University of Minnesota Libraries: The Sherlock Holmes Collections Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

From UMN Libraries:

The Sherlock Holmes Collections isn’t just the world’s largest collection of materials related to the world’s greatest detective. For Tim Johnson, it’s an entire community, a way to connect with friends and the next generation.

“The stories are a study in friendship,” said Johnson, curator of the Sherlock Holmes Collections.

Coinciding with the collections’ 50th anniversary this year, the Libraries latest exhibit – “Sherlock Holmes at 50” – displays 50 objects that represent the history and development of the collections.

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The Libraries’ first major acquisition came in 1974 with a collection of 160 items owned by James Iraldi, a Baker Street Irregular who lived in New York City, as well as additional photographs and memorabilia.

Then in 1978, Phillip and Mary Hench donated their private collection of 1,800 books and 1,500 periodicals to the Libraries. Their collection included four copies of Sherlock Holmes’ first appearance in print – of which only 34 known copies exist today – four original manuscripts of “The Hound of Baskervilles,” and boxes of original artwork. The Hench and Iraldi collections put Minnesota on the Sherlockian world’s radar.

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While Johnson is concerned about the increase of primary digital documents – what infrastructure is needed to save and share it, and how sustainable digitization is – he’s excited to see how the community will change as new audiences and participants interact with Sherlock.

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Direct to Sherlock Holmes Collection Website

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