25: Acknowledgements
The National Fantasy Fan Federation: A Brief History
By Jon D. Swartz
In the beginning of science fiction fandom in the United States in the late
1920s and early 1930s, fans contactred and kept in touch with each other
mainly by means of the letter columns in the professional magazines, later
known in fandom as promags and still later as prozines. This process
formally began with the appearance of readers’ letters in the “Discussions”
column of Amazing Stories in the late 1920s, although some fans had
communicated with each other earlier via letters to the fantasy magazine
Weird Tales, which began publication in 1923. This pioneering pulp
magazine, though emphasizing fantasy and supernatural stories, was a
training ground for science fiction writers and even published some SF
stories over the years. Weird Tales exists even today, although in a
somewhat different form.
In these letter columns, readers commented upon and compared their
favorite – and not-so-favorite – stories, authors, artists, SF clubs, other
fans, and so forth. This fan communication via letters to the prozines
continues in various forms even today. In the 1920s-1930s, however, such
correspondence also led to the formation of local science fiction clubs, the
publication of amateur magazines and newsletters (later called fanmags, and
still later fanzines), and the organization of local, regional, and even
national conventions. Some of these early clubs were sponsored by the SF
prozines. Moreover, out of these clubs came a new generation of SF writers,
artists, editors, critics, agents, and at least one publisher (Donald A.
Wollheim).
In 1941 science fiction fan (and neophyte SF artist/author and member of The
Futurians of New York) Damon Knight suggested that it was time for a
national organization of science fiction and fantasy fans: “I sincerely
believe that a successful national fantasy association is possible, that it
could offer a needed service to every fan, and that it could be established
today.” The N3F was organized by elements of The Stranger Club of Boston,
Massachusetts, stimulated by Knight’s article “Unite – Or Die!” Knight was
respected in SF fandom at the time, being a member of the Futurians and
known throughout the country. He subsequently became famous in the genre as
a critic, editor, and teacher of SF/fantasy. Fans responded to his
suggestion, and The National Fantasy Fan Federation (later abbreviated both
NFFF and N3F) was the result with 64 charter members. Other prime movers in
founding this national science fiction club were Art Widner and Louis
Russell Chauvenet (Is this where the Stranger Club comes in?/ck on this).
The latter was the fan credited with creating the term “fanzine” as the
accepted term for fan magazines instead of “fanmags” which had been the
previously accepted term. Knight soon lost interest in the national club
project, and left the subsequent development of the club to Widner,
Chauvenet, and others.
Prominent N3F Members
Forrest J. Ackerman [1916- ] - Forry Ackerman has been widely recognized
during his life as an SF/F/H fan, and received the Hugo Award in 1952 as the
Number One Fan Personality. His philanthropic contributions to SF fandom
are legendary. He is also credited with creating many of the fan terms (Fan
Speak) currently in use. At one time he had one of the world’s most
complete SF collections (and was known as a completist collector), which he
housed in the Ackermansion and several garages. Recipient of many fan
awards, in 2002 he received a World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. He
is a member of First Fandom, and at the time of this writing (2005) is the
only person in the N3F who holds lifetime member status.
Martha Beck [1929-2002] - Martha E. Manos Beck was a longtime Indiana
science fiction fan who collected SF beginning in 1949. She was also an
artist and a musician. She married Henry Cabot Beck, Sr. in 1949, and they
had two children. Henry and Martha settled in Gary, Indiana and became
associated with members of Chicago fandom. They retired to Payson, Arizona
in 1992. Very popular, Martha was Fan Guest of Honor at several
conventions, a member of N3F and First Fandom, among other groups, and was
the Official Hostess at the 1962 ChiCon (for the N3F).
Redd Boggs [1921-1996] - Boggs was a BNF of the 1940s and 1950s who is
credited with raising the levels of fan writing and fanzine production by
his examples in these areas. Dean Walter (Redd) Boggs edited the Fantasy
Annual of 1948. His fanzine Skyhook published both fannish and critical
material, including the early criticism of James Blish. Boggs’ main form of
writing was the personal essay. He was a prominent member of N3F in the
1940s, once contributing 50-some manuscripts to the club’s Manuscript
Bureau. He joined FAPA in 1947, and that became his main outlet for
writing. Boggs’ personal fanzine, Spirochete, lasted for 76 issues. He was
a close friend of Jim Harmon and contributed articles to Harmon’s Radiohero
fanzine). He was married to fellow SF fan Gretchen Schwenn until her death.
Boggs was also a member of First Fandom. His obituary appeared in the
June 1996 issue (No. 425) of Locus.
Joanne Burger [19xx- ] - Once wrote a fanzine review column for TNFF, edited
the zine in the late 1970s, and also published it during the 1970s.
K. Martin Carlson [1904-19xx] - Martin (Kaymar) Carlson was a leader in N3F
for many years, establishing and personally funding the early Kaymar Awards.
He was at various times the club’s president, vice-president,
secretary/treasurer, director, and historian. He published the Kaymar
Trader, and wrote the NFFF Trader column in The Fan. He won the Kaymar
Award, named in his honor, in 1984.
G. M. Carr [1907-2005] - Gertrude M. Carr, a Seattle, Washington SF fan, at
one time was a member of several organizations, including SAPS, FAPA, WAPA,
BSFA, TLMA, TAFF, N’APA, The Nameless Ones, and the N3F. She discovered
fandom in 1949, and during her life edited/published the fanzines The Cry of
the Nameless, Carrzine, and Sinisterra. She sold one SF story (via Forry
Ackerman), but has stated she doesn’t recall when, where, or even if it was
ever published. She lived in Bremerton, Washington until her death in 2005,
and was a member of First Fandom. Her APA activity continued until 2003.
Louis Russell Chauvenet (Russ) [1920-2003] - Charlottesville, Virginia SF
fan who in October 1940 suggested that amateur science fiction publications,
then called fanmags or fanags, be called fanzines. He is also credited with
creating the term prozine. He was one of the founders of N3F, and at one
time in 1944 was – along with Samuel J. (Sam) Russell – the only member of
the club in good standing. When he died in 2003 he was also a member of
First Fandom.
Howard Devore [1925- 2005] - Longtime SF fan who, with Donald Franson, produced
several editions of their book on SF/fantasy awards, the latest (Hugo,
Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards) published by Advent in 1998. He won a
Kaymar Award in 1985. Until 2005 he was the Election Results Teller and
fanzine mailer for N3F, and also a member of First Fandom. He is scheduled
to be the FGoH at the 2006 Worldcon, and was on the ballot for a Neffer
Award in 2005. He was also nominated for the First Fandom Hall of Fame in
2005. “Big-hearted” Howard tried to resign his N3F membership in March of
2005, but some of the club’s members offered to pay his dues if he would
keep his membership. Devore once stated of himself: “Am considered a
huckster, 1st class.”
Walter Dunkelberger [19xx- ] - President of the club in the mid-1940s. He
held other positions in the club also, including editor of The Fan in the
mid-1940s. His photograph appears on page 177 of Warner’s All Our
Yesterdays.
E. E. Evans [1893-1958] - Science fiction writer Edward Everett Evans
initially made his reputation as a member of SF fandom, later in life became
a SF writer, and late in life was termed “The Grand Old Man” of the field.
As a fan he helped form the N3F, and to put on the first Westercon. For
years he was active in the FAPA and the LASFS. He published/ edited the
fanzine The Time-Binder in the 1940s, and several one-shot fannish
publications such as What is S-F Fandom (1944) for N3F. A compilation of
his fantasy tales, Food for Demons, was published by Fantasy House as
chapbook #2 in Ken Kreuger’s Fantasy Reader series in 1975 -- with brief
encomiums by ay some of Evans’ friends and colleagues including Ray
Bradbury, A. E. van Vogt, and E. E. Smith (this oblong chapbook was
originally published in Mexico in Spanish as Los Cuentos Fantastica in
1971). The Big Heart Award, founded by Forrest J. Ackerman to honor
outstanding service and generosity to the SF field and for “typifying the
spirit of SF writer Evans” is named in his honor.
Donald Franson [1916-2002] - Longtime SF fan who wrote (with Howard
DeVore) several editions of their A History of the Hugo, Nebula and
International Fantasy Awards, the latest edition with a slightly different
title (Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards) in 1998 and published by
Advent. Franson also wrote A Key to the Terminology of Science Fiction
Fandom (1962) and Some Facts About Science Fiction Fandom (19xx). Donald
Lewis Franson was active in the N3F and LASFS for years. He was also a
member of the Professor Challenger Society and the Interplanetary
Exploration Society. At one time or another, he was an N3F directorate
member, president, club historian, and editor of a fanzine that he sent to
N3F members, The Trash Barrel. He was co-coordinator of the club’s New
Fanzine Appreciation Society in the late 1970s. In both 1995 and 1998 he
won N3F’s President’s Award (later renamed The Franson Award in his honor),
and in 1966 he received the club’s Kaymar Award. In his honor the September
2002 issue of The Fan was a “Don Franson Memorial Issue.”
David H. Keller, M.D. (19xx-19xx) was a physician and psychiatrist, and a
former life member, whose book, The Sign of the Burning Heart, was published
by N3F in 1948)
Damon Knight [1922-2002] - After high school Knight, an aspiring artist, was
educated at the Oregon WPA Art Center (1940-1941). He was married twice
before he married author Kate Wilhelm in 1963. Knight was a free-lance
writer and illustrator, editor, and critic for almost all of his life, and
was the founding president of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the
founding editor of the Science Fiction Writers of America Bulletin (serving
from July 1965 until June 1967). With James Blish and Judith Merril he also
founded the Milford Science Fiction Writers’ Conference in 1956 (and, for
over twenty years, directed the Conferences), and he later participated in
founding the Clarion SF Writers’ Workshop (1968). He began his editing
career in 1943 with Popular Publication, worked for a while for a literary
agency, then returned to Popular Publications and assisted Ejler Jakobsson
at Super Science Stories. He left in 1950 to become editor of Worlds
Beyond, which was cancelled after only three issues. Knight wrote for
television, including Captain Video and His Video Rangers [in 1952], and
returned to editing in 1958 [on the SF magazine If: Worlds of Science
Fiction ], leaving in 1959.
Knight has also published under the pseudonyms
Donald Laverty (with James Blish), Ritter Conway, and Stuart Fleming. First
SF publication: “Resilience” in Stirring Science Stories (February, 1941);
First novel: Hell’s Pavement (Lion, 1955) [later titled Analogue Men]; First
collection: Far Out (Simon & Schuster, 1961). Awards in SF genre: Hugo
(Critic), 1956; Pilgrim, 1975; Jupiter (Short Story) for “I See You” in
1977; GoH, World SF Convention, 1980 (Noreascon Two); SFWA Grand Master,
1994; Retro Hugo (Short Story) for “To Serve Man” in 2001 (story originally
published in 1950); other awards, including posthumous induction into the
Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2003 and having the SWFA Grand
Master Award named after him. In 1977 Knight wrote The Futurians, a
tell-all book about his early days in New York with the SF club that had as
its members many subsequent SF greats. Knight was known at the time of his
death primarily as a critic, translator, and editor of anthologies. Some of
his anthologies were among the best ever produced, and included the Orbit
series of original anthologies (beginning 1966) [credited with establishing
the orginal publication of short SF in books rather than magazines], the
Nebula Award series (beginning 1965), A Century of Science Fiction (1962),
First Flight (1963), A Century of Great Short Science Fiction Novels
(1964), 13 French Science-Fiction Stories (1965), One Hundred Years of
Science Fiction (1968), The Golden Road (1974), and The Clarion Awards
(1984). His In Search of Wonder (1956; rev. ed., 1967), an award-winning
collection of essays/book reviews, is a critical yet constructive study of
the field. Other related non-fiction works include Charles Fort, Prophet of
the Unexplained (1970) and Creating Short Fiction (1981/revised edition in
1997). Knight also edited Turning Points: Essays on the Art of Science
Fiction (1977). Early novels were The People Maker (1959) [later titled A
For Anything], Masters of Evolution (1959), Beyond the Barrier (1964), The
Rithian Terror (1965), and Mind Switch (1965) [later titled The Other Foot].
The Best of Damon Knight, with an introduction by Barry Malzberg, appeared
in 1976. The November 1976 issue of F&SF (#306) was a special Damon Knight
issue, with a bibliography of Knight’s work up to that time by Vincent
Miranda and an appreciation by Theodore Sturgeon. NESFA published Better
Than One (1980), a book of stories and poems with wife Kate Wilhelm,
honoring their appearance as guests of honor at the 1980 Worldcon, and Late
Knight Edition (NESFA Press, 1985), a book honoring his GoH appearance at
Boskone 22. Other Knight books were the novels CV (1985), a sequel, The
Observers (1989), A Reasonable World (1991), and Why Do Birds? (1992); and
the short story collection One Side Laughing (1991). A more recent novel by
Knight is Humpty Dumpty: An Oval (1996). A new edition of Nebula Awards
One, edited by Knight and originally published in 1966, appeared in 2001
[dust jacket art by Frank R. Paul]. A small chapbook, Faking Out the
Reader, was published in 1991 by Pulphouse; and his final book, Will the
Real Hieronyumus Bosche Please Stand Up?, is available on the Internet.
Knight is credited with founding both the N3F and the SFWA.
Jacqueling Lichtenberg [1942- ] - Current member of N3F, now residing in
Chandler, Arizona. She won the N3F President’s Award (Franson Award) and
the Kaymar Award, both in 2001. She has published several works of SF,
beginning with “Operation High Time” for Worlds of If in 1969. Many of her
stories, including several of her novels, deal with cross-species
relationships. Her most popular novels are in her “Sime/Gen” and “Molt
Brothers” sequences.
Russ Manning [1929- 1982] - Manning joined the N3F in the Fall of 1947, and
contributed fan art to The National Fantasy Fan. He worked as a comic book
artist for the Dell-Western comic books of the 1950s-1960s, including
Magnus, Robot Fighter. He is known today for his Tarzan work. He took over
the Tarzan comic book in the mid-1960s, returning the character to the look
and feel of an earlier day. ERB, Inc. was so impressed with his work on the
comic book that they gave him the daily Tarzan nrespaper strip in 1967 and
the Sunday page the following year. He gave up the daily strip in 1973 and
the Sunday strip a few years later. He also drew a series of Tarzan graphic
novels for the European market. In the late 1970s he was chosen to draw the
Star Wars comic strip, but ill health forced him to give up the new feature
after working on it for only a relatively short time.
Sam Moskowitz [1920-1997] - The science fiction genre’s unofficial
chronicler and historian, Samuel Moskowitz was a fan of the genre almost his
entire life. He wrote/edited many books in the field, including The
Immortal Storm, a history of early SF fandom. From 1953 to 1955 he taught
the first college-level course in science fiction at CCNY. He was married
in 1958 to Dr. Christine Haycock, a surgeon. He was a member of First
Fandom, and First Fandom presents the Sam Moskowitz Achievement Award,
named after himwitz, at each year’s Worldcon. After his death,
appreciations for Moskowitz were published in the June 1997 issue (#437) of
Locus. His wife is still a member of N3F.
Bruce Pelz [19xx-200x] - Once was club Activity Head for fanzines.
Arthur R. Rapp [1924-2005] - Art Rapp was a prominent SF fan in the
1940s-1950s, at one time belonging to N3F, FAPA, SAPS, YF, and MSFS. He
edited/published several one-shots/fanzines such as Spacewarp (that later
merged with Ray Nelson’s Universe), Mindwarp, and The Michifan. Rapp
married Nancy Share, a prominent female fan, in 1961, and they moved to
Bloomburg, PA. The 100th issue of Spacewarp appeared in 1972, and the last
issue (#204) in the late 1990s. Until his death in 2005 Rapp was a member
of First Fandom and resided in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
E. E. (Doc) Smith - (life member)
Jack Speer [1920- ] - Long-time SF fan who is credited with writing the
first history of SF fandom, Up To Now: A History of Science Fiction Fandom
in the 1930s (1939). This brief early history of fandom was reprinted by
Acturus Press (Brooklyn, NY) in 1994. During his early prankster days in
fandom, Speer was also known as John Bristol. A fandom innovator, he is
also credited with being the father of the fanzine mailing comment. John
Bristol Speer is a retired lawyer who has resided in Albuquerque, New Mexico
since 1962; he was a state representative during 1959-1961. Speer was
editor of The National Fantasy Fan in the mid-1940s. A current member of
First Fandom, he was inducted into the First Fandom Hall of Fame in 1995.
He was FGoH at the 2004 Worldcon.
Rick Sneary [1927- 200x] - Richard (Rick) Sneary was an early SF fan who was
physically handicapped, but nevertheless able to contribute much to fandom.
At one time he belonged to a number of SF/fantasy organizations including
N3F, SFI, ISFCC, FAPA, SAPS, and OS, holding office in most of them
(president of N3F in the early 1950s). He also helped to start Young Fandom
and The Outlanders. He was famous in fandom for his quote: “It is a proud
and lonely thing to be a fan.” During 1948 Sneary was Chairman of N3F’s
Board of Directors. His picture appears in Warner’s A Wealth of Fable.
Janine Stinson [19xx- ] - First winner of a Neffy Award as outstanding fan
of the year (2005). Florida resident Stinson is a former editor of both
Tightbeam and The National Fantasy Fan (early 2000s), and she has won both
the club’s President’s (Franson) Award in 2003 and Kaymar Award in 2000.
Dale Tarr [19xx-19xx] - Former president of N3F and one of the founders of
the Cincinnati Fantasy Group who attended Chicon I in 1940, and was active
in fanzines of the 1940s. His fanzines included The Science Fiction World
in the 1940s, and he wrote “CFG History” in 1957. He was also one of the
co-founders of First Fandom in 1958. Tarr’s hobbies included mathematics
and politics. His photograph (with a group of others) appears in Harry
Warner’s All Our Yesterdays. He was interviewed by Lloyd Biggle, Jr., for
SFOHA; the interview took place in Bea Mahaffey's apartment, Cincinnati,
4/11/80. [Technical: The interview was made with a small recorder using its
built in microphone. Tarr's voice booms occasionally as he moves closer to
the mike. Occasional background noise distracts briefly. Tape noises are
insignificant. This is a rather rambling discussion but clear throughout,
and excepts might be useful for public playing where the subject is apt.
Contents: Dale Tarr is a long-time Cincinnati fan, and he has been active
in fandom since the 1930s. There are detailed discussions of early fan
meetings and world conventions, as well as the origins of First Fandom and
of Ohio fan groups and conventions. There is mention of well-known fans as
well as writers Cyril Kornbluth, Charles Tanner, Nelson Bond, and E.E. "Doc"
Smith in connection with their attendance at conventions or fan activities.
There is detailed discussion of writer Ross Rocklynne, who for a time
resided in Cincinnati. Note: Side A ends abruptly. Tarr had almost
reached the end of what he wanted to say, and it was decided not to continue
on Side B.]
Wilson Tucker [1914 - ] - Arthur Wilson (Bob) Tucker was an early SF fan,
and stayed active in fandom for many years, publishing his own fanzines:
The Planetoid, 1932; The Bloomington News Letter/Science Fiction Newsletter,
D’Journal, and Le Zombie, 1938-1975 [the latter still available in 2005 on
the Internet as e-Zombie]; Fantasy and Weird Fiction, 1938-1939; Yearbook of
Science, Fanewscard, Fanzine Yearbook, 1941-1948. In 1966 he published his
Neo-Fan’s Guide to SF Fandom. He was president of the National Fantasy Fan
Federation in 1942-1943, and founded the fabled SPWSSTFM. Never a full-time
writer, Tucker worked as a motion picture projectionist, electrician,
reporter, and editor while writing SF and mysteries part-time. Known in
fandom as Bob Tucker, his other pseudonyms were Hoy Ping Pong and Sanford
Vaid. During 1955-1957 he and Robert Bloch, a close friend, edited six
issues of the Gnome Press newsletter. First SF publication: “Interstellar
Way-Station” in Super Science Novels Magazine (May, 1941); First SF book:
Prison Planet (Pegasus, Summer 1947) [15 cent paperback booklet published as
Space Trails, The Magazine of the Future]; First SF novel: The City in the
Sea (Rinehart, 1951/DJ by Richard Powers); First collection: The Science
Fiction Sub-Treasury (Rinehart, 1954) [reissued in wrappers as Time: X].
Awards in SF genre: Hugo (Best Fan Writer), 1970; The Bob Bloch Black Block
Award, 1970; John W. Campbell, Jr. Memorial Award (Special) for The Year of
the Quiet Sun, 1976; Skylark Award, 1986; FGoH, World SF Convention, 1967;
Toastmaster, World SF Convention, 1976; First Fandom Hall of Fame, 1985; E.
E. Smith Memorial Award, 1986; SFWA Author Emeritus, 1996; Science Fiction &
Fantasy Hall of Fame Inductee, 2003; other awards, including being
commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in 1993 and a Retro Hugo in 2004 for Best
Fan Writer of 1954. Tucker’s other SF/fantasy books include The Lincoln
Hunters (1958), The Long Loud Silence (1952) [SFBC edition had DJ art by
Richard Powers], The Time Masters (1953), Wild Talent (1954), Time Bomb
(1955), To the Tombaugh Station (1960) [Ace Double Novel bound with Poul
Anderson’s Earthman, Go Home!], The Warlock (1967), This Witch (1971) [a
suspense novel featuring a woman who can see into the future], Ice and Iron
(1974), Resurrection Days (1981), and The Best of Wilson Tucker (1982).
Three in Time was published by White Wolf in 1997, containing Tucker’s The
Year of the Quiet Sun (as well as Chad Oliver’s The Winds of Time and Poul
Anderson’s There Will Be Time). Several of his mystery novels also had SF
elements. In his first mystery, the recursive novel The Chinese Doll
(Rinehart, 1946), Tucker mentioned not only fandom and fanzines, but also
began his practice of naming his fictional characters after living SF
personalities (“Tuckerisms”). He was profiled in the August 1954 issue of
New Worlds, and interviewed in Speaking of Science Fiction: The Paul Walker
Interviews (1978). The Really Incompleat Bob Tucker, a one-shot fanzine
containing some of his fanzine writings from the years 1942 through 1971
(with an introduction by Robert Bloch) was published in 1974 to help raise
money to send Tucker to the 1975 Worldcon in Australia. In 1991 his work
was featured in consecutive issues of BAE (#’s 17 & 18). Tucker was
interviewed in issue #7 of Lan’s Lantern (1977), and issue #46 of the
fanzine (November 1997) was “A Bob Tucker Special,” with the entire contents
devoted to Tucker’s life and work. In 2001 members of The Dawn Patrol held
a “Tucker Tribute” in honor of Tucker and his wife Fern. The February 2004
issue of the fanzine SF Commentary 79 was a tribute to Tucker’s seven
decades as a fan and pro.
Susan VanSchuyver [19xx- ] - A longtime member of N3F, Susan has been club
Directorate Chair, President, and Bureau Head for Birthdays, Teaching SF,
and Round Robins. She was a recipient of the club’s Kaymar Award in 1998.
Professionally, she is an academic administrator at a community college.
Susan reported in 2005 that, in addition to being a SF fan and reader, she
also likes poetry and cats.
Keith Walker [19xx- ] - British fan who was a member of N3F in the 19xxs.
He edited/published several fanzines in England, and compiled The Fanzindex,
an index to all fanzines published in England prior to the last quarter of
1974.
Harry Warner, Jr. [1922-2003] - Warner was a well-known Maryland SF fan,
known in fannish circles as “The Hermit of Hagerstown.” He began reading SF
prozines in the mid-1930s, and published his first LOC in ASF in 1936. He
started publishing fanzines in late in 1936. His first zine was Spaceways,
which lasted four years. Then he published Horizons for many years,
beginning in 1939. He was an indefatigable letter-writter, and also Warner
wrote two books about fandom, All Our Yesterdays (1969) and A Wealth of
Fable (1976) [expanded version won the Hugo Award for Best Nonfiction Book
in 1993]. Warner has won several fannish awards, including the E. E. Evans
Memorial Award in 1969. He was a member of First Fandom, and was inducted
into the First Fandom Hall of Fame in 1995. A member of N3F, he was on the
Board of Directors in the 1940s and won a Kaymar Award in 1978. He also won
two Hugos for his fan writing, two FAAN awards for his LoCs, and the E. E.
Evans Memorial Award in 1969. He was a lifelong bachelor. His obituary was
published in the May 2003 Locus.
Art Widner [19xx- ] - Arthur L. Widner, Jr. is credited with organizing
the first SF fan club in Boston (The Stranger Club) in 1940. Arthur L.
Widner is currently (2005) a member of First Fandom. In the early days of
SF fandom, he published the clubzine Fanfare, put on the first
proto-Boskones, and helped the N3F get started. He also invented the first
SF board game, Interplanetary. In 1979 he resurrected his former genzine,
Yhos, as a genzine. He was the winner of the 1991 DUFF for a trip to
Australia and New Zealand and won the Big Heart Award in 1989.
Donald A. Wollheim [1914-1990] was educated at NYU (BA, 1935) and married
Elsie Balter in 1943. They had one daughter, Betsy. Wollhein was an early
SF fan, and one of the founding member of the famous New York Futurians.
While a fan Donald Allen Wollheim produced several fan magazines, including
his most famous one, The Phantagraph (from 1935 to 1946). He wrote under
several pseudonyms, including Arthur Cooke, Verne Gordon, Braxton Wells,
Graham Conway, and Lawrence Woods, but most frequently as David Grinnell and
Martin Pearson. Donald Allen Wollheim is credited with editing the first
book of reprint SF, The Pocket Book of Science Fiction (1943), and the first
collection of SF novels, Portable Novels of Science (Viking, 1945). Awards
in SF genre: Hugo (Publisher), 1964; Worldcon Special Convention Award (for
“the fan who has done everything”), 1975; First Fandom Hall of Fame, 1975;
Milford, 1980; World Fantasy Award (Special Award-Professional), 1981,
(Special Convention Award), 1986; Golden Lion, 1983; British Fantasy Award
(Special Award), 1984 [with wife Elsie]; Forry, 1987; GoH, World SF
Convention, 1988 (Nolacon II); other awards, including posthumous induction
in 2002 into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. His editing
career began in 1941 with the low-budget, short-lived SF magazines Cosmic
Stories and Stirring Science Stories. He later was on the editorial staff
of Avon Publishing, and while there edited several titles, including Avon
Fantasy Readers (1947-1952), Avon Science-Fiction Readers (1951-1952), The
Girl With the Hungry Eyes (1949) [original anthology edited anonymously],
and Out Of This World Adventures (1950) [a two-issue pulp magazine with
colored comic book inserts]. He edited other books in the 1940s and 1950s,
including Every Boy’s Book of Science-Fiction, an anthology that included
suggested readings for young readers (Frederick Fell, 1951). After leaving
Avon, he became editor-in-chief of Ace Books, and served as the publisher’s
SF editor for nearly 20 years. In 1967 he was promoted to vice-president.
During this period he is credited with introducing the Ace Doubles format
and discovering many new SF writers, including Philip K. Dick and Ursula K.
Le Guin. In 1971 he left Ace Books and established DAW Books, the first
major publisher specializing exclusively in SF and fantasy. At DAW he
introduced other new writers (including C. J. Cherryh) and edited his “Best
of the Year” anthology series, at that time one of the longest running in
the field. Wollheim’s personal and insightful vision of SF, The Universe
Makers, was published in 1972. Interviews with Wollheim appeared in the
February and May 1980 issues (#34 and #35) of Richard Geis’ Science Fiction
Review and in the June 1985 issue of Robert A. Collins’ Fantasy Review
(#80). The Men from Ariel, a collection of Wollheim’s short fiction (with
DJ art by Michael Whelan), was published by NESFA in 1982 [in conjunction
with Wollheim’s appearance as Professional GoH at Boskone 19]; and Up There
and Other Strange Directions, a Worldcon souvenir short story collection,
was published by NESFA in 1988. Wollheim’s short story, “Mimic,” originally
published in 1942, was the basis for the 1997 film of the same name.
Obituaries appeared in the December 1990 issues of both Locus and the
Science Fiction Chronicle. His daughter now runs DAW Publications.
Selected Criticism of the N3F over the Years
In the January 26, 1943 issue of his fanzine Ray [only 2 issues were
published], Donald A. Wollheim, editor and publisher, argued for the
creation of a new national fan organization to replace the N3F, which he
characterized as under the control of its then president, E. Everett Evans.
Wollheim, who was a member of N3F, termed Evans a “dictator.”
Lin Carter ended his June 1967 article, “The N3F and Others,” in Worlds of
If on the N3F and other fan clubs with the advice that anyone who joined N3F
should only stay in the club for a year or so. Why? Because after the
first rush of materials, letters, etc., the club has little to offer.
In the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by Clute & Nicholls, they state:
“The National Fantasy Fan Federation, formed in the USA 1941, the
brain-child of Damon Knight. After a succession of short-lived and
factional US fan associations in the 1930s, the N3F proved a stable and
enduring national organization. However, despite its long existence, it has
maintained only a very low level of membership and activity and has
contributed little to sf or fandom. It continues to publish The National
Fantasy Fan, a newsletter which first appeared under the title Bonfire in
1941.” [signed PR/Peter Roberts, obviously not a current or former N3F
member, or one who knows much about the club]
The August 1961 issue of TNFF had a brief article entitled “NFFF, What’s
Wrong?” that included a history of past troubles that N3F has conquered.
Entry in rich brown’s online dictionary, though written by me and Ruth
Davidson, contains some of brown’s minor criticism of the club.
A Hoax Involving the N3F
At the Pacificon (1946/originally intended to be held in 1942) a table in
the Hucksters’ Room someone set up a table dedicated to anti-NFFF
propaganda. On the table were mimeographed copies of the club’s
constitution, overprinted with swastikas. Apparently President Dunkelberger
received a fake telegram, while at the con, alleging the dissolution of the
NFFF. [See page 260 of Warner’s All Our Yesterdays for story of hoax.]
Index of N3F Publications
Over the years N3F has been involved in many publications, some entirely
published by the N3F and others “sponsored” in some way by the N3F. These
publications included at least one hardcover book (David H. Keller’s 1948
“utopian fantasy” [four loosely connected tales in the style of James Branch
Cabell] The Sign of the Burning Hart: A Tale of Arcadia). Other club
publications over the years have included:
1) Bonfire [fanzine that preceded The National Fantasy Fan for 4-5
years/began in 1941] Name conceived by the first president, Louis Russell
Chauvenet (who was totally deaf), came from the phrase “Bulletin of the
National Fan Federation.”
2) Name of club zine changed to The National Fantasy Fan (abbreviated as
TNFF) after the December 1944 issue.
3) Tightbeam (currently LoCs, formerly fan fiction)
4) Ghu’s Lexicon (on order)
5) Hannes Bok Sketchbook Folio (date?) & Hannes Bok Illustration Index
(1970)/see #15 [Bok was pseudonym of SF fan/artist Wayne Woodard] N3F
member will send me a copy of this.
6) NFFF Rosters, Yearbooks, pamphlets, etc.
7) What is Science Fiction Fandom? [with contributions from Al Ashley,
Donald Wollheim, Harry Warner, Jr., Bob Tucker, Forrest J Ackerman, and
Milton A. Rothman]
8) An Index of the Works of Various Fantasy Authors (1947-1948) by Darrell
C. Richardson (compiler). Distributed to N3F members/an index to Strange
Tales was included.
9) An Index of Various Fantasy Publications, 1947-1948, compiled by Darrell
C. Richardson, no pagination, distributed to members of N3F (supported by
N3F?).
10) Geep! The Book of the National Fantasy Fan Federation by Rose Secrest
(1987)
11) A series of NFFF “Fandbooks” which included Donald Franson’s “A Key to
the Terminology of Science- Fiction Fandom” (Fandbook No. 1), “The Amateur
Press Associations in S-F Fandom” (Fandbook No. 2) by Robert Lichtman, and “Some Historical
Facts About S-F Fandom” by Donald Franson (Fandbook No. 3) [all published
around 1962]. No. 3 is divided into sections on International Fantasy
Awards, Hugo Awards, TAFF Elections/Crossings, Worldcons, Westercons, ESFA
Open Meetings, Lunacons, Officers of N3F, Important Fan Awards.
12) Postways (6 issues), a fanzine edited by Bob Johnson and Later by Doug
Fisher, was sponsored or published by the N3F? L. W. Currey had a set for
sale at $15.00.
13) The National Fantasy Fan Comic Section (Ray C. Higgs/late 1948 one-shot)
14) In February of 1986, an early N3F Cookbook was titled Neffer a Bad Batch, and in 2005 a new
cookbook was planned and published by president Ruth R. Davidson and other
members, and is to be called Neffer Again a Bad Batch, Still Neffer a Bad
Batch, or Neffer a Bad Batch II (or perhaps Neffer an Unhealthy Batch). The
original cookbook had the same printed format as The Fan and Tightbeam and
ran twenty pages (covers included) and consisted of six legal-size sheets.
It was divided into three categories: "Punch . . .", ". . . & Cookies", and
". . . & Cakes & Stuff". Lola Andrew, the club’s secretary at the time.
The four pages in the middle of the publication consisted of a description
of N3F and an application blank, and the pages were not numbered. Ruthie
has sent me a copy. Here it is, now available in .PDF.
Neffer A Bad Batch
[Publication of the second cookbook was delayed to 2006.]
15) The National Fantasy Fan Federation Presents A Portfolio of
Illustrations by Virgil Finlay - First Series - Reprint Edition Copyright
1946 for the N.F.F.F. Reproduced from Famous Fantastic Mysteries Magazine".
Contents include 6 Vintage Finlay Prints, unbound (suitable for framing).
16) The N3F Roster of Membership (Janie Lamb & Donald Franson), date?
17) Brooks, Ned & Don Martin. Hannes Bok Illustration Index, 1970. [An
index of the published artwork of Bok/ published for N3F/Third revised
edition, 1994]
18) Franson, Donald. Science Fiction Title Changes, 1966. [N3F?/covered
SF books published under 2 or more titles/printed by offset/originally
published by the N3F, compiled in 1965 by Michael Viggiano & Donald
Franson/47 pages, offset/$1.00]
19) Collector’s Bulletin (published in the mid-1960s by the N3F’s
Collector’s Bureau/edited by Ned Brooks and published by Phillip Harrell)
20) Geep! (collection of fannish writing printed by Harlo Press, Detroit,
MI). Included fiction, poetry, articles/contributors included Rose Secrest,
the editor; Jack Robbins, George Phillies, Ron A. Nyren, Stacey Potts, etc.)
21) The club had Manuscript Bureau in the 1940s-1950s, and Redd Boggs
contributed some 50 items to it. [Need more on this bureau]
22) Yesterday and Today (1974 club publication, published by Joanne Burger,
edited by Sheryl Birkhead, with contributions from Stan Woolston, Harry
Warner, Jr., Frank Balazs, Donn Brazier, Don D’Ammassa, and Reed Andrus)
23) The N3F Collector (at least 3 issues produced in the mid-1970s/issue #3
contained the 1st part of an index to Unknown/Unknown Worlds/editor was Eric
Jamborsky/sub was $1.00 for 4 issues)
24) Freebie ’78 (Special Publication) was handed out at the WorldCon in
1978.
25) Fancyclopedia (N3F is given credit by rich brown for the 1st edition of
this publication)
26) N.F.F.F. History by Eva Firestone was available in 1961, covering the
club up to January 1946 (Vol. 5, No. 1).
27) Neffers Guide to Fanzines by Donald Franson (a separate pub or a column
in The Fan?) At one time there were several different regular columns in
each issue of The Fan (e.g., Fanzine Review Column, “Hodge-Podge” column by
Alma Hill covering recent SF news, “FIJAGDH” by Johnny Lee (?), Writer of
the Month, etc.)
28) What is SF Fandom? (Martin Carlson?)
29) United or Fie (Carlson?) [Carlson was selling these two booklets, both
of which were advertised in The National Fantasy Fan in the late 1970s]
30) WELCOME FAN was a publication distributed to all new members of the N3F in
the late 1950s and early 1960s. It contained articles about the N3F by
Donald A. Wollheim, Art Widner, Ralph Holland, Milton A. Rothman, and Al
Ashley.
N3F has also sponsored various fan, semi-professional, and professional
publications, such as Postwarp, devoted to letters -- and edited in
succession by Rapp, Bob Johnson, Doug Fisher, and Higgs -- and the Philcon
Memory Book [1947?]; and reprinted others. In 1944 N3F, in collaboration
with the fanzine Le Zombie (edited by Bob Tucker), published the 1944
Fanzine Yearbook, “a catalog of amateur magazines published by the fantasy
fan journalists” and in 1950 N3F and The Fantasy Foundation co-sponsored a
Fan Directory, edited by Leonard Moffatt. At least one publication, A
Spacewoman Speaks, was written by an N3F president (under the pseudonym of
Rolf Telano/real name Ralph Merridette Holland, described on the Internet as
a paranormal enthusiast). Understanding Publishing was publisher of A
Spacewoman Speaks in 1960.
WELCOM PRESENTS SCIETI-FANT&WEIRD MAG INDEX, Compiled and originated by
John Nitka, Noted New York City Fan and Collector. Edited Originally by
Julius Unger, Brooklyn Magazine Dealer and Publisher. Originally Published
by Joseph Kennedy, Dover, N. J., Fan, and Fan Publisher. Sam Moskowitz
Contributed Assistance... [caption title]. Nitka, John. Book Description:
N.p.: Reprinted by "Welcom" Service-NFFF; Gordon M. Kull-"Welcom" Publisher,
n.d. [circa 1948]. Large octavo, pp. [1-5] [6: blank] (unpaginated),
mimeographed from typewritten copy on three sheets of legal-size paper
stock, stapled. Checklist of thirty-six science fiction and fantasy
magazines recording issues published through 1947 and, in a few cases, the
first few months of 1948. Details regarding the apparent earlier publication
of this checklist by Joseph Kennedy are not known to us at present. Not in
Pavlat and Evans, Fanzine Index (1965).
Brief Bios of Some Former N3F Members Who Made Significant Contributions to
Science Fiction/SF Fandom
Forrest J. Ackerman, Redd Boggs, Jack L. Chalker, Roy Tackett, Wilson
(“Bob”) Tucker, Donald Franson, G. M. Carr, Buck Coulson, Russ Manning, Norm
Metcalf, Ed Wood, Will Sykora, Rick Sneary, Susan Johnson, Lynn Hoffman (?),
Kemp, Bjo Trimble, Bruce Pelz, Janine Stinson, Art Widner, Louis Russell
Chauvenet, Damon Knight, Donald A. Wollheim, etc.
The 1948 Fantasy Annual
Edited by Redd Boggs and published by F. J. Ackerman, this 12-page
publication contained a description of N3F’s activities during 1948 by Rick
Sneary, Chairman of N3F’s Board of Directors. The description included the
club’s various projects that were completed during the year, its new
officers, new constitution, etc.
One fan ashamed of his membership in N3F
Ralph Merridette Holland was born in Youngstown on August 29, 1899, and
lived there until his family moved to Akron in 1914. He received an
engineering degree, worked “in the plant” at the Akron Beacon Journal, and
later worked for B. G. Goodrich. He spent the last 40 years of his life in
Cuyahoga Falls, and had been employed by Vaughn Machnery Company there. He
published his own fanzine, The Science-Fiction Review, and had written a
book featuring a fantasy character called Ghu. He adopted the alter ego of
Rolf Telano because he was interested in paranormal phenomenon and knew his
interest in SF would cast doubt on anything he presented as fact in the
paranormal field. As Rolf Telano he wrote A Spacewoman Speak. At one time
Holland was president of N3F.
The N3F Amateur Short Story Contest is mentioned, with winners listed from
1990-1992, in Reginald’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards, Third Edition,
1993.
The N3F in 2005
The N3F today is a vital SF club with enthusiastic members and a
hard-working president and Directorate.
Currently the club publishes a quarterly fanzine, The National Fantasy Fan,
and an updated/revised Handbook for new members (in 2004, updated again in 2005 and in 2006).
The Handbook has been published in a variety of different formats over the years.
Temple University currently has many copies of N3F publications, dated from
1994-2004, including several membership rosters by Janie Lamb & Donald
Franson.
A brief history of the club was added to Rich Brown’s internet dictionary of
fannish terms late in 2005 by Jon D. Swartz and Ruth R. Davidson.
Presidents of N3F
1941- 1942: L. R. Chauvenet
1943- 1945: E. Everett Evans
1943- 1944: Al Ashley (acting)
1945 : Bob Tucker (acting)
1946: Walter Dunkelberger
1947: Arthur L. Widner
1948-1949: Dale Tarr
1950-1951: Rick Sneary
1952: K. Martin Carlson
1953: William Venable
1954-1955: Donald Susan
1955: Walter A. Coslet
1956-1957: Stan Woolston
1958-1962: Ralph M. Holland
1962: Arthur H. Rapp
1963: Donald Franson
1964:
1960s: Ralph Merridette Holland, Donald Franson (1964, 1968)
1969: Stan Woolston
1976: John Robinson
1970s: Stan Woolston (1974), Irvin Koch (1979?)
1980s:
1990:
1991: William Center
1992: William Center
1993: David Heath (resigned), Catherine Mintz (elected by Directorate)
1994: Catherine Mintz
1995: Michele Nowak Center
1996: Michele Nowak Center
1997: Lyne Masamitsu (resigned), Susan VanSchuyver (elected by Directorate)
1998: Susan VanSchuyver
1999: Susan VanSchuyver
2000: Jennifer Mackay
2001: Susan VanSchuyver
2002: Susan VanSchuyver
2003: Ruth R. Davidson
2004: Ruth R. Davidson
2005: Ruth R. Davidson
2006: Chris Garcia
Vice-Presidents (office discontinued in 1949)
1941-1942: Robert Studley
1943-1945: Bob Tucker
1946, 1949: K. Martin Carlson
1947: Walter A. Coslet
1948: Henry Georgi
Editors of Bonfire, The National Fantasy Fan, and Tightbeam
Bonfire (1st issue in mid-1941)
1941 - Art Widner
1942 -
1943 -
1944 -
The National Fantasy Fan
1945 - E. E. Evans & Jack Speer
1946-1947 - Charles Tanner, Walter Dunkelberger, & Milton A. Rothman
1947-1949 - Ray C. Higgs
1950-1952 - Arthur H. Rapp, Stuart S. Hoffman, & Ray C. Higgs
1953-1960 - ?
1961 – Ralph Holland
1962-1964? - Robert Osman
1964 - Janie Lamb, Wally Weber
1965-1967 - ?
1968 - Don Miller
Early 1970s - Joanne Burger, Sheryl Birkhead (in mid-1970s)
Late 1970s – Joanne Burger (1975-1978)
1980s - ?
1991 –1992 – Tom Gatewood
Early 2000s - Janine Stinson, Ruth Davidson, Bob Sabella (ck this for exact
dates)
2001 - The May 17, 2001 issue of the club fanzine merged TNFF and Tightbeam
into The National Fantasy Fan (Janine G. Stinson, editor), and was dated
Volume 1, No. 1.
2003 - Janine Stinson, Laura Hazelwood
2004 - Ruth R. Davidson, Bob Sabella
2005 - Bob Sabella, Ruth R. Davidson, Jeffrey Redmond, Chris Garcia
2006 – Sabella, Davidson, Redmond, Garcia
Tightbeam
1964 – Stan Woolston, Norman C. Metcalf (C.L. Riddle, stand-by editor)
1976-1992 -- Lynne Holdom
(1977 – John Robinson (publisher/also editor for some issues in the late
1970s?)
1993 – Catherine Mintz
1998-2001 – Janine Stinson
Tape Bureau Newsletter
Anne F. Ashe, editor, 1960s. According to at least one source, the N3F’s
Tape Bureau stockpiled readings from various SF cons at which authors gave
permission for duplication. One batch from 1968 is in circulation,
featuring van Vogt reading his story “The Enchanted Village” (from the July
1950 issue of Other Worlds). Another reading is by Theodore Sturgeon and
Harlan Ellison, but is described as “X-Rated.”
Recipients of The Franson Award (The President’s Award/Honors List)
1991: Ralph Calabrese, Lyne Masamitsu, and Pamela Williams
1992: None given
1993: Craig Boyd, Lyne Masamitse, and Susan Zuege
1994: William Center, Diane Miller, Amy Sisson, and Michele Nowak Center
1995: Craig Boyd, Jennifer Mackay, Susan VanSchuyver, and Don Franson
1996: Jeannette Marsala, Stephanie Anderson, Joy Beeson, and Dennis Davis
1997: Jeannette Marsala, Laura Hazelwood, and William Center
1998: Don Franson, Carla Minor (Honorable Mentions: Craig Boyd, Janine
Stinson, Harold Marcum, and Ginny Benson)
1999: Lyne Masamitsu and Harold Marcum
2000: None given
2001: Catherine Mintz, Helen Davis, Laura Hazelwood, and Jacqueline
Lichtenberg
2002: None given
2003: Janine Stinson, Laura Hazelwood, and George Phillies
2004: Jon D. Swartz and David Speakman
2005: Chris Garcia, William Center, and Edmund J. Goodwin
Recipients of The Kaymar Award
(The Kaymar Award is given in April every year, supposedly because the N3F
was organized in the month of April. The selection is made by a committee,
consisting of previous winners who are still in the club, from nominations
submitted by members. The award, unlike other awards in fandom, can be
awarded only once. It is not given for talent or for popularity, but for
work -- work for the benefit of the club and its members. The award is a
memorial to K. Martin Carlson [1904-1986], who originated, maintained, and
financed it for 25 years. Carlson was a long-time N3F member who held many
positions in the club, including club historian. He went by the fan name of
Kaymar.)
1959: Ray C. Higgs
1960: Eva Firestone
1961: Ralph M. Holland
1962: Janie Lamb
1963: Art Hayes
1964: Seth Johnson
1965: Stan Woolston
1966: Donald Franson
1967: Alma Hill
1968: Ann Chamberlin
1969: Donald Miller
1970: Elinor Poland
1971: Gary Labowitz
1972: Ned Brooks
1973: Elaine Wojciechowiski
1974: Joanne Burger
1975: Sheryl Birkhead
1976: Will Morris
1977: Lynne Holdom
1978: Harry Warner, Jr.
1979: Frank Denton
1980: John W. Andrews
1981: Edward W. Ludwig
1982: Owen K. Laurion
1983: Sally A. Syrjala
1984: K. Martin Carlson
1985: Howard DeVore
1986: Lola Ann (Andrew) Center
1987: David Heath, Jr.
1988: Fred Jakobcic
1989: William Center
1990: Catherine Mintz
1991: Tim Gatewood
1992: Marianne Turlington
1993: Sandra Morrese
1994: Lyne-Marie Masamitsu
1995: Michele (Nowak) Center
1996: Craig Boyd
1997: Diane (Miller) Blackwood
1998: Susan VanSchuyver
1999: Jefferson Swycaffer
2000: Janine Stinson
2001: Jacquline Lichtenberg
2002: Dennis Davis
2003: Harold Marcum
2004: Ginny Benson
2005: Joy Beeson
2006:
Ralph Holland Memorial Award
Sponsored by the N3F, presented by the judges at the Fan Art Show of the
World con to the Most Pormising Artist.
Winners: 1962: Juanita Coulson
Current Bureaus/Activities of N3F (other than officers)
Artist's Bureau (Been called Art Bureau and Artist's Work shop in the past but bumped into patented name issues.)
Birthday Cards
Blind Services
Computer Gaming
Convention Coordinator
Correspondence
E-mail Directory
Fan Clubs
Future Fandom
Gaming
Membership Drive
N3F Bookworms
N3F Historian
N’APA
Neffy Awards (David Speakman)
Online Bureau
Round Robins
Short Story Contest
Teaching Science Fiction
The Editorial Cabal
The Mangaverse
Webmistress
Welcommittee & Subcommittees
Renewals & Followup
Writer’s Exchange
Former Activities/Bureaus
New Fanzine Appreciation Society
Collectors Bureau
Comics (now merged with The MANGAVERSE)
Filksinging
Information Bureau
Singles Looking Bureau
Special Publications
New Ideas and Information
Overseas Bureau (John W. Andrews was in charge in the late 1970s, and had
regular reports in TNFF)
Photo Bureau
Recruiting
Science and Technology
Manuscript Bureau
Music Bureau
Tape Bureau
Creative Division
Internal/External Division
Publishing Division
Research/Etc. Division
Special Interest Division
Ye Olde N3F Fan Shoppe (now merged with WebMistress
Youth Bureau (now Future Fandom)
Note: In the late 1970s some of the Bureau/Activity Heads, including
Historian, had official backups.
Neffy Awards
Began in 2005 due to the efforts of David Speakman, results in a variety of
media categories were announced over the Memorial Day weekend at BayCon in
San Jose, CA/Janine Stinson won the first best fan award). Previous the
club had presented awards called Laureates (see below).
Categories:
Note: the first N3F Awards - the 1949 "Laureates" were voted on by a
committee of five [ck this]
Notes/Questions
The following three items are listed in my Fanzine List File/where did I get
them?
National Fantasy Fan (Robert Osman)+ [5 folders]
National Fantasy Fan Federation Story Contest Winners (Los Angeles, CA)+
National Fantasy Fan Tape Bureau Newsletter (Ann F. Ashe)+
National Fantasy Fan Tape Bureau (What is this? Does it still exist?)
Robert Franson wrote (May 6, 2005) saying he still hasn’t sorted through Don
Franson’s papers – but that he wants Don’s contributions to N3F included in
my history. Ruthie later prodded him to send me the material, but still no
response.
The University of Iowa, Iowa City, recently acquired the fanzine collection
of Martin (Mike) Horvat of Stayton, Oregon, a longtime SF fan. The Horvat
Collection includes “a vast archive of zines – such as NAPA, the
long-running zine of the National Fantasy Fan Federation.”
GHU'S CHILDREN, a 1958 chapbook of fannish terms and words, published by the
N3F, compiled by Ralph M. Holland.
A 1962 chapbook by Bob Lichtman, published for the National Fantasy Fan
Federation -- THE AMATEUR PRESS ASSOCIATIONS IN SCIENCE FICTION FANDOM. The
publication is exactly what the title says: a study and survey of the
importance and influence of apas in and on fandom.
Neffervescent (Nos. 3/5 – Sept. 62/Dec. 64) [Is this an N3F publication? If
so, where does it go?]
Selected References
Clute, John & Peter Nicholls. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. London:
Orbit, 1993.
Carter, Lin. “The N3F and Others.” Worlds of If, June 1967, pages 78-82.
Eney, Richard. Fancyclopedia II, in preparation.
Gunn, James (ed.) The New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York:
Viking, 1988.
Knight, Damon. "Unite -- or Die!" in Art Widner's Fanfare, 1940.
Mallett, Daryl F. & Robert Reginald. Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards,
Third Edition. San Bernardino, CA: The Borgo Press, 1993.
Pavlat, Bob & Bill Evans. Fanzine Index, Hyattsville, MD: Authors,
1952-1959.
Sanders, Joe (ed.). Science Fiction Fandom. Westport, Connecticut:
Greenwood Press, 1994.
Tuck, Donald. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 3.
Chicago: Advent Publishers, Inc., 1982. [stated that the N3F is “the most
important of the loosely-knit world-wide fan organizations. Based in the
U.S.A., it has been going since about April 1941. It publishes news sheets,
amateur magazines,, etc., and at times various information booklets for
members. The NFFF (often called the N3F) is primarily for young and new
fans and helps ease their entry into the more esoteric reaches of fandom.]
Warner, Harry, Jr. All Our Yesterdays. Chicago: Advent, 1969. N3F is
discussed at length in Chapter 8 (“Ah! Sweet Idiocy!”)
Warner, Harry, Jr. A Wealth of Fable. Van Nuys, CA: SCIFI Press, 1992.
BRIEF GLOSSARY
Amazing Stories -- The first all-science fiction magazine (beginning April,
1926), considered by most critics to be the most important SF magazine to be
published in that it gave the genre a home and a name. Originally (and most
recently) titled Amazing Stories, the magazine has carried the titles of
Amazing Science Fiction, Amazing Science Fiction Stories, and
Amazing/Fantastic at various times during its 70+ year history. The most
recent version, featuring media tie-in fiction, suspended publication with
the Summer 2000 issue.
Battle Creek Plan – The plan of N3F president E. E. Evans to pyramid
state-regional-national areas with many officers, including as "citizens"
all who could be called fans.
Bonfire -- Bonfire’s role in N3F history. (There was the statement on 1940s
covers of The National Fantasy Fan that it was a “successor to ‘Bonfire’”).
The first issue of Bonfire was dated June 1941 (Volume 1, Number 1).
According to Pavlat & Evans, fans associated with Bonfire were Art Widner,
Harry Warner, Chauvenet, Studley, E. E. Evans, Bob Tucker, and Al Ashley,
with the name changed to The National Fantasy Fan after the December 1944
issue. E. E. Evans was the editor. The November 25, 1944 issue of Bonfire
was titled Bonflare (a mistake, or on purpose?)
The Futurians -- Initially formed in 1938 as the Futurian Science-Literary
Society, the Futurian Federation of the Worlds was created in 1939 and known
more generally as the New York Futurians or simply Futurians. The group is
famous today because of the many later SF professionals who were members,
among them Isaac Asimov, James Blish, Hannes Bok, Virginia Kidd, Damon
Knight, Cyril Kornbluth, David Kyle, Robert Lowndes, Judith Merril, John
Michel, Frederik Pohl, Richard Wilson, and Donald Wollheim. Knight wrote a
tell-all book about the group, The Futurians (1977).
Handbook – The club handbook was revised in 2004, edited by president Ruth R.
Davidson.
Tightbeam – The letterzine/fan fiction zine of N3F. In 1964 editors were
Stan Woolston, Norman C. Metcalf (with C.L. Riddle as stand-by editor).
Gary Labowitz, a member of the Directorate, was editor in 1968. Joanne
Burger served as a temporary editor in 1976.
Weird Tales -- The oldest genre magazine, begun early in 1923. Originally
sub-titled “The Unique Magazine,” it originally featured off-trail material
that no other magazines would accept. Over the years it has been published
in several different series and with different formats, but a magazine of
this title still exists today. Many early SF stories were featured in its
pages. Some of its most famous editors were Farnsworth Wright (1924-1940),
Dorothy McIlwraith (1940-1954), Sam Moskowitz (1973-1974), and Lin Carter
(1981-1983).
ADDENDA
# National Fantasy Fan. Robert Osman, 528-B Mesilla SE, Albequerque, NM
87108
Folder #1:
# vol. 21, no. 4 (Aug. 1962)
# vol. 22, nos. 1-6 (Jan. 1963-Dec. 1963)
# vol. 23, nos. 1-2 (Feb. 1964-April 1964)
Folder #2:
# vol. 23, nos. 4-7 (Aug. 1964-Dec. 1964)
# vol. 24, nos. 1-3, 5 (Feb. 1965-Jun. 1965, Oct. 1965)
Folder #3:
# February 1966
# vol. 25, nos. 5-6 (Nov. 1966-Dec. 1966)
# vol. 26, nos. 1-4 (1967), no. 6 (1967)
# [no number], December issue, 1967
# vol. 27, nos. 1-6 (Jan. 1968-Jun. 1968)
# vol. 28, nos. 1-3 (Jul. 1968-Sept. 1968)
Folder #4:
# vol. 28, nos. 4-6 (Oct. 1968-Dec. 1968)
# vol. 29, nos. 1-2 (Feb. 1969-Apr. 1969)
# "Emergency Issue" [no number] ( August,, 1969)
# [no number] (Oct. 1969)
# vol. 29, no. 6 (Dec. 1969)
# [no number] (June and August 1970)
# [no number] (December 1973)
# [no number] (February and April 1974)
Folder #5:
# vol. 34, nos. 4, 6 (Aug., Dec. 1974), April, May (1980)
# vol. 41, no. 5 (Oct. 1981), vol. 42, nos. 1-6 (Feb. 1982-Dec. 1982)
# vol. 43, no. 1 (Feb. 1983)
National Fantasy Fan Federation (31st World S.F. Convention). Joanne Burger
# (Sept. 1973).
National Fantasy Fan Federation Story Contest Winners. 1825 Greenfield
Avenue, Los Angeles 25, CA
# (1961).
National Fantasy Fan Federation Tape Bureau Newsletter. Ann F. Ashe, R.D.
#11 Freeville, NY 13068
# nos. 1-5 (Jul. 1965-Jan. 1967).
EXCERPTS OF SOME CRITICISMS OF THE CLUB
N3F: The National Fantasy Fan Federation, the chief general fan
organization:
It was organized in 1941by elements of the Stranger Club of Boston, Mass,
stimulated by Damon Knight's article "Unite -- or Die!" in Art Widner's
Fanfare, which had suggested formation of a new general organization with
the decline of New Fandom. In 1941 the group began functioning after a
preliminary election, and President Chauvenet drew up a rather long
constitution. Plans were laid to finance the Federation by a tax on
activity by amount, rather than by equal dues; a
majority of members had approved this notion when Widner advanced it, but
when
the Finance Committee offered a concrete plan (omitting calculation of how
small the sums would actually be) a great babble went up about "penalizing
activity", "paying tribute", and so forth. This prevented the adoption of
the
constitution at first; an altered one was finally adopted, but did not
prevent
the Interregnum in June 1942. And after Evans' Blitzkrieg the removal of
active fans by wartime difficulties made it impossible to work the
governmental structure envisioned for the N3F. Tho this trouble, as
explained
under "Interregnum", was eventually resolved, the N3F has never since gotten
out of a sort of permanent embryonic state. It continues to day by an act
of
faith among those who Believe in it, but few knowing outsiders would dissent
from some such opinion as the one Harry Warner expresses:
"I've heard this assurance that big things were around the corner
for the
N3F so frequently... it's funny by this time. The N3F invariably has a
half-
dozen energetic members who can get things done, and several hundred who are
either content to let the others work hard, or jealous that the others are
active. The organization may be justified by serving as an outlet for fans
during a period of six months to a year -- the period when they're just
getting acquainted with fandom, with a yen to read long lists of fan
addresses, high-sounding words about purposes, and so forth. After that, a
verbal arrangement with two or three other people can accomplish more than
the
N3F has ever done." [NOT TRUE, AS CAN BE DEMONSTRASTED BY ALL THE N3F
PUBLICATIONS OVER THE YEARS!]
The organization started out with fine plans for recruiting fans,
inspiring activity, setting up regional subordinate organizations (for New
England, Dixie, the rest of the East, the Midwest, West
[Mississippi-Rockies],
and Pacific areas), selecting convention sites, and so on. The central
administration of the Federation, besides the elected officers and the
Advisory Board, would include several committees and a permanent judicial or
legal body of certain middle-aged fans.
It is said to have a membership of about 400, give or take 100
either
way, and supposedly publishes a frequent bulletin, The National Fantasy Fan.
But the N3F has never managed to be an important force in fandom, tho some
of its aims -- organizing, standardizing, and coordinating fan activities,
providing a common meeting ground, and publishing informational booklets
like
this one -- would be worthwhile. It is so large and unwieldy that it never
gets off the ground; the normal official lethargy of fan organizations is
multiplied by the fact that the N3F officers consult by correspondence; and
the "benefit list" of projects whose fruits are going to drop into the
N3Fers
laps Real Soon Now is a standing joke in fandom.
The chief complaint seems to be inertia among the membership, which
require to be treated like the rank-and-file of large mundane organizations.
N3F officials have usually included active and competent fans, even some
BNFs
of legendary status like Speer, Warner, and Rapp, but the routine of
administering a flaccid mass of marginally interested stfnists is such as to
drive personalities of the sort fans have into gafia, Insurgency, or paper-
doll-cutting. The efficient chaser of details who forms the backbone of any
administrating organization is not a type plentiful in fandom, and even when
found can usually get greater rewards of egoboo through individual fanac.
Fans would probably do better at coordination, which was the original idea,
after all, and the activities which call for it to exercise only this
function -- like the Round Robins (chain letters) and N3F APA are the most
successful in the club; but as a rule activities to coordinate is just what
the N3F lacks. From: FANCYCLOPEDIA II (Richard Eney)
INTERREGNUM (Fancyclopedia II entry)
The N3F started out with no constitution, and the one drawn up was
cumbersome and, because of the FinCom report (look this up), was rejected by
the membership when it was submitted. A constitution was finally adopted,
but the machinery remained cumbersome, and the negligible results for the
early labor plus the difficult requirements for nomination (all under the
shadow of the stress of
war) caused insufficient candidates to file to fill the necessary offices
when
the first administration lapsed. E. E. Evans, Plancom chairman of the first
year,
got a new set of officers by Blitzkrieg methods; but before the organization
could gather momentum again Evans, the new President, was forced to drop
activity. Vice President Tucker turned the presidency over to Evans'
neighbor (at the famous Slan Shack) Al Ashley. It was conceded that the old
Constitution was unworkable,
Ashley planned to carry out Evans' idea of a pyramiding state-regional-
national scheme with many officers (the "Battle Creek Plan") including as
"citizens" all who could be called fans, while Harry Warner was in favor of
an
organization with few officials and stiff membership requirements. A
wrangle
over whether the directorate should pick one plan for submission to the
membership or have a vote on both led to stalemate, again the terms of
officers ended with no replacements, and the N3F lapsed. In the fall of
'43,
at the height of Cosmic Circle furor, Ashley questioned the Board members
with
a view to revising the group under an emergency “for-the-duration”
constitution;
this was realized next year, with Walt Dunkelberger in the Presidential
chair.
Elections were resumed in 1947. From Fancyclopedia II by Richard Eney.
Club Chronology
1941 - Founding of club (64 charter members).
1941 – First issue of club fanzine, Bonfire, published in mid-1941 (Art
Widner, editor)
1945 – First issue of club fanzine titled The National Fantasy Fan (exact
date?/it was after the December 1944 issue of Bonfire)
[Jon Swartz sent Ruth R. Davidson (who typed it up) the 1945 Constitution & Bylaws.
Apparently it was the 6th "final" version
before our founders decided they got it right. It's very different and similar all at
the same time to the one we have now.
Here's N3F's 1945 Constitution & Bylaws
for your reading enjoyment.]
1959 – First Kaymar Award (initial recipient: Ray C. Higgs)
1991 – First President’s Award (later called the Franson Award) [initial
recipients: Ralph Calabrese, Lyne Masamitsu, and Pamela Williams]
2001 - May 17, 2001 issue of the club fanzine merged TNFF and Tightbeam
into The National Fantasy Fan (Janine G. Stinson, editor), and was dated
Volume 1, No. 1.
2004 – New Handbook published (compiled/edited by club president Ruth R.
Davidson)
2005 – Neffy Awards presented for the first time.
Membership Through the Years
April 1941 – 64 charter members
April 1950 –
April 1960 --
April 1974 – 149 members
April 1980 --
April 1995 – 300 members (approx.)
April 2000 – 117 members
April 2005 – 90 members
April (of the year this history is published) – xxx members
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Appreciation is expressed to the following N3F members who
helped in this project: Ruth R. Davidson, George Wells, xxxx.
