Difference between revisions of "Helen Finn"

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(#newresearch : death WAS reported after all, but mysteries remain especially about the moves. Bee, could you help with the FamilySearch?)
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(June 4, 1904 – July 6, 1943)
 
(June 4, 1904 – July 6, 1943)
  
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[[File:FinnHelen.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=.5|'''Helen Finn'''. ''From ''[[VOM]]'' 23 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/VOM/Voice_of_the_Imagi-Nation-of-the-imagi-nation-23-ackerman-morojo-1942-06.pdf June 1942]).'']]
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[[File:FinnHelen.jpeg|thumb|upright=.5|'''Helen Finn''' in ''[[VOM]]'' 23 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/VOM/Voice_of_the_Imagi-Nation-of-the-imagi-nation-23-ackerman-morojo-1942-06.pdf June 1942]).'']]
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'''Helen Dorothy Finn''' (née Warner) was the first woman Director ([[president]]) of [[LASFS]], and possibly of any [[fan]] [[organization]], elected in 1941. [[Forrest J Ackerman]], writing in ''[[Shangri L'Affaires]]'' 2 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-2-ackerman-1942-01.pdf January 1942, p. 1]), said she was “Virtually swept into Office.” She had previously been the [[club]] Librarian.  
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'''Helen Dorothy Finn''' (née Warner) was the first [[femmefans|woman]] Director ([[president]]) of [[LASFS]], and possibly of any [[fan]] [[organization]], elected at the end of 1941. [[Forrest J Ackerman]] wrote in ''[[Shangri L'Affaires]]'' 2 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-2-ackerman-1942-01.pdf January 1942, p. 1]) she was “Virtually swept into Office.” She had previously been the [[club]] Librarian. Her profile said:
  
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[[4E]] reported that Helen had begun reading [[sf]] with [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]]’ [[books]] and ''Argosy'' magazine in 1921 and “almost was published herself” in ''[[Weird Tales]]'' in the early 1930s. She was in [[Mexico]] when she read about LASFS and joined after returning to [[LA]]. Her favorite old-time writers were [[A. Merritt]] and [[Otis Adelbert Kline]]; of newer sf, she enjoyed [[Henry Kuttner]] and [[Robert A. Heinlein]], but disliked [[Isaac Asimov]].  
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Helen Finn read the [[Edgar Rice Burroughs|Burroughs]] books, began [[magazine]] science fiction with ''[[Argosy]]'' 1921. Has read about all the representa­tive [[fantasy]]. Almost was published herself in ''[[Weird Tales]]'' of the [[Farnsworth Wright|Wright]] era.
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Saw LASFS’ write-up in ''Weird'' while in Mexico, made up mind when she returned to Los Angeles she wanted a new circle of friends and decided to find out what the imaginatives were like. She sees no reason for fandom’s collapse due to war.
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Believes the stand­ards of stf writing have improved over the years. First favorite, [[A. Merritt|A. Merritt]], followed by the old [[Otis Adelbert Kline|Kline]]; in the newer writers, dislikes [[Asimov]], gets a lot of [[humor|laffs]] out of [[Kuttner]], 100% for [[Heinlein]].
  
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She bought nearly all of [[Art Joquel]]’s sf [[collection]], but had to [[auction]] it off weeks later when she moved to [[Washington, DC]], for a short time.  
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[[File:LASFS41detail.jpeg|thumb|left|'''Helen Finn''' top left; w/clockwise [[Dorothy Finn]], [[Eleanor O'Brien]], [[Peggy Finn]] & [[Paul Freehafer]] at the 1941 [[LASFS]] Xmas party. [https://fanac.org/photohtm.php?Fan_Photo_Album/l02-002 Photo] [[Russ Hodgkins]]'']]
  
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[[File:LASFS41detail.jpeg|thumb|left|'''Helen Finn, [[Dorothy Finn]], [[Eleanor O'Brien]], [[Peggy Finn]] and [[Paul Freehafer]], clockwise from upper left, at the 1941 [[LASFS]] Xmas party.'''<br>''Photo by [[Russ Hodgkins]].'']]
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Helen Warner was born in [[Indianapolis]], and in June 1922 married John M. Finn (April 9, 1888 – 1961). They moved to LA some time before 1935.<ref>There are no mentions of him in fanzines, but [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MT-NWJY the 1940 census] shows them living together, with his job a policeman at a "motion picture studio". FamilySearch also claims that in 1935 John was still living in Indianapolis, while Helen already in LA.</ref> The Finns' two daughters were also [[LASFan]]s and married within the club, [[Dorothy Finn|Dorothy]] (1922–2004) to [[Henry Hasse]] and [[Peggy Finn|Peggy]] (1924–2007) to [[William Crawford]] around the same time in July 1942. Helen's younger sister [[Lora Crozetti]] followed them to the club in late 1942. Even Helen's mother (who may actually have given them interest in SF in the first place, as she "has read science fiction ever since the ARGOSY days"; ''Shaggy'' 23) and then-5-year-old niece attended club events – a report on the 1945 LASFS [[Fanquet]] in ''[[Shangri-L'Affaires]]'' 23 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-23-burbee-1945-02.pdf#page=11 February 1945, p. 11]) noted:
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She was born in [[Indiana]], and married John Finn (b. April 9, 1888) in 1922. Her two daughters were also [[LASFans]], and married within the [[club]], [[Peggy Finn|Peggy]] to [[William Crawford]] and [[Dorothy Finn|Dorothy]] (briefly) to [[Henry Hasse]]. Helen was the older sister of another club member, [[Lora Crozetti]]. Even her mother and 5-year-old niece attended club events. (A report on the 1945 LASFS [[Fanquet]] in ''[[Shangri-L'Affaires]]'' 23 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-23-burbee-1945-02.pdf#page=11 February 1945, p. 11]) noted: “Introduced as '3 generations of fans' were Lora Crozetti, her Mother--Mrs Eva Roberson, and her daughter--Jeanne Crozetti.”)
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Introduced as '3 generations of fans' were Lora Crozetti, her Mother--Mrs Eva Roberson, and her daughter--Jeanne Crozetti.
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Finn bought nearly all of [[Art Joquel]]’s sf [[collection]], but had to [[auction]] it off weeks later when she moved to [[Washington, DC]].
  
 
''[[Shangri-L'Affaires]]'' 7 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-7-joquel-1942-12.pdf December 1942, p. 2]) recapped in a year’s end summary:  
 
''[[Shangri-L'Affaires]]'' 7 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-7-joquel-1942-12.pdf December 1942, p. 2]) recapped in a year’s end summary:  
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  Helen, Peggy, and Dorothy Finn leave LA for [[Washington, DC|WashingtonDC]] along with Henry Hasse and Bill Crawford. Helen sells [[stf]] collection, resigns from Directrixship of LASFS.  
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  Helen, Peggy, and Dorothy Finn leave LA for [[Washington, DC|WashingtonDC]] along with Henry Hasse and Bill Crawford. Helen sells [[stf]] collection, resigns from Directrixship of LASFS.
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However, the same issue reported Helen had returned to L.A.  
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The same issue, though, reported Finn "has just returned" to L.A. ''[[Light]]'' #120 (September 1942) announced Finn "leaving [[actifandom]]" in Washington; however, ''Shangri-L'Affaires'' show her still very often in everyday club activities, even helping others pub a zine. At the little-attended club meeting on 24 December, Finn together with [[Alojo]] and [[Sid Dean]] "were nominated" (for President), but [[Paul Freehafer]], who took up the function after Finn's resignation, was re-elected.
  
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The California Death Index records that Helen Finn died on July 6, 1943; we have not found a report of her death in any [[fan]] publications, which seems odd considering her position in LASFS. In fact, the [[clubzine]] ''[[Shangri-L'Affaires]]’s'' [https://fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-11-daugherty-1943-08.pdf August 1943] issue (p. 4 and 7) mentions her presence at events in May, but says nothing about her death.  
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Finn's premature death<ref>In hospital after 3 days of coronary thrombosis caused by angina pectoris; see [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG26-HH8L death record]</ref> was noted in brief by "Phil" in ''[[Fanewscard]]'' [https://fanac.org/fanzines/FanewsCard/Fanews005-01.html #5, 31 July]. Nothing more has been found – very strangely, even the [[clubzine]] ''[[Shangri-L'Affaires]]’s'' [https://fanac.org/fanzines/Shangri-laffaires/Shangri-laffaires-laffaires-seriesb-11-daugherty-1943-08.pdf August 1943] issue mentions her and the Hasses' presence at the annual beach party late May (p. 4) and an undated club meeting with [[auction]] (p. 7) but nothing at all about her death even in September. The death certificate gives her profession as film cutter.
  
 
{{fanzines}}
 
{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[Stench]]'' [1942]  
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* ''[[Stench]]'' [1942 single issue]; [[Pavlat-Evans]] give her as coeditor with a "Street"
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{{person| born=1904| died=1943}}  
 
{{person| born=1904| died=1943}}  
 
[[Category:US]] [[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:US]] [[Category:fan]]

Revision as of 10:35, 12 August 2024

(June 4, 1904 – July 6, 1943)

Helen Finn in VOM 23 (June 1942).

Helen Dorothy Finn (née Warner) was the first woman Director (president) of LASFS, and possibly of any fan organization, elected at the end of 1941. Forrest J Ackerman wrote in Shangri L'Affaires 2 (January 1942, p. 1) she was “Virtually swept into Office.” She had previously been the club Librarian. Her profile said: 

Helen Finn read the Burroughs books, began magazine science fiction with Argosy 1921. Has read about all the representa­tive fantasy. Almost was published herself in Weird Tales of the Wright era.
Saw LASFS’ write-up in Weird while in Mexico, made up mind when she returned to Los Angeles she wanted a new circle of friends and decided to find out what the imaginatives were like. She sees no reason for fandom’s collapse due to war.
Believes the stand­ards of stf writing have improved over the years. First favorite, A. Merritt, followed by the old Kline; in the newer writers, dislikes Asimov, gets a lot of laffs out of Kuttner, 100% for Heinlein.
Helen Finn top left; w/clockwise Dorothy Finn, Eleanor O'Brien, Peggy Finn & Paul Freehafer at the 1941 LASFS Xmas party. Photo Russ Hodgkins

Helen Warner was born in Indianapolis, and in June 1922 married John M. Finn (April 9, 1888 – 1961). They moved to LA some time before 1935.[1] The Finns' two daughters were also LASFans and married within the club, Dorothy (1922–2004) to Henry Hasse and Peggy (1924–2007) to William Crawford around the same time in July 1942. Helen's younger sister Lora Crozetti followed them to the club in late 1942. Even Helen's mother (who may actually have given them interest in SF in the first place, as she "has read science fiction ever since the ARGOSY days"; Shaggy 23) and then-5-year-old niece attended club events – a report on the 1945 LASFS Fanquet in Shangri-L'Affaires 23 (February 1945, p. 11) noted: 

Introduced as '3 generations of fans' were Lora Crozetti, her Mother--Mrs Eva Roberson, and her daughter--Jeanne Crozetti.

Finn bought nearly all of Art Joquel’s sf collection, but had to auction it off weeks later when she moved to Washington, DC.

Shangri-L'Affaires 7 (December 1942, p. 2) recapped in a year’s end summary: 

Helen, Peggy, and Dorothy Finn leave LA for WashingtonDC along with Henry Hasse and Bill Crawford. Helen sells stf collection, resigns from Directrixship of LASFS.

The same issue, though, reported Finn "has just returned" to L.A. Light #120 (September 1942) announced Finn "leaving actifandom" in Washington; however, Shangri-L'Affaires show her still very often in everyday club activities, even helping others pub a zine. At the little-attended club meeting on 24 December, Finn together with Alojo and Sid Dean "were nominated" (for President), but Paul Freehafer, who took up the function after Finn's resignation, was re-elected.

Finn's premature death[2] was noted in brief by "Phil" in Fanewscard #5, 31 July. Nothing more has been found – very strangely, even the clubzine Shangri-L'Affaires’s August 1943 issue mentions her and the Hasses' presence at the annual beach party late May (p. 4) and an undated club meeting with auction (p. 7) but nothing at all about her death even in September. The death certificate gives her profession as film cutter.

Fanzines and Apazines:

Person 1904—1943
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.

  1. ↑ There are no mentions of him in fanzines, but the 1940 census shows them living together, with his job a policeman at a "motion picture studio". FamilySearch also claims that in 1935 John was still living in Indianapolis, while Helen already in LA.
  2. ↑ In hospital after 3 days of coronary thrombosis caused by angina pectoris; see death record
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