Draft:The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota

The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota is a scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, dedicated to keeping green the memory of the Master, Sherlock Holmes, and honoring his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

History

The Norwegian Explorers first met on January 23, 1948, when five Sherlockians met at the University of Minnesota to establish this new chapter of the Baker Street Irregulars, which was the first Sherlock Holmes society chartered in the United States. These first five were all deans or department heads at the University of Minnesota. They were: Theodores C. Blegen of which Blegen Hall at the University of Minnesota is named, E.W. McDiarmid, BSI, Dr. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., BSI (1914-2011). The Norwegian Explorers are one of the oldest scion societies in the United States. Unlike some other early scions, or The Baker Street Irregulars themselves, who initially excluded females from membership, the Explorers have always been open to all.

A highlight of the Explorers’ history occurred in 1957 when they were joined by the Sherlock Holmes Society of London in placing a plaque at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland to commemorate the epic struggle between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. (It was after this dramatic event that Sherlock Holmes, disguised as the Norwegian Explorer Sigerson, traveled in Europe and Asia for several years.)

The Explorers also have been responsible for the publication of a number of significant contributions to Sherlockian literature, as well as hosting symposiums.

Meetings are held irregularly but frequently. They feature noted speakers from here and abroad, films, musicales, theater parties, games, quizzes and other types of programs on Sherlockian matters. A study group meets monthly to discuss a selected reading from the Canon. And a Dinner and Business meeting is held in December.

The records documenting the activities of the Norwegian Explorers from 1947-2007 are found in the Sherlock Holmes Collection housed at the University of Minnesota.

Membership

add in stuff 1. Theodores C. Blegen, BSI of which Blegen Hall at the University of Minnesota is named 2. E.W. McDiarmid, BSI, 3. Dr. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., BSI (1914-2011) 4. 5.

Presidents of the Norwegian Explorers

E.W. McDiarmid, BSI, 1948-1985 C. Paul Martin, M.D., BSI, 1986-1989 PJ Doyle, ASH, BSI, 1990-1991 Bruce Southworth, BSI, 1992-1994 Allen Mackler, 1995-1997 Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI, 1998-2006 Gary Thaden, BSI 2007-2017 Tom Gottwalt, 2018-present

Members of the Norwegian Explorers who are also members of the BSI

Theodores C. Blegen, BSI E.W. McDiarmid, BSI Dr. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., BSI C. Paul Martin, M.D., BSI PJ Doyle, ASH, BSI Bruce Southworth, BSI John Bergquist, BSI Richard Sveum, BSI Julie McKuras, BSI Gary Thaden, BSI, 2024

Publications

A newsletter, Explorations, is published two or three times a year to dues paying members. Editors of the Explorations - -PJ Doyle, ?-2009 -Tim Reich, 2010-20?? -John Bergquist, BSI -Gary Thaden, BSI -Phil Bergen, BSI

Publications: 1951 - "The Crowded Box Room" by Theodore C. Blegen (this is the first publication of the organization). 1952 - "Sherlock Holmes Master Detective" edited by Theodore C. Blegen and E.W. McDiarmid, BSI. 1957 - "Exploring Sherlock Holmes" edited by E.W. McDiarmid and Theodore C. Blegen (to commemorate the placement of a plaque at Reichenbach Falls in conjunction with The Sherlock Holmes Society of London). 1978 - "Cultivating Sherlock Holmes" edited by Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., BSI, and Joseph B. Connors. 2007 - "Norwegian Explorers Omnibus" (re-published the four previous publications). 2016 - "The Missing Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes" edited by Julie McKuras, Timothy Johnson, Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem (published for the 2016 Conference)

Christmas Annuals 2002 - "The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota Christmas Annual" edited by John Bergquist, BSI. 2003 2004 2005 2006 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2016 Christmas Annual, No. 5: Women in the Canon” edited 2007 2008 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2008 Christmas Annual, No. 7: The Non-English Sherlock Holmes” edited by 2009 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2016 Christmas Annual, No. 8: ??" edited by John Bergquist, BSI 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2016 Christmas Annual, No. 15: The Miss Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” edited Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem. 2017 2018 2019 - The Norwegian Explorers 2019 Christmas Annual, No. 18: Mystery, Imagination, and Horror" edited by Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem. 2020 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2020 Christmas Annual, No. 19: Games Are Afoot" edited by Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem. 2021 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2021 Christmas Annual, No. 20: Science and Medicine” edited by Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem. 2022 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2022 Christmas Annual, No. 21: International Holmes" edited by Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem. 2023 - "The Norwegian Explorers 20232 Christmas Annual, No. 22: 75!" edited by Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem. 2024 - "The Norwegian Explorers 2024 Christmas Annual, No. 23: The Collection Mania" edited by Ray Riethmeier and Phillip Bergem.

Annual Dinner Locations

1998 - Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 1999 - The Castle Hotel, South St. Paul, MN 2000-2001 - Radisson Hotel, Minneapolis, MN 2002-2024 - Minneapolis Golf Club, St. Louis Park, MN

Speakers at the Annual Dinners

1998 - Richard Sveum, MD, BSI 1999 - Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI 2000 - Dr. Mona Morstein 2001 - C. Paul Martin, MD, BSI 2002 - Don Izban, BSI 2003 - Erin Hart 2004 - Phillip Bergem, BSI 2005 - John Bergquist, BSI, 2s 2006 - Sujata Massey 2007 - Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI 2008 - Tim Johnson 2009 - Allen J. Hubin 2010 - Russell Merritt, BSI 2011 - Larry Millett 2012 - Amy Seitz 2013 - Jeffrey Hatcher 2014 2015 2016 - Steven Hendrickson 2017 2018 2019 - Nicholas Meyer 2020 - Rob Nunn (zoom) 2021 - 2022 - Glen Miranker, BSI 2023 - Dr. Daniel Friedman 2024 - Larry Millett

Conferences

The Norwegian Explorers co-hosts a conference every three to four years in conjunction with the University of Minnesota and the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections.

1984 -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota 1993 -- Victorian Criminal Classes: Rogues, Rascals and Ruffians 1995 -- The Detective and the Collector 1998 -- Founders' Footprints 2001 -- 2001: A Sherlockian Odyssey 2004 -- A River Runs by It 2007 -- Victorian Secrets and Edwardian Enigmas 2010 -- The Spirits of Sherlock Holmes 2013 -- Sherlock Holmes Through Time and Place 2016 -- The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes 2019 -- Dark Places, Wicked Companions, and Strange Experiences 2022 -- A One Day Conference in conjunction with the opening of the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes at the Minnesota History Center. 2024 -- Sherlock Holmes @ 50

References

add in references

External links

• The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota