The Friends of the ACD Collection
The Friends of the ACD Collection at the Toronto Reference Library is an article written by Doug Wrigglesworth published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 8, 1998).
This article presents the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection at the Toronto Reference Library, explaining their aims, early activities, and plans to support and expand the collection. It highlights the collection's importance as a public research resource and describes fundraising, outreach, publications, and events designed to strengthen its future.
The Friends of the ACD Collection
Doug Wrigglesworth
Chair, Board of Directors
- When an author ... has passed his seventieth year he feels as he surveys the line of his works, like some architect or builder who, having laboured long to complete his edifice, finally stands back to survey it in its entirety. I can only hope to add some little attic or cupola here or there. It is a modest enough structure, no doubt, and yet as I survey it I feel that I could do no better and that any powers which Providence has given me have found their full expression.
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Memories and Adventures, 1930
The ACD Room at the Toronto Reference Library is perhaps such a 'modest enough structure', but it contains a wonderful collection of works by and about this self-styled 'architect'. The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection is a unique and valuable storehouse of the literary and cultural legacy of this popular author, historian and social activist of his day. It is still considered by many the largest catalogued and publicly accessible collection of works by and about Arthur Conan Doyle.
Many, if not most, of the readers of this journal will be well aware of the existence of this fledgling group of Friends and have been kept aware of its activities through receiving the initial mailings. The Friends are most appreciative of those who have responded by becoming members and giving very public support to this collection.
The purposes of this article are threefold:
- 1. To provide a brief summary of our structure and our goals,
- 2. To give an update on recent activities.
- 3. To sketch our future plans.
Fans of ACD's best-loved creation, Sherlock Holmes, will find the Collection a respectful homage to the Great Detective, a pleasure to visit, and a rich resource for study. However, those who wish to delve into the much larger ACD bibliography will find all his other works here as well. Interested researchers will find the curator, Victoria Gill, a most helpful and responsive aid in their inquiries. While the room itself is open at only limited hours, or by appointment, items in the Collection may be accessed in the Special Collections Reading Room during all Library hours.
The Friends are a growing group of interested Doyleans and Sherlockians who have banded together to work with the Toronto Reference Library to help maintain, enhance, and raise public awareness about this valuable resource.
Our objectives are:
- To work with the Toronto Reference Library to help maintain and enhance the ACD Collection and its services to the public in consultation with the Library's staff, to advise on issues pertaining to the Collection;
- To raise monies for special acquisitions for the Collection and for the improvement of the physical facilities and for other special projects;
- To promote and carry out programmes and activities designed to raise awareness of the existence and contents of the Collection and to provide educational activities for members;
- To act as a resource for the Collection and private collections in Canada and elsewhere, in consultation with the Library staff;
- To work co-operatively with The Bootmakers of Toronto and other organizations dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his works.
Initial Activities
We have had a busy and productive first few months. Activities have included the following:
- Wide distribution of an information brochure to interested parties around the world;
- The publication and distribution of the first edition of The Magic Door, our newsletter which will be distributed to Friends three times yearly;
- A theatrical outing to the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake to see a performance of Waterloo. (A more extensive review follows)
- The publication, in partnership with the Shaw Festival, of Waterloo: A Case-Book of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Historical Play. (Details follow)
- A special visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see the exhibit Victorian Fairy Paintings, with a special presentation on the significance of such paintings by various members of the Doyle family.
- Launching of a Web Site at http://www.mtrl.toronto.on.ca/centres/spcoll/acd/home.htm
- Initial steps taken to seek sufficient resources to acquire some of the manuscripts and other Doylean materials as they appear on the market.
- Important advocacy initiatives taken in a number of quarters on behalf of the Collection.
These activities, among others, have resulted in considerable positive publicity for the collection in a time when library restructuring and political uncertainty have put immense pressures on the resources of the Collection. A membership of more than 75 Friends is a good base of support for these and future initiatives.
Waterloo at the Shaw Festival
On Saturday, August 15, nearly 50 Friends attended a performance of Waterloo, followed by lunch with actor Tony van Bridge and Ian Prinsloo, the fine young director, and a subsequent visit to 'Cottingley Beck' (actually the wonderful Butterfly Conservatory at Niagara).
As Ray Conologue suggested in the Toronto Globe and Mail, Waterloo has provided a most fitting showcase to honour Tony van Bridge's 60 years in the theatre. It was indeed a wonderful interpretation of ACD's play-translated nicely to fit 1998 sensibilities. Ian Prinsloo and Tony van Bridge have caught the very essence of Gregory Brewster a man who knows the last muster approaches, and whose whole life has centred on that one incident at Hougoumont.
At lunch, Tony van Bridge, Ian Prinsloo and Denis Johnston of the Shaw Festival were gracious guests-explaining their interpretation of the play, tirelessly signing autographs and showing interest in the mission of the Friends. When concern was expressed that 81-year-old Tony van Bridge might have signed enough playbills and books his response was 'Nonsense, this is what an actor DREAMS of!"
The visit to 'Cottingley Beck' an inspiration of Barbara Rusch — provided an excellent conclusion to the day, as the enclosed garden setting with thousands of beautifully coloured butterflies evoked well the environment which inspired Elsie and Frances to take those controversial photographs.
Waterloo: A Case-Book of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Historical Play
In honour of the Shaw Festival production of Waterloo, the Friends of the ACD Collection at the Toronto Reference Library, in co-operation with the Shaw Festival, have produced this small volume. The book includes both the text of the play and of 'A Straggler of '15', scholarly papers on the play and on ACD by Cliff Goldfarb and Doug Elliott, notes from the director and from Tony van Bridge, and greetings from the Friends and from Victoria Gill the collection curator. The dust jacket itself is worth the price, featuring wonderful photo of Tony van Bridge in the rôle. The publisher is the Battered Silicon Dispatch Box of George Vanderburgh and the book was edited by David Skene-Melvin.
This illustrated 80-page book is available from either the Friends or from the Battered Silicon Dispatch Box ([email protected]). To order from the Friends, send CDN$ 38.50 ($33.50 for members) or Credit Card information (number, expiry date, name on card, signature) for Visa, MC, AMEX to:
- Friends of the ACD Collection
- Toronto Reference Library
- 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 2G8
Future Plans
The Friends intend to continue their efforts on all fronts to pursue their objectives. Future news may include:
- Continuing efforts to raise awareness of the Collection locally to secure appropriate political support.
- Gathering resources to support acquisitions. It is important to note that these would be above and beyond those normally acquired through regular library budget allotments. We are speaking of items such as manuscripts and bibliographic and ephemeral rarities that would require additional resources.
- Continued publication of Magic Door, as well as other items that will give members a tangible flavour of the Collection.
Membership in the Friends
The Friends are most appreciative of all those who have responded to the call. Of course, we would urge more of you, for whom this is an important depository of accessible Doylean material and treasures, to join us.
Members not only have the satisfaction of supporting the Collection, they can be assured of getting all mailings about the Collection and having first chance at publications and other items of interest at special member prices. At some levels of membership, members will be permanently recognized in the ACD Room itself.
Further information on membership can be obtained by writing the Friends of the ACD Collection at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 2G8, or by contacting Doug Wrigglesworth at [email protected].
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
