Abby Lu Ashley
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Abby Lu and Al Ashley, early 1940s.
Abby Lu Ashley was one of the fans who lived in the original Slan Shack in Battle Creek, Michigan, from 1943–45. She and her husband, Al Ashley, owned the house. 4E gave her the Esperanto nickname Ruja-Blu (see below).
Abby Lu attended the 1941 Michiconference (Photos), and the 1943–45 Michiconferences were held at her home. After that, she and her husband, her daughter, Toople, and the rest of the Slan Shackers moved to LA and joined LASFS.
Things got pretty cozy in the Slan Shack, according to Bob Tucker in Sci-Fic Variety 6 (June 1942):
When we were up there last November, it surprised us no end to find that Al Ashley's wife was almost literally "our wife". First Evans would throw his arms about her and kiss her, then Jack Wiedenbeck would do likewise, and-so-help-me-hannah, so did Walt Liebscher! We are afraid we stared goggle-eyed at all this. We looked askance at Al and he shrugged his shoulders as if to say: "Shux. Every fan in the state of Michigan does it -- and some in Illinois!"
The Ashleys’ FAPAzine was En Garde and Abby Lu contributed to Nova.
Her photo (with others) appears on page 34 of All Our Yesterdays (1969) by Harry Warner, Jr..
| Person | ????— |
| 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. |
| From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944 |
| Ruja-Blu (Ackerman) – Nickname for Abby Lu Ashley, referring to hair and eye coloration. The Michifen misunderstood it as ruj-Ablu. |
