Our Arthur Conan Doyle Collection at Toronto Reference Library is one of the world's leading collections devoted to Sherlock Holmes and his creator. To trace how it has evolved over the decades, we put our detective skills to use and sleuthed through TPL's institutional archive for photographs and ephemera. These visual highlights document key moments in the collection's history, from before its public opening in 1971 to today.
Purchase from Judge S. Tupper Bigelow
The first significant acquisition ("major pillar") for the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection came from the 1970 purchase of Judge S. Tupper Bigelow’s private collection. An avid Sherlockian and collector for over 20 years, Bigelow sold the library over 500 books, magazines and pamphlets as well as his extensive card catalogue of “Writings on the Writings”. The purchase was facilitated by John T. Parkhill (Director, Metropolitan Toronto Central Library), Mary McMahon (Head, Literature) and Cameron Hollyer (Curator, Arthur Conan Doyle Collection)—all of whom played key roles in the collection's development.
Opening weekend exhibit
The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection opened to the public on January 10, 1971, drawing many visitors to the Metropolitan Toronto Central Library (Toronto Reference Library's College Street predecessor). The opening featured the exhibit "Sherlock Holmes Is Alive and Well at the Central Library and on Exhibition." Curator Cameron Hollyer mingled with guests while dressed as Sherlock Holmes.
Evolution of the Arthur Conan Doyle Room
In 1977, the Arthur Conan Doyle Room moved to the newly opened Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library (now Toronto Reference Library), designed by architect Raymond Moriyama. He gave the room a Victorian-era aesthetic reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes's study. That distinctive character was maintained during the library's 2014 revitalization, when the room was reimagined by Moriyama's son, Ajon Moriyama of Moriyama Teshima Architects. This new Arthur Conan Doyle Room was funded in part by gifts of Doris and Clifford Goldfarb and the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection. It is located in the Marilyn and Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre on the fifth floor.
Room at the Metropolitan Toronto Central Library (1971–1977)
Room at Toronto Reference Library (1977–2014)
Located on the fifth floor, this iteration of the room was open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4 pm. Its books could be viewed in the Baldwin Room on the fourth floor for viewing outside these times (during library hours).
Revitalized room at Toronto Reference Library (2014–)
During 2014 revitalization work on the fifth floor, the Arthur Conan Doyle Room was reconfigured and integrated into the Marilyn and Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre. Although the layout changed, the room remained in roughly the same spot on the fifth floor and became accessible during regular library hours.
Explore more
In addition to photos and other items documenting the history of the collection, you can find over 700 digitized books, artwork and more from the collection on our Digital Archive.
- Digitized items related to the history of Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
- Digitized items held in the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
Learn more about the collection's history in the "History of collection" section of the collection's webpage.
