Readings and Reminiscences

Readings and Reminiscences is a series of lectures given by Arthur Conan Doyle from 10 october to 6 december 1894 during his lecture tour in USA. It started on 10 october at the Calvary Baptist Church, West 57-st., New York, then Conan Doyle travelled in more than 30 towns. The tour was managed by Major J. B. Pond.

Dates & locations

• 10.08.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Calvary Baptist Church (New York, USA).
• 12.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Twentieth Century Club, Michigan Avenue (Chicago, USA).
• 15.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Plymouth Congregational Church (Indianapolis, USA).
• 17.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Odd Fellows' Temple (Cincinatti, USA).
• 19.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at National Union League (Toledo, USA).
• 22.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Church of our Father (Detroit, USA).
• 25.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Plymouth Congregational Church (Milwaukee, USA).
• 26.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Central Music Hall (Chicago, USA).
• 29.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at Academy of Music (Brooklyn, USA). 2000 attendees.
• 30.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at City Hall (Northampton, USA).
• 31.10.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Association Hall (Boston, USA).
• 01.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Association Hall (Worcester, USA).
• 02.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the College Hall (Amherst, USA).
• 03.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Slater Memorial Hall (Norwich, USA).
• 05.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Metzerott Music Hall (Washington, USA).
• 06.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the National Capital Press Club (Washington, USA).
• 09.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Essex Lyceum (Newark, USA).
• 10.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Musical Fund Hall (Philadelphia, USA).
• 12.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Daly's Theatre (New York, USA). Matinee
• 12.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at John Kendrick Bangs' home (Yonkers, USA). Evening
• 13.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Music Hall (Orange, USA).
• 14.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Daly's Theatre (New York, USA).
• 15.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Alexander Hall (Princeton, USA).
• 16.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Trinity Place Public School (New Rochelle, USA).
• 19-20.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Association Hall (Boston, USA).
• 21.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the YMCA Music Hall (Rochester, USA).
• 22.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the All-Female College (Elmira, USA).
• 23.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Glen Falls Opera House (Glen Falls, USA).
• 24.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the First Reformed Church (Shenectady, USA).
• 26.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Massey Music Hall (Toronto, Canada).
• 27.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Woman's Union Hall (Buffalo, USA).
• 30.11.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the St. Bartholomew's School for Boys (Morristown, USA).
• 01.12.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Association Hall (Paterson, USA).
• 03.12.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at ?? (Flushing, USA).
• 05.12.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the Town Hall (Jamaica, USA).
• 06.12.1894 : Readings and Reminiscences, at the First Presbyterian Church (Jersey City, USA).

About Conan Doyle's lecture

Flyer for the Boston lecture (31 october 1894).

Dr. A. Conan Doyle made his American lecture debut at Calvary Baptist Church, where a large audience gathered, many curious about the creator of Sherlock Holmes. He appeared sturdy, unassuming, and spoke with a mix of Scottish, British, and American accents. His attitude toward Holmes was engaging and free of pretense. Doyle did not claim to be a skilled reader, but the excerpts he read from his works were effective due to their narrative appeal. His lecture, Readings and Reminiscences, focused on personal experiences rather than theories, though he would have preferred discussing the latter. He reminisced about literary influences, including Thackeray, Washington Irving, Cooper, and Parkman—who inspired his novel The Refugees. He admired Edgar Allan Poe's detective stories, acknowledging their influence on his own work. His deep appreciation for American literature and culture made him a natural favorite among American readers.

"To my mother," and he lingered on the word, "I owe the delight to be found in a well told story. I started writing a book at the somewhat immature age of 6. I wrote it in a free, bold hand — four words to the line. In this first book of mine there were a man and tiger. They began separately, but they were blended when the man and the tiger met. The book was illustrated by the author. The tiger looked like a many hooped barrel with a tail to it. Of my first story to appear in the Cornhill magazine it was said it would make Thackeray turn in his grave. About that time a gentleman appeared who had been a very great friend to me — Sherlock Holmes. He was so real to some people that I received letters asking for a lock of his hair, and one letter asked for his photographs at different ages."

Reports

New York (10 aug)

• A. Conan Doyle's Lecture. His First Appearance Before His American Friends (11 october 1894, New-York Tribune)
• Dr. Conan Doyle as a Lecturer (11 october 1894, The Chicago Tribune)
• Conan Doyle's First Lecture (13 october 1894, The Critic)

Chicago

• Fiction as a Theme (13 october 1894, The Chicago Tribune)

Indianapolis

• Conan Doyle in Town (16 october 1894, The Indianapolis Journal)

Cincinatti

• Dr. Doyle's Lecture (18 october 1894, The Cincinnati Enquirer)

Toledo

• No reports.

Detroit

• Very Pleasant Introduction (23 october 1894, The Detroit Free Press)

Milwaukee

• Vortrag in der Plymouth Kirche (26 october 1894, Milwaukee's Abend-Post).
• Doyle's Vortrag (26 october 1894, Milwaukee Herold).

Chicago

• Conan Doyle Reads (27 october 1894, The Inter Ocean)
• Speaks of His Pen (27 october 1894, The Chicago Tribune)

Brooklyn

• Dr. Doyle Talks (30 october 1894, The Brooklyn Citizen)
• Conan Doyle's Lecture (30 october 1894, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

Northampton

• Dr. A. Conan Doyle's Delightful Lecture at Northampton Last Evening (31 october 1894, Holyoke Daily Transcript)
• A. Conan Doyle's Recital (31 october 1894, Daily Hampshire Gazette)
• Novelist Doyle at Northampton (31 october 1894, Daily Republican (Springfield))

Boston (31 oct)

• Letters to Conan Doyle (1 november 1894, The Boston Globe)
• Dr. Conan Doyle's Talk (1 november 1894, Boston Evening Transcript)

Worcester

• Killed Sherlock Holmes (2 november 1894, Worcester Daily Telegram)
• Dr. Doyle (2 november 1894, Worcester Daily Spy)
• Timely Notes (2 november 1894, Worcester Evening Gazette)

Amherst

• Dr. A. Conan Doyle (10 november 1894,, The Amherst Student)

Norwich

• Dr. Doyle's Lecture (5 november 1894, Norwich Morning Bulletin)

Washington

• Dr. Conan Doyle (6 november 1894, The Evening Star (Washington))
• Conan Doyle Deduces (6 november 1894, The Washington Post)

Newark

• Listened to A. Conan Doyle (10 november 1894, Newark Evening News)
• A. Conan Doyle's Lecture (10 november 1894, Newark Daily Advertiser)

Philadelphia

• Evening with Conan Doyle (10 november 1894, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Dr. A. Conan Doyle (12 november 1894, Public Ledger (Philadelphia))

New York (12 nov)

• Dr. Doyle and Sherlock Holmes (13 november 1894, New-York Tribune)
• Conan Doyle's Readings (13 november 1894, The Sun (New York))

Yonkers

• Plain Talks by a Plain Man (13 november 1894, The Yonkers Herald)
• Dr. A. Conan Doyle (13 november 1894, The Yonkers Statesman)

Orange

• Concerts and Entertainment (15 november 1894, East Orange Gazette)

New York (14 nov)

• Dr. Doyle's Second Reading at Daly's (15 november 1894, New-York Tribune)

Princeton

• Dr. Doyle's Lecture (16 november 1894, Daily Princetonian)
• Dr. A. Conan Doyle (16 november 1894, Princeton Press)

New Rochelle

• The Alumni Lecture (24 november 1894, New Rochelle Paragraph)

Boston (19 nov)

• Read His Own Tales (20 november 1894, The Boston Globe)
• Last Readings (20 november 1894, The Boston Post)
• Lectures and Readings (20 november 1894, Boston Evening Transcript)
• Dr. A. Conan Doyle's Readings (20 november 1894, Boston Journal)
• Dr. Doyle's Readings (20 november 1894, Boston Advertiser)

Rochester

• Dr. Doyle on Doyle (22 november 1894, Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester))

Elmira

• ...

Glen Falls

• ...

Shenectady

• ...

Toronto

• ...

Buffalo

• ...

Morristown

• ...

Paterson

• ...

Flushing

• ...

Jamaica

• ...

Jersey City

• ...

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