Difference between revisions of "Jack Speer"

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[[File:speer1938.jpeg|thumb|left|Jack Speer, ca. 1938.]]
 
[[File:speer1938.jpeg|thumb|left|Jack Speer, ca. 1938.]]
  
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'''John Bristol Speer''' was one of the fathers of [[fandom]] and the first really important [[fanhistorian]], writing ''[[Up to Now]]: A History of Science Fiction Fandom'' as well as the [[first Fancyclopedia]] in 1944. In 2004, he was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Noreascon 4]] in Boston.
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'''John Bristol Speer''', aka '''Jack F. Speer''', was one of the fathers of [[fandom]] and the first really important [[fanhistorian]], writing ''[[Up to Now]]: A History of Science Fiction Fandom'' as well as the [[first Fancyclopedia]] in 1944. In 2004, he was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Noreascon 4]] in Boston.
  
 
Speer became became a fan around 1935 and was responsible for a long series of firsts:
 
Speer became became a fan around 1935 and was responsible for a long series of firsts:
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* Also at Chicon, Speer and [[Milt Rothman]] suggested a [[costume party]] or [[masquerade]] which is still part of [[Worldcon]] today.
 
* Also at Chicon, Speer and [[Milt Rothman]] suggested a [[costume party]] or [[masquerade]] which is still part of [[Worldcon]] today.
 
* He invented [[FooFoo]].
 
* He invented [[FooFoo]].
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* He popularized [[mailing comments]].
 
[[File:Jack Speer at Bucconeer.jpg|thumb|Jack Speer at Bucconeer; Photo by Mark Olson]]
 
[[File:Jack Speer at Bucconeer.jpg|thumb|Jack Speer at Bucconeer; Photo by Mark Olson]]
  
 
Originally from [[Oklahoma]], where he started reading [[sf]] in 1928 at age 8.  He found [[fandom]] through the [[lettercolumns]] of ''[[Wonder]]'' in the early 1930s, where he started a [[correspondence]] with [[Don Wollheim]]. He lived in [[DC]] during the [[War]] and later moved to the [[Pacific Northwest]] before retiring to [[Albuquerque]].
 
Originally from [[Oklahoma]], where he started reading [[sf]] in 1928 at age 8.  He found [[fandom]] through the [[lettercolumns]] of ''[[Wonder]]'' in the early 1930s, where he started a [[correspondence]] with [[Don Wollheim]]. He lived in [[DC]] during the [[War]] and later moved to the [[Pacific Northwest]] before retiring to [[Albuquerque]].
  
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By inventing the [[John Bristol]] persona, he perpetrated one of the more successful [[hoaxes]] in the history of [[fandom]].  He was also known by the nicknames [[Juffus]], [[Gakspiro]], the [[Hily Magnified Woggle-Bug]] and [[Fascism|Fascist Spear]].
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By inventing the [[John Bristol]] persona, he perpetrated one of the earliest and most successful [[hoaxes]] in the history of [[fandom]].  He was also known by the nicknames [[Juffus]], [[Gakspiro]], the [[Hily Magnified Woggle-Bug]] and [[Fascism|Fascist Spear]].
  
 
After founding editor [[E. E. Evans]] stepped down, Speer became the editor of the [[N3F]]'s [[Official Organ]], ''[[The National Fantasy Fan]]'' for the remainder of 1945. He was a recipient of the [[First Fandom Hall of Fame award]]. He was brought to [[Ditto 14]]/[[FanHistoriCon 11]] by the [[Don Ford Fund]].
 
After founding editor [[E. E. Evans]] stepped down, Speer became the editor of the [[N3F]]'s [[Official Organ]], ''[[The National Fantasy Fan]]'' for the remainder of 1945. He was a recipient of the [[First Fandom Hall of Fame award]]. He was brought to [[Ditto 14]]/[[FanHistoriCon 11]] by the [[Don Ford Fund]].
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He was a member of [[FAPA]] (and was a leading member of the [[Brain Trust]]) and served in many offices, including organizing a [[Blitzkrieg]].
 
He was a member of [[FAPA]] (and was a leading member of the [[Brain Trust]]) and served in many offices, including organizing a [[Blitzkrieg]].
  
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Jack was born in Comanche, [[Oklahoma]]. He became a lawyer and after [[WWII]], he began practicing law in [[Washington State]], where he was active in the Democratic Party and served a term in the State House of Representatives (1959–61). He later moved to [[Santa Fe]], [[New Mexico]]. He continued to practice law and served two terms as the judge of the Bernalillo County Small Claims Court.
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Jack was born in Comanche, [[Oklahoma]]. He became a lawyer, and after [[WWII]], he began practicing law in [[Washington State]], where he was active in the Democratic Party and served a term in the State House of Representatives (1959–61). He later moved to [[Santa Fe]], [[New Mexico]]. He continued to practice law and served two terms as the judge of the Bernalillo County Small Claims Court.
  
 
While in New Mexico he was one of the founders of [[Bubonicon]] (though he protested the name, see [[Bubonicon 2]]), and was memorialized at [[Bubonicon 40]].
 
While in New Mexico he was one of the founders of [[Bubonicon]] (though he protested the name, see [[Bubonicon 2]]), and was memorialized at [[Bubonicon 40]].
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* [[Noreascon 4]] [https://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf articles about Speer]
 
* [[Noreascon 4]] [https://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf articles about Speer]
 
*  His photograph appears on page 128 of [[Harry Warner, Jr.]]'s ''[[All Our Yesterdays]]'' (1969) and on page 19 of [[Harry Warner]]'s ''[[A Wealth of Fable]]'' (1992).
 
*  His photograph appears on page 128 of [[Harry Warner, Jr.]]'s ''[[All Our Yesterdays]]'' (1969) and on page 19 of [[Harry Warner]]'s ''[[A Wealth of Fable]]'' (1992).
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* [http://obits.abqjournal.com/obits/show/187076 Albuquerque Journal obituary]
  
 
{{fanzines}}
 
{{fanzines}}

Revision as of 05:39, 26 October 2020

(August 8, 1920 – June 28, 2008)

Jack Speer, ca. 1938.

John Bristol Speer, aka Jack F. Speer, was one of the fathers of fandom and the first really important fanhistorian, writing Up to Now: A History of Science Fiction Fandom as well as the first Fancyclopedia in 1944. In 2004, he was Fan GoH at Noreascon 4 in Boston.

Speer became became a fan around 1935 and was responsible for a long series of firsts:

Jack Speer at Bucconeer; Photo by Mark Olson

Originally from Oklahoma, where he started reading sf in 1928 at age 8. He found fandom through the lettercolumns of Wonder in the early 1930s, where he started a correspondence with Don Wollheim. He lived in DC during the War and later moved to the Pacific Northwest before retiring to Albuquerque.

By inventing the John Bristol persona, he perpetrated one of the earliest and most successful hoaxes in the history of fandom. He was also known by the nicknames Juffus, Gakspiro, the Hily Magnified Woggle-Bug and Fascist Spear.

After founding editor E. E. Evans stepped down, Speer became the editor of the N3F's Official Organ, The National Fantasy Fan for the remainder of 1945. He was a recipient of the First Fandom Hall of Fame award. He was brought to Ditto 14/FanHistoriCon 11 by the Don Ford Fund.

His fanzines included A, Allegory, Antaios, Avalon, Demeter, Deukalion, Eos, Epimetheus, Hesper, Oduooeus, Olympus, One Fingers Number Four Fingers Number One (with F. T. Laney, Charles Burbee, and Walt Leibscher), Phosphor, Photon, Science Fiction Forum, Stefnews, The Stefnews (with John Bristol), Stf and Nonsense (with Dan MacPhail) Sustaining Program, Synapse.

He was a member of FAPA (and was a leading member of the Brain Trust) and served in many offices, including organizing a Blitzkrieg.

Jack was born in Comanche, Oklahoma. He became a lawyer, and after WWII, he began practicing law in Washington State, where he was active in the Democratic Party and served a term in the State House of Representatives (1959–61). He later moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He continued to practice law and served two terms as the judge of the Bernalillo County Small Claims Court.

While in New Mexico he was one of the founders of Bubonicon (though he protested the name, see Bubonicon 2), and was memorialized at Bubonicon 40.

  • Read his short history Up To Now for Jack Speer on early fandom -- and on Jack Speer.

More reading:[edit]

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

Person 1920—2008
This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.

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