hevelin collection – News & Announcements

Mar 29 2021

Science Fiction’s Forgotten Femfanzines

Posted on March 29, 2021March 29, 2021 by Elizabeth Riordan

“From the Classroom” is a series that features some of the great work and research from students who visit our collections. Below is a blog by Michael Willis from Dr. Jennifer Burek Pierce’s class “History of Readers and Reading” (SLIS:5600:0001)

Science Fiction’s Forgotten Femfanzines

By Michael Willis

Black Flames emerged from the recesses of the library archives to shed light on the nearly forgotten history of femfanzines. Edited and produced in January 1946 by Virginia “Jim-E” Daugherty, Black Flames, is one of a handful of known Science Fiction fanzines specifically meant for women, and a distinctive fanzine featuring work exclusively produced by women.

Virginia Daugherty, editor of *Black Flames*

An author identified only as ‘Tigrina’ was among the contributors to Black Flames. According to Dr. Lisa Yaszek, professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and the inciting editor of the anthology Sisters of Tomorrow: The First Women of Science Fiction, Tigrina was the nickname and later pseudonym of Edythe Eyde, who wrote the featured story of Black Flames. Eyde would later go on to create Vice Versa, widely considered the first lesbian magazine in North America, for which she would be “honored by the gay rights organization ONE, Inc, … and in 2010 she was inducted into the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Hall of Fame” (Yaszek 253-254). Rich Dana, Olson Graduate Research Assistant for Special Collections & Archives at the University of Iowa, in his recent Seminar Presentation, uncovered a series of letters Tigrina wrote to Rusty Hevelin in which, while writing in the persona of her pseudonym “she declared herself a Satanist. She did these crazy cartoons. She stood up to a lot of guys in fandom and she really excited a lot of people … she really did make a big splash on the fan scene …[and] pushed the boundaries of fanzines”.

Black Flames also enshrines, in a full page tribute, the awe inspiring work of Leigh Brackett whose first novel, No Good from a Corpse, so impressed Director Howard Hawks that he hired her to work on the screenplay for The Big Sleep starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Dr. Yaszek writes in her book The Future is Female! that Brackett was so “busy in Hollywood, she asked her friend Ray Bradbury to complete her novella ‘Lorelei of the Red Mist’ published jointly [later] in 1946.” That was only the beginning for Brackett who went on to continue publishing in several genres while also working on several other screenplays. Then late in 1977 a well-known Hollywood director, impressed with her work, personally selected her to write the first draft screenplay for arguably the fan favorite movie of one of the most popular franchises in all of Science Fiction. George Lucas personally selected Leigh Bracket to write the first draft of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

With such amazing and influential women among its contributors, why wasn’t there more than a single issue of Black Flames? All three women — Daugherty, Tigrina, and Brackett –were members of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society around the same time, but after Black Flames Daugherty seems to disappear into history. Kathryn Heffner, Post Graduate Researcher at the University of Kent, explains that the fate of Black Flames was not unusual.

“Fanzine production, especially in that time period, embraced ‘one shots’ or single publications,” Heffner explains. Sometimes, as in the case of Black Flames, publications were developed as part of a “combo zine,” a partnered activity not unlike the collabs we now see on YouTube. Heffner added that two conditions factored in these one-off publications: First, active participation in a fandom meant being involved in “other fan activities like conference organizing,” which limited how much time they had available for the labor of writing and publishing. Another factor, Heffner said, was the not insignificant cost of mimeograph production.

Perhaps similarly striking stories lie smoldering in the far corners of the Rusty Hevelin Science Fiction Collection, waiting for an intrepid scholar to spark them into life.

Note: The author wishes to thank Peter Balestrieri, Curator of the Rusty Hevelin Collection of Science Fiction at UI Special Collections, for sharing his background knowledge and additional items from the Hevelin Collection that helped bring the story of Black Flames to life.

UI Special Collections claims the Iron Throne at World Con

Posted on September 14, 2016January 14, 2019 by Hannah Hacker

By Hannah Hacker

Last month on August 17-21, two of our very own, Peter Balestrieri and Laura Hampton, went to represent the University of Iowa Libraries at the 74^th World Science Fiction Convention, Mid AmeriCon II, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Peter Balestrieri sitting on the Iron Throne at World Con

Laura Hampton sitting on the Iron Throne at World Con

Some may wonder what a couple of Special Collections librarians were doing at a Science Fiction convention. Well, they weren’t just there to recline on the Iron Throne. In fact, this will be the University of Iowa Special Collection’s second consecutive year at World Con, promoting the UI Libraries, the Hevelin Collection, the Hevelin Digitization Project, and other science fiction holdings here at the library.

Balestrieri and Hampton had a UI Libraries fan table, decorated and branded with the University logo and colors, at the entrance to the dealer’s room full of fan groups, art displays, interactive activities, an enormous astronaut, and, of course, dealers.

There, they chatted with attendees, gave away over 500 free branded flying saucer stress toys (see below), pencils, and badge ribbons, as well as handouts on the Special Collections science fiction holdings and projects. They got attendees to sign up to volunteer as transcribers for the Hevelin Digitization Project, collected hundreds of emails, and spoke to passersby about the UI Special Collection’s current ventures. “We were met with overwhelming praise and support for our efforts,” Balestrieri said. Special Collections may even be receiving new donations from some prominent fans and figures in science fiction and fandom in the future.

However, their time at the World Con wasn’t all work and no play. Hampton was able to attend the exclusive George R.R. Martin Alfie Awards celebration. Check out some pictures and read more about this event on the Hevelin Tumblr. Some of the photos feature George R.R. Martin himself!

“I see our attendance at the convention as a genuine success,” Balestrieri said, “not only because of the contacts made and the donations that resulted or were promised, but in the greater sense of establishing UI Libraries and Special Collections as one of the recognized leaders in this collection area and a trusted and respected friend to science fiction and the preservation of its history.”

Nov 13 2015

News and Updates from Special Collections 11/13/2015

Posted on November 13, 2015January 14, 2019 by Colleen Theisen

Recently Cataloged

Two carts of 1930s-2000s science fiction books from the James L. “Rusty” Hevelin Science Fiction Collection have recently returned from the Cataloging-Metadata Department. Among these are hardcover and paperback books as well as magazines and periodicals. Included are works by Isaac Asimov, H.P. Lovecraft, Frank Herbert and more. Use the keyword “Hevelin” in the Infohawk Catalog to browse an up-to-date list of everything from the collection that has a catalog record to date, or check out the gallery below to browse some titles.

Recently Published Collection Guides

Rippey Postcard Collection, MsC1033, Late eighteenth and early twentieth century postcards. http://aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/2633
Wachel Collection of Early Photographs, MsC1040. Includes daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, ferreotypes or tintypes, and cyanotypes. It also contains a collection of union cases, mostly holding miniature photographs of the Civil War era. Of special note is an album titled “Canoe Trip 1915” which is the record of a canoe trip taken in Illinois by four men, presumably brothers of the name of Jehren. It is enhanced by the inclusion of rhyming couplets commenting on what is occurring in the photographs. http://aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/2631

New Acquisitions

1.The Resounding Whistle Comes to the Archives

The recently-retired power plant whistle has arrived at the library! Many thanks to Kyle Smith, electronics instrumentation supervisor in the power plant and whistle historian, for making this possible.

The whistle is the third of a line first used at the plant in 1939; this particular one functioned from sometime between 1992 and 1994 until last Tuesday, when #4 was activated. More about the whistle and its history is at http://now.uiowa.edu/2015/11/whistle-work

You can see a photo of this whistle in action in 2011 here.

2. Marie Curie Dedication

Marie Curie inscribed this lovely edition of Pierre Curie to Laird Clark Addis, the father of the donor. Laird C. Addis donated the book earlier this year, along with another that will be featured next week. We are very excited to receive these pieces of scientific history.

From the Web and Social Media

Digital Transitions posted a featured video about the UI Libraries digitization equipment and NEH grant funded project to digitize Special Collections’ extremely brittle Vaudeville scrapbooks.

Event Recap

Three copies of Liber Chronicarum (The Nuremberg Chronicle) from 1493 were on hand for the Iowa Bibliophiles talk last Wednesday night. Greg Prickman, Head of Special Collections introduced the provenance of the copy from the Main Library, the copy from the John Martin Rare Book Room at the Hardin Medical Library, and a copy from the private collection of Arthur Bonfield.

Thanks to everyone who attended! Next month’s meeting is Wednesday, December 9th at 7pm where Arthur Bonfield will give a talk about his collections of 16-17th century travel literature.

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Oct 06 2015

News from Special Collections 10/6/2015

Posted on October 6, 2015January 14, 2019 by Colleen Theisen

Staff Changes

Our beloved Department Manager Kathy Hodson has retired after more than 16 years of dedicated service to the UI Libraries. Friday, October 2, 2015 was her last day. Please join us in wishing her the best for all of her new pursuits.

New Acquisitions

Brochard. Musæum selectum. Paris 1729

One question we are asked frequently is “where do you get your stuff?” Books like this help answer that question from a historical perspective. This catalog of Michel Brochard’s collection is a slice of book history, containing not only Brochard’s classification system of his library, but also annotated prices and purchasers of each book dating from when the collection was sold after Brochard’s death.

From the Web and Social Media

The Science Fiction website io9 featured photos of pulp magazine covers from the Hevelin Collection Tumblr. All photos are from Laura Hampton. You can see the article here.

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Sep 04 2015

Special Collections Week in Review, 8/28 – 9/4, 2015

Posted on September 4, 2015January 14, 2019 by Colleen Theisen

Recently on the Web and Social Media:

The Hevelin Fanzine Digitization Project was featured on The Verge. The University of Iowa Libraries is digitizing science fiction fanzines from the 1930s-1950s.

August Old Gold column from University Archivist David McCartney, Harrison Hall, the Residence Hall That Never Was.

The planned 1,100-student high-rise, proposed in 1966, never got off the ground.

A Culinary Alphabet by Annie Tremmel Wilcox, published in 1998 was featured on our Instagram page. This culinary artist’s book has three spoons as part of the binding. [Szathmary N7433.4 W524 C8 1998]

Upcoming Events:

1. The first Iowa Bibliophiles meeting of the 2015-2016 season

University of Iowa Center for the Book calligraphy instructor Cheryl Jacobsen will present about calligraphic hands featured in Medieval manuscripts held in Special Collections.

6:00PM – Stop by to view a repeat showing of the livestream video of Alison Altstatt’s September 4th talk

6:30PM – Refreshments served

7PM – Cheryl Jacobsen’s talk

Special Collections Reading Room, 3rd Floor Main Library, 125 W. Washington, Iowa City, IA

2. Special Collections Editions featured in Old Capitol Museum Exhibition

Opening Reception for The Quest Begins: Quixote at 400

Thursday, September 17, 2015 – 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Old Capitol Museum

Exhibition: Illustrations of Don Quixote: Interpretation of Imagination

September 17, 2015 to January 3, 2016

Old Capitol Museum Keyes Gallery for the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences

Explore artistic interpretations of Cervantes’ tale from the 1600s to the 1930s through collected images from editions of Don Quixote from the University of Iowa Libraries.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the sponsoring department or contact person listed in advance of the event.

New Acquisitions:

1. A new acquisition for our collection of miniature books.

Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., Descent of Mount Gadam, Jubilee Press, 1993. Adapted from a folktale of the Mensa Bet-Abrehe people of northern Ethiopia. Includes a linocut outline map of Africa.

https://vine.co/v/eTJBM6xpHaH

2. A new addition to the University of Iowa Libraries’ map collections for studying World War I.

The Markets of the World. Open to Great Britain: Closed to Germany, London : Roberts & Leete Ltd., [1916]. This map shows sources of import for Britain during 1916.

https://vine.co/v/eT5YZ5uwWnm

Just for Fun:

Our graduate assistants made a parody of our new acquisition unboxing videos we’ve been making on the social media site Vine.

Please welcome our “new acquisition,” graduate assistant John Fifield.

https://vine.co/v/eIYrx5PBEwY

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Special Collections staff with an oversized check

Jul 28 2015

Science Fiction Fans Raise $1,955 To Support Hevelin Collection Digitization

Posted on July 28, 2015January 14, 2019 by Colleen Theisen

Every year at the ICON Science Fiction convention in Cedar Rapids the organizers collect fan created artwork, crafts, and donated memorabilia which are auctioned off to support charities and projects. Last fall, the chosen project was The University of Iowa Libraries’ initiative to digitize the James L. “Rusty” Hevelin Science Fiction collection, an especially meaningful choice to the community, resulting in an outpouring of donations and fast-paced bidding wars.

Rusty Hevelin was a science fiction fan, pulp collector, fanzine creator, huckster (a dealer at conventions), and voracious reader for most of his 89 years. He was also involved with the Iowa Science Fiction conventions ICON and Demicon from the time of their founding. After his death in 2011, his collections came to the University of Iowa Special Collections where a recent unprecedented initiative to digitize around 10,000 of the earliest fanzines from roughly 1930s-1950s has begun.

The University of Iowa Libraries’ Community is deeply grateful for the generosity of the science fiction community and for their support.

The next ICON science fiction and fantasy convention will be at the Cedar Rapids Doubletree on October 16-18, 2015. Details here.

Feb 20 2013

Rusty, Rustebar, Rust E. Barron

Posted on February 20, 2013January 14, 2019 by Peter Balestrieri

Photo of Rusty Hevelin — Photo by William S. Higgins

The James L. “Rusty” Hevelin Collection of Pulps, Fanzines, and Science Fiction Books in the Special Collections of the University of Iowa Library is a manifestation of fandom, a subculture of shared interest, networking, and activity that grows up around almost any subject. Fandom demands more of its participants than merely liking something; they must become involved. Science Fiction fandom is unique because of its heavy influence on the shaping of the literary genre that spawned it. This post looks at two early examples of Rusty Hevelin’s fan activity as a writer for fanzines.

Rusty was a science fiction fan from his teen years in the late 1930’s until his death in 2011. He participated in all aspects of fandom, including fan groups (LASFS, and PSFS), fanzines (H-1661, StefNews, Nebula, Aliquot, Badly, etc.), conventions, as a fan, “huckster” (“dealer” in fan lingo), and organizer, and avid collecting.

In 1941, when he was nineteen, Rusty hitchhiked from L.A. to Denver to attend Denvention I, the third Worldcon, or World Science Fiction Convention. He wrote a report of the convention afterwards (as “Rustebar”) for the September 1941 issue of The Fantasite, a zine Phil Bronson edited for the Minneapolis Fantasy Society.

After Denvention I, Rusty moved to Philadelphia where he joined Robert A. Madle and Jack Agnew on the editorial staff of Fantascience Digest. In the November-December 1941 issue, he began a column titled,“Coventry,” (under another pseudonym, “Rust E. Barron”) devoted to the contrary opinions of “rebels and individualists.”

When America entered WWII, Rusty joined the Marines and served in the Pacific as a meteorologist. He continued his fannish activity during the war, which couldn’t have been easy. We will bring you more about Rusty and his collection in the months to come. Please follow along online as it’s unpacked: http://hevelincollection.tumblr.com/