Difference between revisions of "Early Conventions"

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(typo "a a"; link fan visit; Midgicon, Mecon, British ones etc. etc. corected/specified after much heuristics – much more remains to be done)
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The first ten years of [[SF convention]]s were a mixed bag, but even the largest was small by modern standards, and some were literally a few guys getting together for a day. But travel was difficult and the tendency of the time was to call nearly ''any'' planned get-together (see [[fan visit]]) of [[fans]] from different cities a "convention" (or a "[[conference]]". See the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' article on “[[con]]” for the baroque early terminology).
+
The first ten years of [[SF convention]]s were a mixed bag, but even the largest was small by modern standards, and some were literally a few guys getting together for a day. But travel was difficult and the tendency of the time was to call nearly ''any'' planned get-together (of [[fans]] from different cities a "convention" (or a "[[conference]]." See the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' article on “[[con]]” for the baroque early terminology).
  
 
[[Anglofan]] historians tend to take a hard line on what was or wasn’t a [[convention]] (they would omit the [[First Convention]] if they could). We are inclined to take the participants’ estimation, even if they declared conhood after the event.  
 
[[Anglofan]] historians tend to take a hard line on what was or wasn’t a [[convention]] (they would omit the [[First Convention]] if they could). We are inclined to take the participants’ estimation, even if they declared conhood after the event.  
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<tab head=top>
 
<tab head=top>
 
Year || Date || Convention || Size || Location || Notes
 
Year || Date || Convention || Size || Location || Notes
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1936 || October 22, '''1936''' || [[First Convention]] || 12–20 || [[Philadelphia]] || later called the [[First Eastern]]
+
'''1936''' || October 22|| [[First Convention]] || 12–20 || [[Philadelphia]] || later called the [[First Eastern]]
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1937 || January 3, '''1937''' || [[Other First Convention]] || ~20 || [[Leeds, UK]] ||  
+
'''1937''' || January 3|| [[Other First Convention]] || ~20 || [[Leeds, UK]] ||  
−
  || February 21, 1937 || [[Second Eastern]] || 30–40 || [[New York]] ||  
+
  || February 21 || [[Second Eastern]] || 30–40 || [[New York]] ||  
−
  || October 30, 1937 || [[Third Eastern]] || ~30 || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
+
  || October 30 || [[Third Eastern]] || ~30 || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
−
1938 || April 10, '''1938''' || [[Second British Convention]] || 43 || [[London]] || called Necronomicon in '57
+
'''1938''' || April 10|| [[Second British Convention]] || 43 || [[London]] || called Necronomicon in '57
−
  || May 29, 1938 || [[Newark Convention]] || >100 || [[Newark, NJ]] || aka [[Fourth Eastern]] aka [[First National]]
+
  || May 29 || [[Newark Convention]] || >100 || [[Newark, NJ]] || aka [[Fourth Eastern]] aka [[First National]]
−
  || October 16, 1938 || [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] || > 25 || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
+
  || October 16|| [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] || > 25 || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
−
1939 || May 21, '''1939''' || [[Third British Convention]] || ~40 || [[London]] ||  
+
'''1939''' || May 21|| [[Third British Convention]] || ~40 || [[London]] ||  
−
  || July 2–4, 1939 || [[NyCon I]] || 150–<wbr />200 || [[New York]] || the first [[Worldcon]]
+
  || July 2–4|| [[NyCon I]] || 150–<wbr />200 || [[New York]] || the first [[Worldcon]]
−
  || Fall 1939 || [[Philcon 1939]] || || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
+
  || Fall || [[Philcon 1939]] || || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
−
  || Early June 1939 || [[OSA Pow-Wow]] || 3 || [[Tulsa, OK]] || [[Oklahoma]] state convention  
+
  || Early June || [[OSA Pow-Wow]] || 3 || [[Tulsa, OK]] || [[Oklahoma]] state convention  
−
1940 || Early '''1940''' || [[Washington Confabulation 1]] || 3 || [[Washington, DC]]||
+
'''1940''' || Early 1940|| [[Washington Confabulation 1]] || 3 || [[Washington, DC]]||
−
  || April 1940 || [[Third Chicago Conference]] || 4 || [[Chicago]] ||  
+
  || April || [[Third Chicago Conference]] || 4 || [[Chicago]] ||  
−
  || September 1-2, 1940 || [[Chicon I]] || 128 || [[Chicago]] ||  
+
  || September 1–2|| [[Chicon I]] || 128 || [[Chicago]] ||  
−
  || November 10, 1940 || [[Phillycon 1940]] || || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
+
  || November 10|| [[Phillycon 1940]] || || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
−
1941 || late February '''1941''' || [[Boskone I]] || ~25 || Winchester, MA || at [[the Swishers]]’ home
+
'''1941''' || Late February || [[Boskone I]] || ~25 || Winchester, MA || at [[the Swishers]]’ home
−
  || May 4, 1941 || [[All-Eastern Science Fiction Conference]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] || May not have been held
+
  || May 4|| [[All-Eastern Science Fiction Conference]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] || May not have been held
−
  || Summer 1941 || [[Washington Confabulation 2]] || 6? || [[Washington, DC]] || issued Washington [[Manifesto]]
+
  || Summer || [[Washington Confabulation 2]] || 6? || [[Washington, DC]] || issued [[Washington Manifesto]]
−
  || July 4-6, 1941 || [[Denvention I]] || ~100 || [[Denver]] ||  
+
  || July 4–6|| [[Denvention I]] || ~100 || [[Denver]] ||  
−
  || September 20-21, 1941 || [[Bombcon]] || 13 || [[London]] ||  
+
  || September 20–21|| [[Bombcon]] || 13 || [[London]] ||  
−
  || November 16, 1941 || [[1941 Michiconference]] || || [[Jackson, MI]] ||  
+
  || November 16|| [[1941 Michiconference]] || || [[Jackson, MI]] ||  
−
1942 || <s>January 1942</s> || <s>[[PhilCo 1942]]</s> || || <s>[[Philadelphia]]</s> || Belatedly announced, called off in favor of Boskone II
+
'''1942''' || <s>January</s> || <s>[[PhilCo 1942]]</s> || || <s>[[Philadelphia]]</s> || Belatedly announced, called off in favor of [[Boskone II]]
−
  || February 22, '''1942''' || [[Boskone II]] || 25 || Boston, MA ||  
+
  || February 22 || [[Boskone II]] || 25 || Boston, MA ||  
−
  || September 27, 1942 || [[1942 Michiconference]] || ~25 || [[Jackson, MI]] ||  
+
  || September 27|| [[1942 Michiconference]] || ~25 || [[Jackson, MI]] ||  
−
  || November 29, 1942 || [[Hastings S-F Conference]] || v. small || [[Hastings, MN]] || possibly a [[drinking]] party  
+
  || November 29 || [[Hastings S-F Conference]] || v. small || [[Hastings, MN]] || possibly a [[drinking]] party  
−
  || November 22, 1942 || [[Bloomington Conference]] || 9 || style="white-space:nowrap" | [[Bloomington, IL]] || possibly a poker game
+
  || November 22 || [[Bloomington Conference]] || 9 || style="white-space:nowrap" | [[Bloomington, IL]] || possibly a poker game
 
  || Late 1942 || [[Pacificon Jr.]] || || [[Los Angeles]] ||  
 
  || Late 1942 || [[Pacificon Jr.]] || || [[Los Angeles]] ||  
−
1943 || February 28, '''1943''' || [[Boskone III]] || 14 || [[Boston, MA]] ||  
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'''1943''' || February 28|| [[Boskone III]] || 14 || [[Boston, MA]] ||  
−
  || April 23–6, 1943 || [[Midvention 1]] || 14 || Leicester, UK || i. e. over Easter
+
|| Spring || [[Live Oak Conference]] || 3 || Live Oak, FL || A [[Cosmic Circle]] event
−
  || April 26–7, 1943 || [[Midgicon]] ("Midget&nbsp;Chicon") || 8 || [[Chicago]] || [[Ashley]] et al. on bookbuying spree, moots [[Slan Center]]
+
  || April 23–26 || [[Midvention 1]] || 14 || Leicester, UK || i. e. over Easter
−
|| Spring 1943 || [[Live Oak Conference]] || 3 || Live Oak, FL || A [[Cosmic Circle]] event
+
  || April 26–27 || [[Midgicon]] ("Midget&nbsp;Chicon") || 8 || [[Chicago]] || [[Al Ashley]] et al. on [[book]]buying spree, moots [[Slan Center]]
−
  || May 16, 1943 || [[Staplecon 1]] || ~12 || [[San Francisco]] ||  
+
  || May 16|| [[Staplecon 1]] || ~12 || [[San Francisco]] ||  
−
  || June 26/28 – <br/> July 1, 1943 || [[Mecon (ME)]] or Mainecon || 3 || Rockland, ME || [[Widner]], [[Chauvenet]] bike to [[Norm Stanley]]
+
  || Late June–early July|| [[Mecon (ME)]] or Maine Stf Conference || 3 || Rockland, ME || [[Art Widner]], [[Russ Chauvenet]] bike to [[Norm Stanley]]’s
−
  || early July 1943 || [[Mainecon Jr.]] || 2 || Rockland again || visit by (pseud.) [[Degler]]
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  || Early July || [[Mainecon, Jr.]] || 2 || Rockland again || visit by [[Claude Degler]]
−
  || mid 1943 || [[Schenectacon]] || 2-4 || [[Schenectady, NY]] ||  
+
  || Mid-1943 || [[Schenectacon]] || 2-4 || [[Schenectady, NY]] ||  
−
  || October 30, 1943 || [[1943 Michiconference]] || 22 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] ||  
+
  || October 30|| [[1943 Michiconference]] || 22 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] ||  
−
  || November 21, 1943 || [[Staplecon 2]] || || [[San Francisco]] ||  
+
  || November 21|| [[Staplecon 2]] || || [[San Francisco]] ||  
−
  || "around the end" 1943 || [[Fancon]] || || [[Bloomington, IL]] ||
+
  || "Around the end" of 1943 || [[Fancon]] || || [[Bloomington, IL]] ||
−
  || late 1943? ||[[Councilcon]]||||[[Newcastle, IN]]|| Possibly occurred only in [[Claude Degler]]’s imagination
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  || Late 1943? ||[[Councilcon]]||||[[Newcastle, IN]]|| Possibly occurred only in [[Claude Degler]]’s imagination
−
  || {{nowrap| December 31, 1943}} – January 2, 1944 || [[Norcon (UK)]] || small || [[Manchester, UK]] ||  
+
  || {{nowrap| December 31, 1943}}–January 2, 1944 || [[Norcon (UK)]] || small || [[Manchester, UK]] ||  
−
1944 || April 8-9, '''1944''' || [[Eastercon 1944]] || || [[London]] ||  
+
'''1944''' || April 8–9|| [[Eastercon 1944]] || || [[London]] ||  
−
  || May 28, 1944 || [[Staplecon 3]] || 9 || [[San Francisco]] ||  
+
  || May 28 || [[Staplecon 3]] || 9 || [[San Francisco]] ||  
−
  || June 17-19, 1944 || [[Michicon 4]] || 23 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] ||  
+
  || June 17–19 || [[Michicon 4]] || 23 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] ||  
−
  || August 27, 1944 || [[Dovention]] || 11 || [[Dover, NJ]] ||  
+
  || August 27 || [[Dovention]] || 11 || [[Dover, NJ]] ||  
−
  || September 1–2, 1944 || [[Midvention 2]] || 6–8 || Leicester, UK || or "Midventionette"
+
  || September 1–2 || [[Midvention 2]] || 6–8 || Leicester, UK || or "Midventionette"
−
  || October 7-9, 1944 || [[Little Chicon]] || "small" || [[Chicago]] ||  
+
  || October 7–9 || [[Little Chicon]] || "small" || [[Chicago]] ||  
−
  || ? || [[Bufflocon]] || || [[Buffalo, NY]] || [[slan shack]] visiting [[Krueger]]
+
  || ? || [[Bufflocon]] || || [[Buffalo, NY]] || [[Slan Shack]] visiting [[Ken Krueger]]
−
  || December 29, 1944 – January 1, 1945 || [[Norcon (UK)]] 2 || small || [[Manchester, UK]] || Announced &mdash; did it occur?
+
  || December 29, 1944–January 1, 1945 || [[Norcon (UK)]] 2 || small || [[Manchester, UK]] || Announced &mdash; did it occur?
−
1945 || February 3-4, '''1945''' || [[Boskone IV]] || 5 || [[Winchester, MA]] || at [[the Swishers]]’ home
+
'''1945''' || February 3–4 || [[Boskone IV]] || 5 || [[Winchester, MA]] || at [[the Swishers]]’ home
−
  || July 7-8, 1945 || [[1945 Michiconference]] || 15-20 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] ||  
+
  || July 7–8 || [[1945 Michiconference]] || 15-20 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] ||  
−
  || September 2, 1945 || [[Boskone V]] || 9 || [[Salem, MA]] || AKA [[First New England SF Conference]]  
+
  || September 2 || [[Boskone V]] || 9 || [[Salem, MA]] || AKA [[First New England SF Conference]]  
−
1946 || March 3, '''1946''' || [[FPWESFC]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] ||  
+
'''1946''' || March 3|| [[FPWESFC]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] ||  
−
  || April 6–7, 1946 || [[First Post-Radar-Contact-with-the-Moon Con]] || 16 || [[Chicago]] ||  
+
  || April 6–7 || [[First Post-Radar-Contact-with-the-Moon Con]] || 16 || [[Chicago]] ||  
−
  || July 4-7, 1946 || [[Pacificon I]] || 130 || [[Los Angeles]] ||  
+
  || July 4–7|| [[Pacificon I]] || 130 || [[Los Angeles]] ||  
−
  || October 12–13, 1946 || [[Centracon]] || 25 || [[Chicago]] ||  
+
  || October 12–13|| [[Centracon]] || 25 || [[Chicago]] ||  
−
  || October 27, 1946 || [[Phillycon 1946]] || || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
+
  || October 27 || [[Phillycon 1946]] || || [[Philadelphia]] ||  
 
</tab>
 
</tab>
  
−
See also the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' (1959) article on [[Conventions]] as well as [[fan visit]]s.
+
See also the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' (1959) articles on [[Con]], [[fan visit]]s and [[fan gatherings]].  
  
 
{{fanhistory | start=1936 | end=1946}}
 
{{fanhistory | start=1936 | end=1946}}
−
[[Category:Notable]]
 
 
[[Category:Conseries]]
 
[[Category:Conseries]]
 
[[Category:List]]
 
[[Category:List]]
 
[[Category:convention]]
 
[[Category:convention]]

Revision as of 15:47, 14 September 2022

The first ten years of SF conventions were a mixed bag, but even the largest was small by modern standards, and some were literally a few guys getting together for a day. But travel was difficult and the tendency of the time was to call nearly any planned get-together (of fans from different cities a "convention" (or a "conference." See the Fancyclopedia 2 article on “con” for the baroque early terminology).

Anglofan historians tend to take a hard line on what was or wasn’t a convention (they would omit the First Convention if they could). We are inclined to take the participants’ estimation, even if they declared conhood after the event.

Year Date Convention Size Location Notes
1936 October 22 First Convention 12–20 Philadelphia later called the First Eastern
1937 January 3 Other First Convention ~20 Leeds, UK
February 21 Second Eastern 30–40 New York
October 30 Third Eastern ~30 Philadelphia
1938 April 10 Second British Convention 43 London called Necronomicon in '57
May 29 Newark Convention >100 Newark, NJ aka Fourth Eastern aka First National
October 16 1938 Philadelphia Conference > 25 Philadelphia
1939 May 21 Third British Convention ~40 London
July 2–4 NyCon I 150–200 New York the first Worldcon
Fall Philcon 1939 Philadelphia
Early June OSA Pow-Wow 3 Tulsa, OK Oklahoma state convention
1940 Early 1940 Washington Confabulation 1 3 Washington, DC
April Third Chicago Conference 4 Chicago
September 1–2 Chicon I 128 Chicago
November 10 Phillycon 1940 Philadelphia
1941 Late February Boskone I ~25 Winchester, MA at the Swishers’ home
May 4 All-Eastern Science Fiction Conference Newark, NJ May not have been held
Summer Washington Confabulation 2 6? Washington, DC issued Washington Manifesto
July 4–6 Denvention I ~100 Denver
September 20–21 Bombcon 13 London
November 16 1941 Michiconference Jackson, MI
1942 January PhilCo 1942 Philadelphia Belatedly announced, called off in favor of Boskone II
February 22 Boskone II 25 Boston, MA
September 27 1942 Michiconference ~25 Jackson, MI
November 29 Hastings S-F Conference v. small Hastings, MN possibly a drinking party
November 22 Bloomington Conference 9 Bloomington, IL possibly a poker game
Late 1942 Pacificon Jr. Los Angeles
1943 February 28 Boskone III 14 Boston, MA
Spring Live Oak Conference 3 Live Oak, FL A Cosmic Circle event
April 23–26 Midvention 14 Leicester, UK i. e. over Easter
April 26–27 Midgicon ("Midget Chicon") 8 Chicago Al Ashley et al. on bookbuying spree, moots Slan Center
May 16 Staplecon 1 ~12 San Francisco
Late June–early July Mecon or Maine Stf Conference 3 Rockland, ME Art Widner, Russ Chauvenet bike to Norm Stanley’s
Early July Mainecon, Jr. 2 Rockland again visit by Claude Degler
Mid-1943 Schenectacon 2-4 Schenectady, NY
October 30 1943 Michiconference 22 Battle Creek, MI
November 21 Staplecon 2 San Francisco
"Around the end" of 1943 Fancon Bloomington, IL
Late 1943? Councilcon Newcastle, IN Possibly occurred only in Claude Degler’s imagination
December 31, 1943–January 2, 1944 Norcon small Manchester, UK
1944 April 8–9 Eastercon London
May 28 Staplecon 3 9 San Francisco
June 17–19 Michicon 4 23 Battle Creek, MI
August 27 Dovention 11 Dover, NJ
September 1–2 Midvention 2 6–8 Leicester, UK or "Midventionette"
October 7–9 Little Chicon "small" Chicago
? Bufflocon Buffalo, NY Slan Shack visiting Ken Krueger
December 29, 1944–January 1, 1945 Norcon 2 small Manchester, UK Announced — did it occur?
1945 February 3–4 Boskone IV 5 Winchester, MA at the Swishers’ home
July 7–8 1945 Michiconference 15-20 Battle Creek, MI
September 2 Boskone V 9 Salem, MA AKA First New England SF Conference
1946 March 3 FPWESFC Newark, NJ
April 6–7 First Post-Radar-Contact-with-the-Moon Con 16 Chicago
July 4–7 Pacificon I 130 Los Angeles
October 12–13 Centracon 25 Chicago
October 27 Phillycon 1946 Philadelphia

See also the Fancyclopedia 2 (1959) articles on Con, fan visits and fan gatherings.

Fanhistory 1936—1946
This is a fanhistory page. Please add more detail.
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