Starting with this issue, La Gazette du 221B is launching a new column dedicated to showcasing Holmesian societies from across the globe.
In every edition, one of their distinguished members will offer us an insider’s view of their club: its history, its activities, its traditions, its projects, its memorable gatherings, and that subtle alchemy that makes a Holmesian society so much more than a simple group of readers.
A way to explore, from within, the richness and diversity of the wider Holmesian community.

The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis

By Steven Doyle

In our current era, the term « scion society » has become a relaxed and commonly used euphemism for a Sherlock Holmes club. However, its strict definition refers to a local chapter of The Baker Street Irregulars. The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis take pride in being one of the oldest true scion societies in the history of the Sherlockian Universe. This universe was initially created by those who shared a love for the Sherlock Holmes literature and the fellowship discovered when gathering in his name.

Arthur Conan Doyle passed away in 1930. By 1932, several classic Sherlockian titles were published, notably Vincent Starrett’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. In late 1933, Christopher Morley, the founder of the Baker Street Irregulars, called for a cocktail party in New York City to celebrate Sherlock Holmes’s birthday, which he believed to be on January 6. Three weeks later, Morley reported on the event in the Saturday Review of Literature, marking the birth of the BSI and, indeed, of the entire Sherlockian Universe.

The significant expansion of scion societies occurred in the mid-1940s. This time saw the emergence of some of the most notable Sherlockian organizations. Clubs began to pop up all over the United States, including The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis, which was founded in 1946. Of the first wave of Sherlockian societies, the Illustrious Clients have an especially unique and intriguing founding story.

The Beginning of the Illustrious Clients

In 1945, a 14-year-old boy named Gerald « Jerry » Neal Williamson fell in love with Sherlock Holmes. That year, Jerry was dropped off by his parents to watch a motion picture double feature downtown while they ran errands. He was so enchanted that he stayed until the very end to find out the name of the author who wrote the detective stories.

Modern research has revealed that the film Jerry saw that day was none other than Basil Rathbone’s The House of Fear. Following this life-changing experience, Jerry visited a children’s library where he stumbled upon what he called  « the treasure of a lifetime, » a collection of various volumes of the Sherlockian Canon. Soon after, his aunt gifted him a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes.

It wasn’t long after this that Jerry Williamson went on to discover the existence of the larger Sherlockian world, especially the Baker Street Irregulars, by reading an article by Anthony Boucher. Jerry then managed to find the author’s address and wrote to request more information about The Baker Street Irregulars. Boucher connected Jerry with Clifton R. Anderson, a fellow Sherlockian from Akron, Ohio, who had recently formed a group called « The Scandalous Bohemians. » Anderson, in turn, introduced Jerry to Edgar Smith, Vice President of General Motors and a leader of The Baker Street Irregulars. This connection fostered a friendship between Smith and Williamson.

The extraordinary environment that this 14-year-old found himself in certainly made an impression. When Cliff Anderson suggested that Jerry establish his own Indianapolis-based scion society (even recommending the name « The Illustrious Clients »), Jerry eagerly took action.

It’s important to understand the ambitious, precocious nature of this young boy. By his own description, Jerry was a « not-yet-dating kid with no tact » who « despised being laughed at. » Given some autobiographical accounts, I suspect that Jerry experienced an adolescence marked by moments of being bullied. After finding himself empowered and respected through his writing, these endorsements and ongoing correspondence with several prominent figures greatly influenced him.

Jerry Williamson, full of ambition and talent, began writing to Sherlockians across the country and the world at just fourteen. Through his letters, he raised his profile and made connections with many well-known figures in the Sherlockian community. His youthful enthusiasm seemed charming to some who knew his age and understood his eagerness as the behavior of a nerdy boy trying too hard, But to others it looked like the over-the-top efforts of a narcissistic jerk. Understanding Jerry as a possibly bullied nerd, one can appreciate how he found his community Clients and dove in headfirst, without the benefit of discretion.

 In 1946, Jerry announced the founding of The Illustrious Clients to the Indianapolis News, and also shared the news with The Baker Street Journal, which led to gaining members. Collaborating with family friend Pete Williams, they organized meetings, with the first one held on February 14, 1947, attended by thirteen members, including notable Sherlockian Jay Finley Christ, who traveled from Chicago. A key feature of The Illustrious Clients is our diverse membership. Members come not only from the local area but also from other cities, states, and sometimes even countries. The spirit of the Clients was established right from the start.

The Illustrious Clients also have a strong publishing history, beginning in 1947. In those early days, to join, members had to write and submit a poem, essay, or pastiche. Jerry collected these works from local writers and from reputable names in the Sherlockian community. He published them in 1947 in a book called *The Client’s Case-Book*. Although it looked basic, it contained valuable content and is now considered a classic in early Sherlockian publishing. Contributors included local writers and early legends like Vincent Starrett, Ben Abramson, Jay Finley Christ, C.R. Andrew, Edgar W. Smith, and Helene Yuhasova. The club continued to meet and publish over the next six years, releasing *The Client’s Second Case-Book* in 1949 and *The Client’s Third Case-Book* in 1953. As Jerry moved on to college and adult responsibilities, he drifted away from the group, which continued to thrive under new leadership. . They met regularly until 1963, when key members started moving away, leaving the club without strong leaders. Though the Clients never truly ended, they met less often and maintained connections through letters and determination. But then, a change occurred.

The Rebirth of The Illustrious Clients

The year was 1977, and the Sherlock Holmes craze of the 1970s was in full swing. Mike Whelan, a future member of the Baker Street Irregulars (BSI), teamed up with local journalist Bill Lutholz to reactivate the dormant Illustrious Clients in Indianapolis. This revival established many customs , officer positions, meeting types, and traditions that we practice today originated during this time, including one of our greatest hallmarks: the meeting schedule. The Illustrious Clients meet nine times a year, making us one of the most active scion societies in the country.

 Unfortunately, by this time, Jerry Williamson, the founder of the club had fallen out with the current leadership, marking a regretful moment in our history. This was challenging, but the Illustrious Clients continued to prosper. Over time, Jerry reflected wistfully on the past, acknowledging that while things couldn’t be the same, memories remain a gift.

For nearly ten years, the Illustrious Clients carried on, but by the mid-1980s, many of the factors that led to the initial challenges of the club began to resurface. Key members moved away, leadership became unreliable, and the club once again found itself at a crossroads.

The Modern Era

Until now, I have been recounting the story of the Illustrious Clients as a historian but now I want to share my personal experience.

I first encountered the Illustrious Clients at the age of 26. I had just begun publishing The Sherlock Holmes Review. On a lunch break from my job in Indianapolis, I visited a bookshop specializing in mystery and detective fiction to see if I could persuade the proprietor to carry a few copies in her store. There, I met Don Curtis, the club’s new president, who invited me to join after learning I was a Sherlockian.

« I don’t know, » I remember saying, « I’m not much of a joiner. » Initially hesitant, I finally attended a meeting and soon became a member. As I write this, I have been part of the Illustrious Clients for nearly 40 years.

Don Curtis led the organization from 1986 for twenty-five years, the longest tenure in its history. His « back to basics » approach focused on classic activities and the Sherlockian Canon. During his leadership, the cycle of prosperity versus uncertainty was overcome, establishing nearly 40 years of stability and growth as the norm. Membership rose, from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties, fostering friendships that have created a strong sense of community.

After Don’s retirement, Vincent Wright led the group for two years, modernizing our communication. In 2014, I had the privilege of becoming the Illustrious Client. Since then, we have grown to over 100 dues-paying members, with an average of nearly 50 attendees at our meetings. I am proud to say that over the past decade, the Illustrious Clients have become one of, if not the leading, Sherlockian scion societies in America. In 2021, we celebrated our 75th Anniversary Meeting, with Sherlockians attending from across America and even from overseas.

Our programming is a mix of traditional and innovative elements. We get together every six weeks for cocktails and dinner, where we fill the evening with announcements, a show and tell, a Sherlockian toast, a quiz, and discussion about a story from the Canon

The year is highlighted by several special events. January is traditionally reserved for our Victorian Dinner. In June, we embark on our annual summer field trip to a location with a connection to Sherlock Holmes or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. For instance, in 2025, we visited the Stone Age Institute in Bloomington, Indiana, to explore Arthur Conan Doyle’s fascination with prehistoric times, including dinosaurs and Neolithic man.

In August, we typically host our fantastic annual film festival at the Zionsville Library. Each year, we showcase a selection of shorts, cartoons, television episodes, and movies, featuring Sherlockian classics, rarities, and favorites! Who wouldn’t want to escape the oppressive heat and humidity of an Indiana summer for an afternoon of cool, air-conditioned comfort while enjoying Sherlockian cinema?

Finally, in December, we hold our annual Blue Carbuncle Holiday Meeting which is our early Christmas celebration.

More than just a Sherlock Holmes club, the Illustrious Clients feel like an extended family. Our shared love of Sherlock Holmes strengthens our bonds of friendship and fellowship, ensuring that in Indianapolis, Indiana, the game is always afoot!