Edgar W. Smith made sure that the BSI Dinner became an annual event. Forty one people attended, including Frederick Dannay (one half of the “Ellery Queen” mystery writing team), Richard Gordon (who acted as Holmes on the radio), and the novelist Henry Morton Robinson. Toasts were drunk to The Woman, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft, and Doctor Watson’s Second Wife. The BSI’s Constitution was read. Harvey Officer led the group in an anthem entitled “The Road to Baker Street.” Julian Wolff spoke on Dr. Watson’s wounds. Peter Greig delivered a paper on “Holmes, the Epicure.” Richard Gordon, who played Holmes on the radio, spoke on his identification with Holmes. Henry Morton Robinson read a paper under the pen-name Joel Sayre. Earle Walbridge spoke on the Baker Street Bibliography. Belden Wiglesworth read a “Ballad of Baker Street.” Robert Keith Levitt spoke on “Holmes the Ballistician.” Frederick Dorr Steele discussed the days that are gone.
Dinner Details: January 9, 1942
Murray Hill Hotel, 112 Park Avenue at East 40th Street, NY, NY
Dinner Photo Information
As far as we know, no group photo was taken of the January 9, 1942 BSI Dinner.The photo of the Murray Hill Hotel on this page is part of the collection of the City University of New York. Graduate School and University Center.
BSI Honours List
Investitures:Not awarded until 1944.
What is an Investiture?
Two-Shilling Award:
Not awarded until 1962.
What is a Two-Shilling Award?
The Woman:
Edith Meiser
What is The Woman honour?
"Stand with me here upon the terrace..."
(as named at this Dinner, not their year of passing)
None this year.
What is the origin of “standing on the terrace?”
Morley-Montgomery Award:
Not awarded until 1959.
What is the Morley-Montgomery Award?
Reports on the Dinner
1942 BSI Dinner Minutes (digitized images at Harvard)List of 1942 BSI Dinner Attendees (digitized image at Harvard)
The Baker Street Irregulars, Irregular Records of the Early ‘Forties, ed. Jon L. Lellenberg, (New York: Fordham University Press, 1991)
Recordings
None available online at this time.Related Materials
The Trust does not have a 1942 Dinner Menu. If you have a copy, or even a scan of one, please contact us.Previous dinner: the 1941 BSI Dinner
Next dinner: the 1943 BSI Dinner
For an index to all BSI Dinners and photos, see our BSI Dinner Summary list.
The BSI Archive is located at the Houghton Library at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Archival material may be used by any qualified scholar, subject to the normal rules and regulations of the Library. For links to a detailed finding aid and related information, see our BSI Archive at Harvard page.
Page composed on 10/15/14 by Andy Solberg.
This page last updated 8/15/15 by Andy Solberg.
