Arthur Conan Doyle Libraries
Libraries lists libraries, archives and research institutions holding significant collections related to Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and the Sherlockian world.
Unlike Museums, the institutions listed here are not primarily visitable exhibitions. They are research collections or special collections. Access is usually through a reading room, by appointment, registration or advance request.
This page focuses on permanent collections of research interest, including manuscripts, correspondence, rare books, first editions, periodicals, photographs, ephemera and Sherlockiana.
Although the collections are divided into Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes sections, the distinction is not absolute. Most Conan Doyle collections include substantial Sherlock Holmes material, and most Sherlock Holmes collections include material related to Conan Doyle, his life, publications and reception.
Conan Doyle Libraries and archives
Major research collections primarily focused on Arthur Conan Doyle, his papers, his family, his manuscripts, or his wider literary career.
Toronto Reference Library - Arthur Conan Doyle Collection (CA)
The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection at the Toronto Reference Library is a major special collection devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle's fiction (adventure, sci-fi, horror) and non-fiction (spiritualism, true crime, history, issues of the day). It is a library collection rather than a museum, although it includes a visitable room styled as Sherlock Holmes's study. The collection is supported by the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, an independent group founded in 1997 that works with the Toronto Public Library to promote, enhance and support the collection.
Collection scope
- 25,000+ items related to Conan Doyle
- Manuscripts and correspondences
- Various editions and translations
- Parodies and pastiches
- Biographies, criticisms and bibliographies
- Periodicals by Sherlock Holmes groups
- Stage and screen adaptations
- Photographs
- Collectables (posters, original art, memorabilia and newspaper clippings)
Notable holdings
- Notebook on Nelson and Napoleonic Times (1885).
- Manuscript of Angels of Darkness (circa 1888).
- Manuscript of The Marriage of Brigadier Gerard (1910).
- Lady Conan Doyle's diary (1914).
- Manuscript of Some Personalia about Mr. Sherlock Holmes (1917).
- Manuscript of The Crown Diamond: An Evening with Sherlock Holmes (1921).
- Manuscript of Essay on the Intemperance of Our Country, the Cause of its Poverty, Crime and Misery.
- Manuscript of The Parish Magazine (1930).
- Rare editions, translations, Sherlockian periodicals and collectables related to Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes.
Access
Research access is available through the Marilyn & Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre at Toronto Reference Library. For special items, researchers need to fill out a brief form and show one piece of identification.
Location
- Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
- Toronto Reference Library
- 789 Yonge Street
- Toronto, Ontario
- M4W 2G8, Canada
- Phone: +1 416 393 7158
- Email: [email protected]
Opening times
- Monday - 9am-8.30pm
- Tuesday - 9am-8.30pm
- Wednesday - 9am-8.30pm
- Thursday - 9am-8.30pm
- Friday - 9am-8.30pm
- Saturday - 9am-5pm
- Sunday - 12pm-5pm
Official websites
Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Collection (USA)
The Harry Ransom Center holds a significant Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection, including manuscripts, correspondence and personal papers. The collection is especially important for research on Conan Doyle's writings, family, finances, publishing history and spiritualist interests.
Collection scope
- Literary manuscripts.
- Letters written and received by Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Personal and family papers.
- Financial and legal records.
- Material related to spiritualism.
- Photographs and related visual material.
- Papers connected with the Doyle and Leckie families.
- Material connected with Harry Houdini.
Notable holdings
- 19 document boxes of Conan Doyle material.
- Manuscripts and correspondence by Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Spiritualism-related papers, transcripts and photographs.
Access
The collection is open for research through the Harry Ransom Center reading room. Researchers should consult the finding aid and request material in advance when required.
Location
- Harry Ransom Center
- The University of Texas at Austin
- 300 West 21st Street
- Austin, Texas 78712
- United States
- Phone: +1 512 471 8944
- Email: [email protected]
Opening times
- Monday - 9am–5pm
- Tuesdday - 9am–5pm
- Wednesday - 9am–5pm
- Thursday - 9am–5pm
- Friday - 9am–5pm
- Saturday - 9am–5pm
- Sunday - Closed
Official website
New York Public Library — Berg Collection (USA)
The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature at the New York Public Library holds a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection of papers. It is a major literary research collection.
Collection scope
- Manuscripts.
- Typescripts.
- Correspondence.
- Financial and legal documents.
- Photographs.
- Related literary material.
Notable holdings
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection of papers, 1881-1944
- Manuscripts
- The Lost World
- How Etienne Gerard joined the Hussars of Couplans
- How the Brigadier saved an army
- The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
- The adventure of the Norwood Builder
- The Hound of the Baskervilles. Chapter XI
- The Lord of the Dark Face
- Halves (play)
Access
Research access is through the Berg Collection at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Researchers should consult the Archives Portal and contact the Berg Collection before visiting.
Location
- Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
- Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
- The New York Public Library
- 476 Fifth Avenue
- New York, NY 10018
- United States
- Phone: +1 212 930 0802
- Email: [email protected]
Opening times
- Monday - Closed
- Tuesday - 10am–5.45pm
- Wednesday - 10am–5.45pm
- Thursday - 10am–5.45pm
- Friday - 10am–5.45pm
- Saturday - 10am–5.45pm
- Sunday - Closed
Material is not paged after 5:00 pm. Check the official website before visiting.
Official website
The British Library (UK)
The British Library holds important Arthur Conan Doyle material within its manuscript and printed collections. Its holdings are especially relevant for research on Conan Doyle manuscripts, rare editions and Sherlock Holmes publishing history.
Collection scope
- Manuscripts.
- Rare books and editions.
- Letters and documents.
- Printed material by and about Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Sherlock Holmes material.
Notable holdings
- Manuscripts
- The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
- The Adventures of the Retired Colourman
- The Narrative of John Smith
- The Land of Mist. XIII. The Darker Side
- A Sordid Affair
- Jelland's Voyage
- The Disintegration Machine
- The Fall of Devil Hawker
- The Stark Munro Letters
- Rare editions and printed material related to Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes.
Access
Research access is through the British Library reading rooms. Researchers should search the catalogue and check reader registration and access conditions before visiting.
Location
- British Library
- 96 Euston Road
- London
- NW1 2DB, England
- Phone: +44 1937 546 060
- Email: [email protected]
Opening times
- Monday - 10am–8pm
- Tuesday - 9.30am–8pm
- Wednesday - 9.30am–8pm
- Thursday - 9.30am–8pm
- Friday - 9.30am–5pm
- Saturday - 9.30am–5pm
- Sunday - Closed
Official website
Houghton Library, Harvard University (UK)
Houghton Library is Harvard University's rare books and manuscripts library. It holds Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes material within its literary and special collections, and has hosted exhibitions and scholarly events devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle.
Collection scope
- Rare books.
- Manuscripts.
- Literary archives.
- Ephemera.
- Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle material.
- Exhibition material related to Conan Doyle studies.
Notable holdings
- Manuscript The Adventure of the Three Students
- Material associated with the 2009 exhibition Ever Westward: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and American Culture.
Access
Research access is through Houghton Library. Researchers should check Harvard Library access procedures and request material in advance when required.
Location
- Houghton Library
- Harvard University
- Harvard Yard
- Cambridge, MA 02138
- United States
Opening times
- Monday - 10am-5pm
- Tuesday - 10am-5pm
- Wednesday - 10am-5pm
- Thursday - 10am-5pm
- Friday - 10am-5pm
- Saturday - Closed
- Sunday - Closed
Official website
The Newberry Library — C. Frederick Kittle Collection of Doyleana (USA)
The Newberry Library holds the C. Frederick Kittle Collection of Doyleana, a major collection related to Arthur Conan Doyle and his family. The collection is particularly valuable for correspondence, photographs, artwork and documentary material.
Collection scope
- Correspondence.
- Photographs.
- Artwork.
- Ephemera.
- Manuscripts.
- First editions and printed material.
- Material related to Arthur Conan Doyle and members of his family.
Notable holdings
- Manuscripts:
- Danger!
- A Forgotten Tale
- Giant Maximin
- How the Brigadier Rode to Minsk
- How the Brigadier Took the Field
- The Coming of the Huns
- The Last Galley
- The Last of the Legions
- The Leather Funnel
- Recent Psychic Evidence
- The Romance of Medicine
- Around 140 letters, notes and cards written by Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Letters to Conan Doyle, including correspondence from Rudyard Kipling and Leslie Curnow.
Access
The C. Frederick Kittle collection of Doyleana are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 5 folders at a time maximum, and items in each folder will be counted before and after delivery to the patron.
Location
- The Newberry Library
- 60 West Walton Street
- Chicago, Illinois 60610
- United States
- Phone: +1 312 255 3512
- Email: form
Opening times
- Monday - Closed
- Tuesday – 10am-4pm
- Wednesday – 10am-4pm
- Thursday - 10am-4pm
- Friday - 10am-4pm
- Saturday - 10am-4pm
- Sunday - Closed
Official website
Sherlock Holmes Libraries and archives
Research collections primarily focused on Sherlock Holmes, Sherlockiana, adaptations, fandom, rare editions or the cultural history of the detective.
Elmer L. Andersen Library — Sherlock Holmes Collections (USA)
The Sherlock Holmes Collections at the University of Minnesota (Elmer L. Andersen Library) constitute one of the world's largest research collections devoted to Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlockian culture. The collections trace the transformation of Sherlock Holmes from the printed page to a major cultural icon.
Collection scope
- Over 60,000 items related to Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Books and journals.
- Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle material.
- Sherlockian publications and society records.
- Adaptations and popular culture material.
- Ephemera and objects related to Sherlock Holmes.
Notable holdings
- Manuscripts:
- The Hound of the Baskervilles (4 leaves)
- The Hound of the Baskervilles : a drama in four acts
- The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
- The Adventure of the Second Stain
- The Parasite [proof]
- Angels of darkness : a drama in three acts
- Material documenting Sherlock Holmes in print, performance, media and popular culture.
Access
Research access is available through the University of Minnesota Libraries. The collection is housed in the Elmer L. Andersen Library and is generally not available for viewing on a tour. Researchers should check the catalogue, finding aids and official website before visiting.
Location
- Sherlock Holmes Collections
- Elmer L. Andersen Library
- 15G Andersen Library
- 222 21st Ave South
- Minneapolis, MN 55455
- United States
- Phone: +1 612 624 7469
- Email: [email protected]
Opening times
- Monday - 9am-5pm
- Tuesday - 9am-5pm
- Wednesday - 9am-5pm
- Thursday - 9am-5pm
- Friday - 9am-5pm
- Staurday - Closed
- Sunday - Closed
Official website
- University of Minnesota Libraries
- Sherlock Holmes Collections
- The Sherlock Holmes Collections celebrates its 50th anniversary
- Friends of Sherlock Holmes Collections newsletters
The Rosenbach Museum & Library (USA)
The Rosenbach Museum & Library is both a museum and a library, but it is listed here because of its important rare book and manuscript holdings related to Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle. Its Sherlockian holdings are especially notable for rare editions and manuscript material.
Collection scope
- Sherlock Holmes first editions.
- Manuscripts.
- Rare books.
- Crime and mystery literature.
- Sherlockian material.
Notable holdings
- Manuscript of The Adventure of the Empty House.
- First editions of Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle.
- First printing of The Sign of the Four in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine.
- Material connected with mystery and crime literature.
Access
The Rosenbach is a museum and library with public visits, exhibitions and research access. Researchers should check the official website for current access procedures before planning a visit.
Location
- The Rosenbach Museum & Library
- 2008-2010 Delancey Place
- Philadelphia, PA 19103
- United States
- Phone: +1 215 732 1600
- Email: [email protected]
Opening times
- Monday - Closed
- Tuesday - Closed
- Wednesday - Closed
- Thursday - 10.30am-6pm
- Friday - 10.30am-6pm
- Saturday - 10.30am-6pm
- Sunday - 10.30am-4.30pm
Official website
- The Rosenbach Library
- The Sign of the Four (Lippincott's Monthly Magazine)
- Sherlock Mondays Conferences
