Difference between revisions of "Milton A. Rothman"

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[[File:Milt Rothman (1940s). Courtesy of Rob Hansen.jpg|thumb|right|'''Milt Rothman (1940s).''' ''Courtesy of [[Rob Hansen]]''.]]
 
(November 30, 1919 – October 6, 2001)
 
(November 30, 1919 – October 6, 2001)
  
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'''Milt Rothman''' was co-founder of the [[Philadelphia SFL]] (which became [[PSFS]]) in 1934.
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'''Milt Rothman''' joined the [[Science Fiction League]] as soon as it was announced in the May 1934 issue of ''[[Wonder Stories]]'', becoming Member #34. He was co-founder of the [[Philadelphia SFL]] (which became [[PSFS]]) in 1934. In 1998, he was inducted into the [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]] and was the [[fan GoH]] at [[BucConeer]].  He was also [[GoH]] at [[Philcon 1976]].
  
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Beginning in 1939, he also published [[sf]] professionally. He initially appeared under the [[pseudonym]] '''Lee Gregor''' at the insistence of [[John W. Campbell, Jr.]], who didn’t like [[Jewish]] names as bylines in ''[[Astounding]]''. At the beginning of Rothman's writing career, [[Frederik Pohl]] was his agent and also edited his stories before their submission to magazines.  Rothman's most famous story was "Heavy Planet," which first appeared in ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'' and which has been reprinted in numerous anthologies. His complete fictional works were collected in ''Heavy Planet and Other Science Fiction Stories'' from [[Wildside Press]]. 
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==Fan==
  
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He published the [[fanzines]] ''[[Milty's Mag]]'' and ''[[Plenum]]'' from 1939–1950, and ''[[Blitzkrieg]]''. He attended the [[First Convention]] in 1936, and was a member of the [[Washington Worry-Warts]]. He was a member of [[FAPA]] and part of the [[Brain Trust]], the [[Order of Dagon]], and the [[Philadelphia Blitzkrieg]], chaired the [[Big Pond Fund]], went on the [[Widneride]], and spoke up for [[Yngvi]]. He was deep in the [[fannish]] wars over [[Michelism]] and the [[Wollheimists]], though he tried to avoid the [[feuding]] part.  At one point, he tried to attend every convention held in the [[US]]. He edited the ''[[National Fantasy Fan]]'' right after the [[War]]. He was one of the five people attending [[Boskone IV]].
 
  
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Rothman [[chaired]] [[Philadelphia]] [[worldcons]] in both [[1947 Worldcon|1947]] and [[1953 Worldcon|1953]], the latter being the first convention to present the [[Hugo Awards]]. He was named [[Chairman]] Emeritus of [[Millennium Philcon]]. In 1998, he was inducted into the [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]] and was the [[fan GoH]] at [[BucConeer]]. He was also [[GoH]] at [[Philcon 1976]].
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[[File:1stcon1936.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=1.5| '''The majority of the attendees of the world's [[First Convention|first science fiction convention]] in 1936, from left: [[Oswald Train]], [[Donald A. Wollheim]], Milton A. Rothman, [[Frederik Pohl]], [[John B. Michel]], [[William S. Sykora]] (holding the [[NYB-ISA]] flag), [[David A. Kyle]], and [[Robert Madle]].  They're standing in front of Independence Hall in [[Philadelphia]].''' ''Photo by [[Herbert E. Goudket]].'' ]]
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He published the [[fanzines]] ''[[Milty's Mag]]'' and ''[[Plenum]]'' from 1939–1950, and ''[[Blitzkrieg]]''. He was a member of the [[Washington Worry-Warts]]. He was a member of [[FAPA]] and part of the [[Brain Trust]], the [[Order of Dagon]], and the [[Philadelphia Blitzkrieg]], chaired the [[Big Pond Fund]], went on the [[Widneride]], and spoke up for [[Yngvi]]. He was deep in the [[fannish]] wars over [[Michelism]] and the [[Wollheimists]], though he tried to avoid the [[feuding]] part. He was a charter member of the [[National Fantasy Fan Federation]] in 1941. He edited the ''[[National Fantasy Fan]]'' right after [[World War II]]. He also drew [[fanart]].  
  
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In 1989, Rothman wrote reminiscences of several [[Worldcons]] for the [[Noreascon Three]] [[PB]]:
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He attended the [[First Convention]] in 1936. At one point, he tried to attend every [[convention]] held in the [[US]]. He was one of the five people attending [[Boskone IV]].
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* [[Nycon 1 Reminiscence (Rothman)|Nycon]]
 
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* [[Philcon I Reminiscence (Rothman)|Philcon I]]
 
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* [[Philcon II Reminiscence (Rothman)|Philcon II]]
 
  
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Not only a [[fan]] and a published author, Rothman was a nuclear physicist.  The US [[Army]] sent Rothman to Oregon State University where he obtained a BA in Electrical Engineering. In 1952, he received his doctorate in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania. Rothman went to work for the Bartol Research Center in Springfield, PA. He joined the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab where he worked for almost ten years on the Model-C Stellerator, the largest fusion experimental device of the time. Subsequently, he became a Professor of Physics at Trenton State College.  In his later years, he was a Senior Scientist at the Franklin Institute Research Laboratory in Philadelphia. He authored seven science fact books, including ''Discovering the Natural Laws'' in 1972 and a number of articles. In addition, Rothman became an active member of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, authoring ''A Physicists' Guide to Skepticism''.
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Rothman [[chaired]] [[Philadelphia]] [[worldcons]] in both [[1947 Worldcon|1947]] and [[1953 Worldcon|1953]], the latter being the first [[convention]] to present the [[Hugo Awards]]. He was named [[Chairman]] Emeritus of [[Millennium Philcon]] in 2001.  
  
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His son, [[Tony Rothman]], also wrote [[sf]].
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==Pro==
 +
Beginning in 1939, he published [[sf]] professionally. He initially appeared under the [[pseudonym]] '''Lee Gregor''' at the insistence of [[John W. Campbell, Jr.]], who didn’t like [[Jewish]] names as bylines in ''[[Astounding]]''. At the beginning of Rothman's writing career, [[Frederik Pohl]] was his agent and also edited his stories before their submission to magazines.
  
−
{{link | website=http://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org/pr3/rothman3.htm|text=His autobiographical article from the BucConeer PR 3}}
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Rothman's most famous story was "Heavy Planet," which first appeared in ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'' and which has been reprinted in numerous anthologies. His complete fictional works were collected in ''Heavy Planet and Other Science Fiction Stories'' from [[Wildside Press]]. 
  
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For an early short biography, see Who's Who in Fandom 1940 p12.  He was a charter member of The National Fantasy Fan Federation in 1941, and his biography will be published in an upcoming issue of The National Fantasy Fan.
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==Personal Life==
 +
Rothman was born in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], and attended Central High School. He attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now University of the Sciences) from 1936 to 1938 where he majored in chemistry.
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 +
Not only a [[fan]] and a published [[author]], Rothman was a nuclear physicist. From 1943 to 1944 he studied at Oregon State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He served in the U.S. [[army]] from 1944 to 1946, becoming a sergeant in the Signal Corps. After [[World War II]], Rothman returned to Philadelphia to study at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received an M.S. in 1948 and a Ph.D. in physics in 1952.
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Rothman went to work for the Bartol Research Center in Springfield, PA. He joined the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab where he worked for almost 10 years on the Model-C Stellerator, the largest fusion experimental device of the time. Subsequently, he became a Professor of Physics at Trenton State College.  He retired from teaching in 1979.
 +
 
 +
In his later years, he was a Senior Scientist at the Franklin Institute Research Laboratory in Philadelphia. He authored seven science fact books, including ''Discovering the Natural Laws'' in 1972 and a number of articles. In addition, Rothman became an active member of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the [[Paranormal]], authoring ''A Physicists' Guide to Skepticism''.
 +
 
 +
In 1950, Rothman married psychotherapist Doris “Dorry” Weiss; the marriage ended in divorce in 1973. His second marriage was to epidemiologist Anita K. Bahn, who died in 1980, the year they officially married. The following year, he married Miriam Mednick, a social worker, to whom he remained married until his death.
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His son, [[Tony Rothman]], is also a physicist and [[sf]] writer. His daughter, Lynne Lyon, is a licensed social worker specializing in attachment therapy.
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Milt Rothman died in Wyncote, PA, in 2001, of heart failure, from complications due to diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
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'''See:'''
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* {{SFE|name=rothman_milton_a}}.
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* {{link | website=https://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org/pr3/rothman3.htm|text=His autobiographical article from the BucConeer PR 3}}.
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* [[wikipedia:Milton A. Rothman|Wikipedia entry.]]
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* [https://www.librarything.com/author/rothmanmiltona Bibliography at LibraryThing.]
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* An early short biography in [[Who's Who in Fandom 1940]], p. 12.
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* In 1989, Rothman wrote reminiscences of several [[Worldcons]] for the [[Noreascon Three]] [[PB]]:
 +
** [[Nycon 1 Reminiscence (Rothman)|Nycon]].
 +
** [[Philcon I Reminiscence (Rothman)|Philcon I]].
 +
** [[Philcon II Reminiscence (Rothman)|Philcon II]].
  
 
{{fanzines}}  
 
{{fanzines}}  
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* ''[[Blitzkrieg]]''
 
 
* ''[[Fantasy Fiction Telegram]]'' [1936-38] (with others)
 
* ''[[Fantasy Fiction Telegram]]'' [1936-38] (with others)
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* ''[[Milty's Mag]]''  
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* ''[[Milty's Mag]]'' [1940-46]
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* ''[[Plenum]]''
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* ''[[National Fantasy Fan]]'' [1940s]
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* ''[[Plenum]]'' [1946-49]
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* ''[[Science Fiction Debater]]'' [1939]
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* ''[[Third Science Fiction Convention Booklet]]'' [1941] (with [[John Baltadonis]] and [[Ossie Train]])
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* ''[[War in Heaven]]'' [1940] (for [[FAPA]], with [[Elmer Perdue]] and [[Jack Speer]])
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{{recognition}}
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* 1976 — [[Philcon 1976]]
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* 1998 — [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]], '''[[fan GoH]] at [[BucConeer]]''' 
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{{person | born=1919 | died=2001}}
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{{person | born=1919 | died=2001 |Locale=Philadelphia, PA}}
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:first_fandom]]
 
[[Category:first_fandom]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category: pro]]
 
[[Category: pro]]
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[[Category:artist]]

Latest revision as of 06:23, 29 November 2022

Milt Rothman (1940s). Courtesy of Rob Hansen.

(November 30, 1919 – October 6, 2001)

Milt Rothman joined the Science Fiction League as soon as it was announced in the May 1934 issue of Wonder Stories, becoming Member #34. He was co-founder of the Philadelphia SFL (which became PSFS) in 1934. In 1998, he was inducted into the First Fandom Hall of Fame and was the fan GoH at BucConeer. He was also GoH at Philcon 1976.

Fan[edit]

The majority of the attendees of the world's first science fiction convention in 1936, from left: Oswald Train, Donald A. Wollheim, Milton A. Rothman, Frederik Pohl, John B. Michel, William S. Sykora (holding the NYB-ISA flag), David A. Kyle, and Robert Madle. They're standing in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Photo by Herbert E. Goudket.

He published the fanzines Milty's Mag and Plenum from 1939–1950, and Blitzkrieg. He was a member of the Washington Worry-Warts. He was a member of FAPA and part of the Brain Trust, the Order of Dagon, and the Philadelphia Blitzkrieg, chaired the Big Pond Fund, went on the Widneride, and spoke up for Yngvi. He was deep in the fannish wars over Michelism and the Wollheimists, though he tried to avoid the feuding part. He was a charter member of the National Fantasy Fan Federation in 1941. He edited the National Fantasy Fan right after World War II. He also drew fanart.

He attended the First Convention in 1936. At one point, he tried to attend every convention held in the United States. He was one of the five people attending Boskone IV.

Rothman chaired Philadelphia worldcons in both 1947 and 1953, the latter being the first convention to present the Hugo Awards. He was named Chairman Emeritus of Millennium Philcon in 2001.

Pro[edit]

Beginning in 1939, he published sf professionally. He initially appeared under the pseudonym Lee Gregor at the insistence of John W. Campbell, Jr., who didn’t like Jewish names as bylines in Astounding. At the beginning of Rothman's writing career, Frederik Pohl was his agent and also edited his stories before their submission to magazines.

Rothman's most famous story was "Heavy Planet," which first appeared in Astounding Science Fiction and which has been reprinted in numerous anthologies. His complete fictional works were collected in Heavy Planet and Other Science Fiction Stories from Wildside Press.

Personal Life[edit]

Rothman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Central High School. He attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now University of the Sciences) from 1936 to 1938 where he majored in chemistry.

Not only a fan and a published author, Rothman was a nuclear physicist. From 1943 to 1944 he studied at Oregon State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He served in the U.S. army from 1944 to 1946, becoming a sergeant in the Signal Corps. After World War II, Rothman returned to Philadelphia to study at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received an M.S. in 1948 and a Ph.D. in physics in 1952.

Rothman went to work for the Bartol Research Center in Springfield, PA. He joined the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab where he worked for almost 10 years on the Model-C Stellerator, the largest fusion experimental device of the time. Subsequently, he became a Professor of Physics at Trenton State College. He retired from teaching in 1979.

In his later years, he was a Senior Scientist at the Franklin Institute Research Laboratory in Philadelphia. He authored seven science fact books, including Discovering the Natural Laws in 1972 and a number of articles. In addition, Rothman became an active member of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, authoring A Physicists' Guide to Skepticism.

In 1950, Rothman married psychotherapist Doris “Dorry” Weiss; the marriage ended in divorce in 1973. His second marriage was to epidemiologist Anita K. Bahn, who died in 1980, the year they officially married. The following year, he married Miriam Mednick, a social worker, to whom he remained married until his death.

His son, Tony Rothman, is also a physicist and sf writer. His daughter, Lynne Lyon, is a licensed social worker specializing in attachment therapy.

Milt Rothman died in Wyncote, PA, in 2001, of heart failure, from complications due to diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

See:

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1919—2001
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