PSFS

(Did you mean the Portland Science-Fantasy Society?)

PSFS, the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, is one of the oldest SF clubs in existence. It was organized by Milton Rothman and four other fans in December 1934 as chapter 11 of the SFL (latter called the PSFL) and has remained alive more-or-less continuously since. (PSFS celebrates October 5, 1935 as its first meeting because prior to that date meetings had been sporadic, but after meetings were continuous (except for a period during the War.)) At nearly the same time, the Boy's Science Fiction Club had been formed. The two clubs became aware of each other and when the SFL disintegrated, they coalesced, forming PSFS.

During the War, activity diminished until in 1942 the club went dormant with only Ossie Train left in Philadelphia among the membership. He continued active and published the PSFS News, but it wasn't until the fall of 1943 (or possibly 1944) when the Philadelphia Futurians merged into PSFS, that it had plural members again. (See File 770 13, p. 7 for a letter by Harry Warner, Jr..)

One of the droller bits of PSFS lore is based on the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, a major local bank which had a skyscraper in downtown with a big, red, glowing "PSFS" at the top on each side. PSFans would point it out as their clubhouse...

It is the sponsor of Philcon.

Clubzines: 1937 - 1946 -- PSFS News 1946 - 1947 -- PSFS Bulletin 1947 - 1948+, -- PSFS News Bulletin By 1952, the name had changed back to "PSFS News". 1961 -- Ancalagon

Website

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

The Philadelphia SF Society, founded by Rothman as a chapter of the SFL in 1934. Other members have been fans like Ossie Train, Bob Madle, Baltadonis, Agnew, Rusty Hevelin, ktp, or pros like George O. Smith, Sol Levin, de Camp, Ley, Alex Phillips and others. The PSFS has been a branch of the SFL, ISA, and Science Fictioneers, and sponsored two worldcons ('47 and '53) in addition to annual PhilCos. In the war years the club became almost dormant, but even when most of its members were in the armed forces a PSFS News would drop into the mailbox at unexpected times. Ossie Train seems to have done most to keep it going during, and revive it after, this period.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, founded by Rothman as a chapter of the SFL in 1934. Other members have been Ossie Train, John Baltadonis, Robert Madle, Jack Agnew, Alexander Phillips, Rusty Barron, and others. Its publishing house was Comet. In fan feuds it was generally been against Wollheim, but always good-naturedly. The PSFS has been a branch of the SFL, ISA, and Science Fictioneers. In the 1940s the club became almost dormant, but even in the midst of the war, when most of its members where in the armed forces, a PSFS News would drop into the mailbox at the most unexpected times.

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Club

This is a club page. Please extend it by adding information about when and where the club met, when and by whom it was founded, how long it was active, notable accomplishments, well-known members, clubzines, any conventions it ran, external links to the club's website, other club pages, etc. When there's a floreat (Fl.), this indicates the time or times for which we have found evidence that the club existed. This is probably not going to represent the club's full lifetime, so please update it if you can!