Helen Finn
(June 4, 1904 – July 6, 1943)
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 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.
- Stench [1942 single issue]; Pavlat-Evans give her as coeditor with a "Street"
| Person | 1904—1943 |
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- ↑ 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.
- ↑ In hospital after 3 days of coronary thrombosis caused by angina pectoris; see death record
