Famous Sherlockians

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the BSI

Letter from Edgar W. Smith to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, July 27, 1942

Edgar W. Smith. Letter to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. July 27, 1942.

Letter from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Edgar W. Smith, August 5, 1942

Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Letter to Edgar W. Smith. August 5, 1942.

Communications Between Edgar W. Smith and FDR

After learning of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s love of detective fiction, BSI leader wrote FDR this touching letter quoting some inspirational words of Sherlock Holmes and offering him membership in BSI. FDR accepted the honor and shared an amusing Sherlockian tidbit.

Click the images to view the full letters.

President Harry Truman and the BSI

President Harry Truman was not able to attend the BSI birthday dinner in January 1949, but BSI members Elmer Davis and Edgar W. Smith were able to present Truman with a copy of the first BSI publication, The Blue Carbuncle.

Letter from Harry S. Truman to Edgar W. Smith, December 21, 1948. Together with a photograph of Elmer Davis and Smith presenting a copy of the first BSI publication, <em>The Blue Carbuncle</em>, to President Truman
Letter from Harry S. Truman to Edgar W. Smith, December 21, 1948. Together with a photograph of Elmer Davis and Smith presenting a copy of the first BSI publication, <em>The Blue Carbuncle</em>, to President Truman
Letter from Harry S. Truman to Edgar W. Smith, December 21, 1948. Together with a photograph of Elmer Davis and Smith presenting a copy of the first BSI publication, <em>The Blue Carbuncle</em>, to President Truman

Harry S. Truman. Letter to Edgar W. Smith. December 21, 1948. Together with a photograph of Elmer Davis (center) and Smith (right) presenting a copy of the first BSI Publication, The Blue Carbuncle, to President Truman.

Issac Asimov

Asimov's Sherlockian Limericks.

Isaac Asimov. Asimov's Sherlockian Limericks. Illustrated by Gahan Wilson. New York: Mysterious Press, 1978.

Asimov's Sherlockian Limericks

Many prominent writers have been BSI members. One of the most prolific was Isaac Asimov, author of hundreds of books and stories. Known best for his science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries, non-fiction, and limericks.


Asimov's Sherlockian Limericks includes sixty limericks, one for each story in the Sherlock Holmes canon. Each limerick draws its title from its associated story.

Letter from Isaac Asimov to Tom Stix, July 17, 1988

Isaac Asimov. Letter to Tom Stix. July 17, 1988.

Letter from Isaac Asimov to Tom Stix, July 17, 1988.

Also on display is a letter from Asimov to Tom Stix, then the leader of the BSI. Though not directly addressed in this note, Asimov wrote many others lobbying for the cessation of smoking at BSI events.

Famous Sherlockians