“Mr. and Mrs. Harold Niver do not simply appear costumed as the Gillettes, they seem to embody these vanished actors.  The depth of their research into the career and life of the distinguished actor/playwright allows them to speak easily and confidently in their roles. They need no script but can simply move among us never stepping out of character. You will feel you are in the presence of William Gillette and his beloved bride.”
Susan Rice, Host, the William Gillette Memorial Luncheon

The Gillettes
The Nivers as the Gillettes
Tyke and Teddie Niver as the Gillettes

Harold Niver established the scion society, The Men on the Tor “The Hound,” in Connecticut in 1977. Theodora Niver is a member of The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes “Mrs Robert Ferguson” and The Men on the Tor “Mrs Barrymore.”

Perhaps the Society will inspire Harold and Teddie to add to their repertoire and embody our beloved Dr John H Watson and his bride Mary Morstan; we will savour the pleasure of that possibility.

Please join in extending a warm welcome to our new Charter Members with the traditional welcome of the Society:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”