Baker Street Irregulars discussion
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Sherlockian Scion Societies
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If the Jane Austen experience is anything like it, there will be a surge in memberships. After the airing of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice (the one that was on A&E, Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth starring), JASNA - the Jane Austen Society of North America saw an uptick in its membership.
I joined the Los Angeles scion, The Curious Collectors of Baker Street about... 2 years ago? So I guess I am one of the upticks in that I joined after watching the WB movie, ha. Mostly we nerd out about Sherlock Holmes. The last event I went to was to go watch a Sherlock Holmes play. We have dinners were we share whatever fannish things we have done. Also themed dinners where people dress up in Victorian clothes and play Sherlock Holmes themed games and quizzes. It's very nerdy (which is a compliment).
I'm involved with and attend quite a few Sherlockian scions mostly based on the East Coast: Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes (ASH NYC), Sons of the Copper Beeches (Philly), Scintillation of Scions, Three Garridebs of Westchester, Montague Street Lodgers of Brooklyn, WelcomeHolmes (email list) and I've helped to re-boot and co-host The Priory Scholars of NYC + a few other venerable scions I'll be attending for the first time in the coming year. To find a scion event in your area, I highly recommend checking out the amazing Sherlockian Calendar.My personal experience with Sherlockian scions has been overwhelmingly excellent and extremely welcoming. Some of the groups mentioned above have existed since the 1950s while others are less old, but equally important. If you've never attended a scion meeting before, I would recommend finding one in your area and going. I know they can seem intimidating, but the vast majority of the people you will meet there are ridiculously friendly and inviting (and no one is going to try to embarrass you with a surprise/rigorous canonical test - so many people worry about this). It doesn't hurt to reach out to one of the members if their contact info is online (Sherlockians love to communicate, be it with letters, email or Facebook).
If your interest in Sherlock Holmes is starting grow beyond just the BBC show and/or the occasional story, check out a meeting - you'll be very glad you did.
There had been a society in Cape May NJ called "The Capers of Sherlock Holmes". I don't know how active they are, but together with the county's center for the arts and Victorian Cape May (many homes and B&Bs are authentically Victorian), they still do a twice-annual Sherlock Holmes weekend.
Are these groups comprised of members with varying interest or do they require an almost academic devotion to the Holmes stories?
Joshua - Again, most Sherlockian scion groups (unless they are invitation only*) are very diverse in terms of devotion, knowledge and enthusiasm. I understand what you mean by "academic devotion" but often times those scion members who possess the greatest depth of SH knowledge come off as the friendliest and least-assuming of the bunch. And at almost every meeting I go to there is always at least one new person, no matter what. Sherlockians are gregarious by nature and most can remember (whether it was 5 years or 50 years ago) their first times attending a Sherlockian meeting, so the atmosphere is always welcoming. * "Invitation Only" scion meetings, on the other hand, are often times a world unto themselves (ie. a very different, singular atmosphere). Usually, invite only scions have been around for some ridiculous number of years (ie. founded in the 40s and 50s) and adhere to a set of traditions which are often a bit out-of-step with modern society/culture (eg. the biggest tradition being 'male-only' groups who have existed as such for over 60 years and don't plan on ever changing). On the other hand, such anachronistic behavior often compliments Sherlockian behavior so these groups do have their unique charm (and personally I very much enjoy them - probably in a way similar to a Diogenes member enjoying the atmosphere at the Diogenes Club).
And as always, bookmark and read the infinitely useful Sherlockian Calendar for scion events in your area.
Joshua: Don't be afraid to join a scion if you only have a limited knowledge. Everyone is welcome!I joined by first scion, The Hudson Valley Sciontists in Poughkeepsie, NY, when I was 17. I now am the head of Dr. Watson's Neglected Patients in Denver. CO. I am also a member of an exclusively Internet based scion< the Hounds of the Internet. It is a mailing list with members all over the world.
Matt: To the best of my knowledge there are NO "male only" scions any more.
The Baker Street Irregulars which is "invitation only" is not a scion but the mother of all scions (scion means "child" or "offspring") and real scions have a certificate from BSI showing their status as a scion. BSI started admitting women about 20 years ago.
Darlene wrote: Matt: To the best of my knowledge there are NO "male only" scions any more.Hi Darlene:
Male only scions which are still active include: The Sons of the Copper Beeches (1948), The Six Napoleons of Baltimore (1946) and The Speckled Band of Boston (1940 - the very first scion society) - all of which are invitation only to a certain extent.
P.S. Everyone should check out Darlene Cypser's novel The Crack in the Lens!
I am attending ASH Wednesday in NYC tomorrow night.
For those that are wondering, Mr Lax did indeed attend his very first ASH Wednesday scion meeting last week, and he even managed to survive unscathed - physically at least. Did you have a good time Josh? I would say that last week's ASH dinner was 'fairly typical', though a little on the smaller side. It was a nice mix of older Sherlockians (mostly female ASH members) and younger/youngish Sherlockians of all stripes and backgrounds. Males are almost always outnumbered by females 3 or 4 to 1 like that.
As always, keep abreast of Sherlockian scion goings-on via the Sherlockian Calendar. Hope to see you again.
I had a good time. As you noted it is more of a social gathering rather than anything formal. I am interested to see what the other events are like from the more formal ASH meetings to the other area scions.
Are any other members of this Goodreads group also members of a local society? What has your experience been like? With the recent Holmes resurgence in popular media, are they seeing an uptick in new members?