Edgar W. Smith, in his capacity as Buttons-cum-Commisionaire, presented a paper on “Dr. Watson and the Great Censorship,” positing that the good doctor published his stories only when he believed Holmes was dead or had unequivocally retired. Mr. Green, a representative of the Parker Game Corporation, presented each attendee with a set of “Clue: the Great New Sherlock Holmes Game.” Play commenced, under the Acting-Gasogene’s oversight.
Eight members were honored for achieving their Investiture. After Scion Society reports were proffered, Owen P. Frisbie, of the Five Orange Pips of Westchester County, presented the annual quiz, “Twenty Knights with Sir Arthur.” Robert G. Harris of the Amateur Mendicants of Detroit was the victor.
The festivities concluded on the “reminding note that 1954 will see the celebration of the Master’s own centennial.”
Dinner Details: January 11, 1952
Cavanaugh’s Restaurant, New York, NY
Dinner Photo Information
Click on the above photo to see a larger version of it, and maximize your browser window to see the most detail.Key to People in the 1952 BSI Dinner photo (PDF)
BSI Honours List
Investitures:William S. Baring-Gould as The Gloria Scott
Edward Bartlett as The Man with the Twisted Lip
Lloyd H. Denton as The Noble Bachelor
Robert G. Harris as The Creeping Man
Richard H. Hoffman as The Beryl Coronet
James C. Iraldi as The Blanched Soldier
James Nelson as Lady Frances Carfax
Morris Rosenblum as Petrus Atri (Black Peter), changed to The Greek Interpreter
What is an Investiture?
Two-Shilling Award:
Not awarded until 1962.
What is a Two-Shilling Award?
The Woman:
Not identified; possibly none.
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
1952 BSI Dinner Minutes (digitized images at Harvard)Note: the minutes repeat Anthony Boucher's investiture from 1949.
The Baker Street Journal v2 n2 (April 1952) pp. 108-110. (available in the eBSJ)
List of 1952 BSI Dinner Attendees (digitized image at Harvard)
Key to People in the 1952 BSI Dinner photo (PDF)
Recordings
None available online at this time.Related Material
1952 Dinner Announcement Memorandum (digitized image at Harvard)1 page. 2 copies. Sequence 85-86.
1952 Dinner Menu (digitized image at Harvard)
Cover, interior, and back. Sequence 41-43.
Frisbie, Owen P., "Twenty Knights with Sir Arthur" (digitized images at Harvard)
Quiz given at dinner. 1 page plus answer key. Sequence 151-152.
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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 1/28/15 by Tamar Zeffren.
Page updated 5/6/15 by Randall Stock.
This page last updated 1/9/19 by Randall Stock.
