Brain Trust

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

(Speer) A group chiefly marked by its discussions, in FAPA, of all manner of weighty questions. Its members represented most strongly the forces of Third Fandom, and as a party -- tho never so recognized -- came into control in the Interregnum. Its members included such illuminati as Speer, Rothman, Warner, Stanley, the Ashleys, Perdue, D. B. Thompson, Lynn Bridges, and Chan Davis. A number of them had relevant specialties -- Rothman in physics, Speer in American cultural history, etc -- but at the same time all had a catholicity of interests and did not hesitate to question authorities in any field. They established a tendency toward heavy discussion in the mailing comment sections of FAPAzines which is honored to this day; FAPAtes who maintain this tradition conspicuously are often still referred to as brain-trusters.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

(Speer) - A group chiefly marked by its discussions in the FAPA of all manner of weighty questions. Its members represented most strongly the forces of the Third Fandom, and as a party, tho never so recognized, came into control in the Interregnum. Fans who may be considered as belonging to it include Speer, Rothman, Warner, Chauvenet, Widner, Stanley, and probably the Ashleys, Perdue, the Columbia Camp, D. B. Thompson, Lynn Bridges, and Chan Davis. A number of them have relevant specialties, Rothman in Physics, Speer in American cultural history, Chauvenet in biology, &c, but at the same time all have a catholicity of interest and do not hesitate to question authorities in any field.