QSFL

QSFL ad from the First Worldcon Program Book, 1939.

The Queens, NY, branch of the Science Fiction League. The Queens SFL, established 1937, was still meeting in 1949 and held a small convention, the N. Y. Conclave.

Its clubzine was Vad-Jong. Members were called Queensies, although maybe not among themselves.

Members at one time or another included: Mario Racic, James Taurasi, Don Wollheim, Robert Silverberg, Scott Feldman, Hyman Tiger, Sam Moskowitz, Will Sykora, Frances Alberti Sykora, Rose Alberti, Bill Alberti, Ricky Slavin, Mel Hendricksen, Chuck Hidley, Len Grunbery and Bob Thompson.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

The Queens branch of the SFL. Queens is the borough of New York in which Flushing, Long Island City, etc are located, but membership has included fans from other boroughs and even from Newark and area. Originally established late in 1937, the QSFL was made up of young fans like Taurasi [!!]. When the Wollheimists joined, the name was changed to GNYSFL; after this broke up, the QSFL was reestablished under a new charter, and pretty much run by the Triumvirs for several years. With good publicity from the proz, it gathered a large number of stfnists, some of whom became fans. They even set up an offshoot, the Newark SFL. Brief infamy came when the January '41 meeting, one of record size with around 60 stfnists and pro celebrities, was the occasion of rough stuff; Dick Wilson and another Futurian attended and the Triumvirs, Racic, and Mrs Sykora tried to throw them out, to the disgust of the celebrities. The manager of the hall finally put everybody out. The QSFL lapsed during the war but was revived in September 1946, after the FPWESFC, by Sykora.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

The Queens Branch of the SFL. Queens, of course, is the borough of New York in which Flushing, Richmond Hill, Long Island City, etc, are located, but membership has included fans from other boroughs and even from Newark and nearby. Originally established late in 1937, the QSFL was made up of young fans like Taurasi, Gillespie, and Wilson for the most part. When the Wollheimist unit joined it, the name was changed to Greater New York SFL. After the breakup of the GNYSFL, the QSFL was reestablished under a new charter, and pretty much run by the Triumvirs for several years. With good publicity from the pros, especially Thrilling Wonder and Startling, it gathered a large membership of scientifictionists, a number of whom became fans. They even set up an offshoot, the Newark SFL. The last historical note on the QSFL was the attempted ejection of Dick Wilson and Dan Burford from the January 41 meeting. Thru the efforts of current Director Scott Feldman and Hyman Tiger, a record attendance of around 60 stfists and pro celebrities was secured. They had given an invitation to the Futurian Society, which was declined, and unbeknownst to Dick Wilson. Wilson brot Dan Burford, michelist, just back in town, and to the QSFL meeting, and the Triumvirs and Racic threatened to throw them out. Delay was requested while a vote was taken, but other things intervened, and [Wilson and Burford came in while pros were making speeches. Presently seeing them, the Triumvirs, Racic, and Mrs Sykora gave battle, to the distaste of the celebrities. The manager of the hall finally put everyone out. Feldman and Tiger resigned. Later, some people remembered that under the constitution, one vote would have been sufficient to exclude a person if the vote had been taken. According to Feldman (denied to a considerable extent by Mrs Sykora), at the time of the meeting Taurasi, Moskowitz, and Racic had allowed their memberships to lapse thru non-payment of dues.

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Club

1937—1949

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!