Difference between revisions of "Jack Speer"

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'''John Bristol Speer''', aka “'''Jack F. Speer''',” “[[F|the F]]” and “[[John A. Bristol]],” was one of the fathers of [[fandom]] and the first really important [[fanhistorian]], writing ''[[Up to Now]]: A History of Science Fiction Fandom'' as well as the [[first Fancyclopedia]] in 1944. In 2004, he was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Noreascon 4]] in [[Boston]].
 
'''John Bristol Speer''', aka “'''Jack F. Speer''',” “[[F|the F]]” and “[[John A. Bristol]],” was one of the fathers of [[fandom]] and the first really important [[fanhistorian]], writing ''[[Up to Now]]: A History of Science Fiction Fandom'' as well as the [[first Fancyclopedia]] in 1944. In 2004, he was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Noreascon 4]] in [[Boston]].
  
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He was also known by the [[nicknames]] “[[Juffus]],” “[[Gakspiro]],” “the [[Hily Magnified Woggle-Bug]]” and “[[Fascism|Fascist Speer]].”
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He was also known by the [[nicknames]] “[[Juffus]],” “[[Gakspiro|Ĝakspiro]],” “the [[Hily Magnified Woggle-Bug]]” and “[[Fascism|Fascist Speer]].”
  
 
Speer became became a [[fan]] around 1935 and was responsible for a long series of firsts:
 
Speer became became a [[fan]] around 1935 and was responsible for a long series of firsts:
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* Besides writing ''[[Up to Now]]'', he developed a system of [[Numerical Fandoms]], which was later expanded by other fan historians such as [[Robert Silverberg]] and [[Ted White]].  
 
* Besides writing ''[[Up to Now]]'', he developed a system of [[Numerical Fandoms]], which was later expanded by other fan historians such as [[Robert Silverberg]] and [[Ted White]].  
 
* He followed ''[[Up to Now]]'' with [[Fancyclopedia 1]] (updated in the late 1950s by [[Dick Eney]] as [[Fancyclopedia 2]] and subsequently by this site).  [[Harry Warner, Jr.]], also a [[fan historian]], said that Speer was "the first to stress ([[fandom]]'s) subcultural aspects."  
 
* He followed ''[[Up to Now]]'' with [[Fancyclopedia 1]] (updated in the late 1950s by [[Dick Eney]] as [[Fancyclopedia 2]] and subsequently by this site).  [[Harry Warner, Jr.]], also a [[fan historian]], said that Speer was "the first to stress ([[fandom]]'s) subcultural aspects."  
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* With [[Dan McPhail]], he introduced "[[mailing comments]]" in the third [[mailing]] of [[FAPA]].
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* He popularized [[mailing comments]], with [[Dan McPhail]], introducing them in the third [[mailing]] of [[FAPA]].
 
* At [[Chicon I]], the second [[Worldcon]], Speer distributed a set of [[science fiction]] songs he had written, now called ''[[filk]]'', as the ''[[Science Fiction Song Sheet]]''. They were reprinted under the [[pseudonym]] [[John Bristol]] in ''[[Xenofilkia]]'', as "Various Songs", and "Twilight Prelude".
 
* At [[Chicon I]], the second [[Worldcon]], Speer distributed a set of [[science fiction]] songs he had written, now called ''[[filk]]'', as the ''[[Science Fiction Song Sheet]]''. They were reprinted under the [[pseudonym]] [[John Bristol]] in ''[[Xenofilkia]]'', as "Various Songs", and "Twilight Prelude".
 
* Also at Chicon, Speer and [[Milt Rothman]] suggested a [[costume party]] or [[masquerade]], which is still part of [[Worldcon]] today.
 
* Also at Chicon, Speer and [[Milt Rothman]] suggested a [[costume party]] or [[masquerade]], which is still part of [[Worldcon]] today.
 
* He popularized [[FooFoo]].
 
* He popularized [[FooFoo]].
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* He popularized [[mailing comments]].
 
−
[[File:Jack Speer at Bucconeer.jpg|thumb|'''Jack Speer at [[Bucconeer]] in 1998.'''<br>''(Photo by [[Mark Olson]].)'']]
 
  
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Originally from [[Oklahoma]], where he started reading [[sf]] in 1928 at age 8, Speer found [[fandom]] through the [[lettercolumns]] of ''[[Wonder]]'' in the early 1930s, where he started a [[correspondence]] with [[Don Wollheim]]. He lived in [[DC]] during the [[War]] and later moved to the [[Pacific Northwest]] before retiring to [[Albuquerque]].
+
[[File:Jack Speer at Bucconeer.jpg|thumb|left|'''Jack Speer at [[Bucconeer]] in 1998.'''<br>''(Photo by [[Mark Olson]].)'']]
 +
 
 +
Originally from [[Oklahoma]], where he started reading [[sf]] in 1928 at age 8, Speer found [[fandom]] through the [[lettercolumns]] of ''[[Wonder]]'' in the early 1930s, where he started a [[correspondence]] with [[Don Wollheim]]. He was a member of the [[UK]]'s [[Science Fiction Association]] (SFA), joining in August 1937. He lived in [[DC]] during the [[War]] and later moved to the [[Pacific Northwest]] before retiring to [[Albuquerque]].
  
 
By inventing the [[John Bristol]] persona, he perpetrated one of the earliest and most successful [[hoaxes]] in the history of [[fandom]], going to the extent of [[pubbing]] [[Fancyclopedia 1]] under that [[pseudonym]], and using [[F]] as a fake middle initial to hide his real second name.  
 
By inventing the [[John Bristol]] persona, he perpetrated one of the earliest and most successful [[hoaxes]] in the history of [[fandom]], going to the extent of [[pubbing]] [[Fancyclopedia 1]] under that [[pseudonym]], and using [[F]] as a fake middle initial to hide his real second name.  
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He was a member of [[FAPA]] (and was a leading member of the [[Brain Trust]]) and served in many offices, including organizing a [[Blitzkrieg]]. He went to [[Newcastle]] to personally look into the bonafides and background of [[Claude Degler]].  
 
He was a member of [[FAPA]] (and was a leading member of the [[Brain Trust]]) and served in many offices, including organizing a [[Blitzkrieg]]. He went to [[Newcastle]] to personally look into the bonafides and background of [[Claude Degler]].  
  
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In the 1940s, he was quite embarrassingly [[racist]], to the point that [[FAPA]] had an election to try to keep him from writing about his opinions (this was also bound up in his ongoing [[feud]] with the [[liberal]] [[Wollheimists]]). However, he seems to have grown out of it after [[World War II]].  
+
In the 1940s, he was quite embarrassingly [[racist]], to the point that [[FAPA]] had a [https://fanac.org/fanzines/FAPA-Misc/FAPA-Misc50.pdf special election in 1944] to try to keep him from writing about his offensive opinions (this was also bound up in his ongoing [[feud]] with the [[liberal]] [[Wollheimists]]). See ''[[Black & White]]''. However, he seems to have grown out of it after [[World War II]].  
  
 
[[File:JFSpeer1938.jpeg|thumb|'''“[[Fascism|Fascist Speer]],” 1938.''' ]]
 
[[File:JFSpeer1938.jpeg|thumb|'''“[[Fascism|Fascist Speer]],” 1938.''' ]]
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In New Mexico, he was one of the founders of [[Bubonicon]] (though he protested the name, see [[Bubonicon 2]]), and was memorialized at [[Bubonicon 40]].
 
In New Mexico, he was one of the founders of [[Bubonicon]] (though he protested the name, see [[Bubonicon 2]]), and was memorialized at [[Bubonicon 40]].
 +
 +
His older brother, [[Jim Speer]], published a school [[fanzine]] with [[Dan McPhail]], but never became active in wider fandom.
  
 
===More reading:===
 
===More reading:===
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* “[[Fancyclopedia Forever!]]” memoir.  
 
* “[[Fancyclopedia Forever!]]” memoir.  
 
*  His photograph appears on page 128 of [[Harry Warner, Jr.]]'s ''[[All Our Yesterdays]]'' (1969) and on page 19 of [[Harry Warner]]'s ''[[A Wealth of Fable]]'' (1992).
 
*  His photograph appears on page 128 of [[Harry Warner, Jr.]]'s ''[[All Our Yesterdays]]'' (1969) and on page 19 of [[Harry Warner]]'s ''[[A Wealth of Fable]]'' (1992).
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* [http://obits.abqjournal.com/obits/show/187076 Albuquerque Journal obituary.]
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* [https://obits.abqjournal.com/obits/show/187076 Albuquerque Journal obituary.]
 +
* The [https://enmu.libguides.com/SpecialCollections#:~:text=Jack%20Speer%C2%A0Collection Jack Speer Collection] (47 boxes of fanzines, comics, manuscripts, and notes) resides at [https://enmu.libguides.com/SpecialCollections Special Collections, of Eastern New Mexico University Golden Library].
  
 
{{fanzines}}
 
{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[Allegory]]''
 
* ''[[Allegory]]''
 
* ''[[Antaios]]''
 
* ''[[Antaios]]''
 +
* ''[[The Anti-Michelist Omnibus Dummy]]'' [1946]
 
* ''[[Avalon (Speer)]]'',  
 
* ''[[Avalon (Speer)]]'',  
 
* ''[[Black & White]]'' [1944] (with [[Forrest J Ackerman]] for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[Black & White]]'' [1944] (with [[Forrest J Ackerman]] for [[FAPA]])
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* ''[[Blitzkrieg]]'' (with [[Elmer Perdue]] and [[Milt Rothman]] for [[FAPA]])
 
 
* ''[[The Cosmic Circle & Fandom]]'' [1943] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[The Cosmic Circle & Fandom]]'' [1943] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[Decimal Classification for Fantasy Fiction]]'' [1943] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[Decimal Classification for Fantasy Fiction]]'' [1943] (for [[FAPA]])
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* ''[[Ramblings]]'' [1938-42] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[Ramblings]]'' [1938-42] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[Science Fiction Forum (Speer)]]''
 
* ''[[Science Fiction Forum (Speer)]]''
 +
* ''[[Science Fiction Song Sheet]]''
 
* ''[[The SF Democrat]]'' [1944]
 
* ''[[The SF Democrat]]'' [1944]
 
* ''[[Stefnews]]''/''[[The Stefnews]]''   
 
* ''[[Stefnews]]''/''[[The Stefnews]]''   
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* ''[[Stf and Nonsense]]'' (with [[Dan MacPhail]])  
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* ''[[Stf and Nonsense]]'' (with [[Dan McPhail]])  
 
* ''[[Sustaining Program]]''
 
* ''[[Sustaining Program]]''
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* ''[[Synapse (Speer)]]'
+
* ''[[Synapse (Speer)]]''
 
* ''[[To Relive Ten Years!]]'' [1951] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[To Relive Ten Years!]]'' [1951] (for [[FAPA]])
 
* ''[[Up to Now]]''
 
* ''[[Up to Now]]''
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* ''[[War in Heaven]]'' [1940] (for [[FAPA]], with [[Milt Rothman]] and [[Elmer Perdue]])
+
* ''[[Washington Guidebook]]'' [1961]
 +
* ''[[War in Heaven]]'' aka ''Blitzkrieg''  [1940] (for [[FAPA]], with [[Milt Rothman]] and [[Elmer Perdue]])
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}

Latest revision as of 15:02, 28 August 2024

(August 8, 1920 – June 28, 2008)

Jack Speer, ca. 1938.

John Bristol Speer, aka “Jack F. Speer,” “the F” and “John A. Bristol,” was one of the fathers of fandom and the first really important fanhistorian, writing Up to Now: A History of Science Fiction Fandom as well as the first Fancyclopedia in 1944. In 2004, he was Fan GoH at Noreascon 4 in Boston.

He was also known by the nicknames “Juffus,” “Ĝakspiro,” “the Hily Magnified Woggle-Bug” and “Fascist Speer.”

Speer became became a fan around 1935 and was responsible for a long series of firsts:

Jack Speer at Bucconeer in 1998.
(Photo by Mark Olson.)

Originally from Oklahoma, where he started reading sf in 1928 at age 8, Speer found fandom through the lettercolumns of Wonder in the early 1930s, where he started a correspondence with Don Wollheim. He was a member of the UK's Science Fiction Association (SFA), joining in August 1937. He lived in DC during the War and later moved to the Pacific Northwest before retiring to Albuquerque.

By inventing the John Bristol persona, he perpetrated one of the earliest and most successful hoaxes in the history of fandom, going to the extent of pubbing Fancyclopedia 1 under that pseudonym, and using F as a fake middle initial to hide his real second name.

After founding editor E. E. Evans stepped down, Speer became the editor of the N3F's Official Organ, The National Fantasy Fan for the remainder of 1945. He was a recipient of the First Fandom Hall of Fame award. He was brought to Ditto 14/FanHistoriCon 11 by the Don Ford Fund.

He was a member of FAPA (and was a leading member of the Brain Trust) and served in many offices, including organizing a Blitzkrieg. He went to Newcastle to personally look into the bonafides and background of Claude Degler.

In the 1940s, he was quite embarrassingly racist, to the point that FAPA had a special election in 1944 to try to keep him from writing about his offensive opinions (this was also bound up in his ongoing feud with the liberal Wollheimists). See Black & White. However, he seems to have grown out of it after World War II.

“Fascist Speer,” 1938.

Jack was born in Comanche, Oklahoma. He became a lawyer, and after WWII, he began practicing law in Washington State, where he was active in the Democratic Party and served a term in the State House of Representatives (1959–61). He later moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He continued to practice law and served two terms as the judge of the Bernalillo County Small Claims Court.

In New Mexico, he was one of the founders of Bubonicon (though he protested the name, see Bubonicon 2), and was memorialized at Bubonicon 40.

His older brother, Jim Speer, published a school fanzine with Dan McPhail, but never became active in wider fandom.

More reading:[edit]

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

Person 1920—2008
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.

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